Monday, June 2, 2008

Yoga Kids

"help your child develop a strong body, gain respect
and love for himself/herself
and discover a place of stillness and peace.
yogakids is a stepping stone on this journey. it brings that marvellous inner light
that all children have to the surface. watch them shine!"
--anjali ewing


I'm adding a new class to my schedule- YogaKids every Wednesday and Friday from 9 am -10 am all throughout the month of June. All kids ranging in age from 4-12 years are invited. There's still time to sign up so contact Mapleton Recreation at 801-806-9114 or sign up online here. I'm so excited for these classes to begin! YogaKids created by Marsha Wenig is the premier yoga program for kids. It has been endorsed by Dr. Deepak Chopra and Dr. Andrew Weil and countless others. A great summer activity bringing amazing benefits to kids and parents, too.

Children Who Practice YogaKids
  • Develop strong, limber and healthy bodies
  • Set a lifelong foundation for well-being
  • Foster creative expression, imagination
  • Increase focus, concentration and attention span
  • Cultivate self-esteem, setting patterns of success and achievement
  • Relax and sleep better
  • Cope with life stressors more effectively
  • Learn about anatomy and physiology
  • Discover a sense of awareness and respect for themselves, for others and the world around them
Thanks to I'll be bringing updates to the following section below.

YogaKids News

Are your children involved in competitive sports and games? Why not give them a break with a game designed for having fun “with” rather than “against” each other! The Yoga Garden Game, designed by San Francisco yoga teacher Jennifer Durand, is now on sale in time for summer fun, pay only $18.95 (regular price $20). Buy one for home and another to keep in the car for vacation travel. This game makes the perfect birthday gift and birthday entertainment, too! In the tradition of YogaKids® “We All Win” philosophy, the Yoga Garden Game show parents and their children the value yoga can have in their daily lives.

Watch for more YogaKids birthday party ideas and solutions!

Pose of the Week

Pedal Laughing

Laughter is an international language. Pedaling a bike is excellent exercise. Put these two together and travel to the land of ha ha he he health.

pedal laughing from the ground

Instructions

  1. Sit in a chair or lie on your back.
  2. Bend your arms and legs like you are riding bicycles in the air.
  3. Pedal forward: laugh .
  4. Pedal backward: laugh.

It might be hard to really laugh at first, but once you get started, you won’t be able to stop.

Have fun and be silly with this pose!

Parents and Teachers

Laughing is a great way to lighten up an intense mood or situation. If tension is mounting and bad moods are escalating designate a laughing break. Remind yourself and your children to look at the lighter side of things.

Activity Ideas for Home or Classroom

Math Medley/Awesome Anatomy

Count out loud or use a timer to see how long each person can maintain their pedal laughing. Time pulses and heart rates too. Make a chart or graph to look at the comparisons.

Body Benefits

Laughter lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, increases muscle flexion, boosts immune function and produces a natural body chemical called endorphins, which make you naturally feel good.

Musical Musings

Form a pedal laughing chorus or choir. High tone laughers are sopranos, low tone ones are bass. Medium low laughers are tenors and medium high are altos. Take turns being the conductors to bring in different voices, get louder or faster and to stop.

Nutrition Tip

Have fun with your food! Many of us have a "love-hate" relationship with food. It is a necessary part of our daily lives but is often confusing, time consuming and takes us away from other activities we would rather be doing. This week bring laughter into your life with the Pedal Pose and bring that laughter and feeling of play into the kitchen.

  • Have family members create their favorite meal - participate in the menu planning, preparation and cleaning.
  • Play music in the kitchen.
  • Keep fresh flowers in your eating area.
  • Practice cooking different types of foods - get the children involved in cooking new foods and new recipes. Connect Food to cultures or countries your children may be studying in school.
  • Have family members select a vegetable or fruit of the week - something you have never tried - they find a recipe(s) and help with the preparation.
  • Try to sit down and eat as a family at least a couple of times a week - no TV, no phones, no computers. Enjoy a fun relaxed meal together.
Copyright 2006 Marsha Wenig/YogaKids International.
Photographs by Susan Andrews
info@yogakids.com - 1-800-968-0694 - fax 219-873-7612

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Thanks Ada! Great ideas!