Yoga Kids Week 3

Pose of the Week

Eyes Around the Clock

These eye movements link all the parts of the brain by stimulating the corpus callosum – the brain’s superhighway. Simultaneously exercise your brain and eye muscles to make learning easier.

Instructions

Take any seated or standing position. Imagine a numbered clock hanging in front of your face. Try to keep your head still and move only your eyes. Do each exercise 3-6 times.

1 and 2: Look up to 12 o’clock. Down to 6 o’clock. Reverse.

3 and 4: Look right to 3 o’clock and left to 9 o’clock. Reverse.

5 and 6: Look diagonally from 1 o’clock to 7 o’clock. Reverse. Look diagonally from 11 o’clock to 5 o’clock. Reverse.

Between each direction give your eyes a rest. Rub your hands together to create friction until

they feel hot. Keeping your fingers together so no light penetrates, place your hands over your eyes (open or closed) to soothe them and allow them to soak up the heat. Open your relaxed eyes and continue.

Now make complete eye circles: Begin clockwise at 12 o’clock and look at each number around the face of the clock. Return to 12. Look counterclockwise from 12 and back. Palm the eyes and

relax. Repeat.

Activity Ideas for Home or Classroom

Laughing Language,

Reading Comes Alive with Yoga™,

Musical Musings

Can you think of books and/or songs that have clocks and/or time in them? Read them. Sing the songs. Roll and rotate your eyes and increase your brain power. Have fun.

Visual Vignettes

Create fun and wacky clocks and watches out of available supplies. Use these as a focal point to

focus your brain.

Body Benefits

Just like the rest of the body, the eyes have muscles too. Improve your eyesight with this pose.

Nutrition Tip

Just as this pose helps all of the different areas of our brain link together and creates balance between the right and left sides of our brains and bodies, there are foods that are also more equalizing for our bodies. Some foods make us feel slow, heavy, dry and sluggish; these include cheese, eggs, meat and salty snacks. Other foods give us a huge burst of crazy energy, but then leave us feeling tired and spaced out; These foods include sugar, coffee, pop and and an excess

of fruit juices.

The most balancing food are the ones that leave us feeling energized and de-stressed like:

• Tofu, Leafy Greens & Seeds
• Roots and Winter Squash
• Beans and Sea Vegetables
• Whole Grains
• Fish

Eat more of these foods for a balanced, calmer you!

Copyright 2006 Marsha Wenig/YogaKids International.
Photographs by Susan Andrews
info@yogakids.com - 1-800-968-0694 - fax 219-873-7612