We are always doing something fun in my kids yoga classes.
Meditation with our felt hearts during a Chakra lesson.
Sometimes we sing. Sometimes we even dance. We definitely get into the asanas, and we definitely have fun. But one thing I make sure to do with the kids each time we meet is to tell them how wonderful each and everyone of them are, and I make sure we meditate.
Halloween Lesson and Meditation with our Breathing Buddies
Meditation can come in many forms. For some it might be sitting outside, breathing fresh air, quietly. For others, it might mean listening to soothing music. For others still, it might mean lighting some candles and sitting in the bath, (without the kids walking in and out of the bathroom of course) and some would enjoy a cup of coffee and some quiet time in the morning before everyone wakes up.
Coloring Mandalas as a form of relaxation and meditation
In my yoga classes, we can quiet ourselves in a couple of different ways too. Most of the time, I like to end class with some soothing music (My favorite artist is Snatam Kaur Khalsa. I first heard of her thru my Grounded training when Amy and Cheryl played “Long Time Sun” for us during our svasana.) while the kids are laying in svasana. I help facilitate this quiet time by explaining to the children that it’s a “silent” time where we don’t move and we don’t talk. We just lay or sit still. Occasionally we have breathing buddies that help us breath deeper. I place these breathing buddies on their bellies and ask the kids to breathe all the way down to their belly button. Sometimes, we color. When we use coloring as a meditation, we use mandalas. Mandala means circle in sanskrit.
Designing our own Mandalas
Here are some free links to printable mandalas you can use at home:
I also like to read excerpts from some books in class to guide the kids through their meditation. Sometimes I take the kids to an imaginary beach and sometimes I ask them to take a look into themselves. There are many books out there to help with this activity, that my kids still ask to do at home sometimes, before bed. (Their favorite is where they clean out the imaginary cobwebs in their mind.) Some of these books were required reading during my YogaKids certification process, and others are books that I have stumbled across through my growth as a teacher.
I’d like to leave you with that song I referred to earlier in the post. Thank you Amy for sharing it with us during our training. I know it has a very special meaning for you, and I think of you whenever I use it in class.
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I’m singing with you. I’ve loved growing with you and look forward to more learning and teaching experiences. AND, the love that always surrounds us!
Sat Nam,
stephany
Oh Steph. You are my inspiration, my love! I cannot wait till we are together again…maybe for my 40th? I still have my eye on the prize and so much more I want to do and experience…I look forward to doing those things with you my friend. xoxo
i love this! a new yoga studio opened up near our office and i just might try it. lord knows my mind needs to quiet down and i need to learn how. i wish david could try out yoga too, your classes look so much fun 🙂
Neva! I have only been practicing yoga seriously for about 7 years. I have always said that my practice has made me a better person. I can only imagine if I was taught yoga when I was a child…the possibilities seem endless when I look at my students who are lil’ peanuts. They get it! They really get it…and because they get it-they will be that much better off. Try it out…try out all the different types of yoga you can…when you find the one that is the right fit for you-you will know it.