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Feb
05

Buddhist Tales for Kids or Jataka For Dummies!

Compassion.  Integrity.  Cooperation.  Hygiene.  All important principles to living a full, happy life.  However, in this age of technology, over-scheduling and increasingly interactive, realistic and solitary-bordering-on-anti-social pursuits such as computer games, XBox and facebook, increasingly difficult principles to nurture in our young ones.

And, if unplugging isn’t an option, maybe reconnecting our kids, and ourselves, to these human truths can be as simple as a story.  These important messages have been conveyed through story-telling for a millennia.  In regions of Buddhist faith, messages of Empathy, Consideration, Wisdom and Modesty have been passed on through the Jataka tales to help guide and govern human behaviour and develop the character of the people.

I found this interesting resource at BuddhaNet, a great resource for all information Buddhist… if you’re looking for a good way to introduce your kids to Buddhist – heck, healthy human!- principles, complete with easy to digest morals, HERE is a wonderful collection of translated Jataka tales to read aloud to your kids.

They are as simple as can be, some of them a little hokey to be sure- they’re fables after all!- but perfect for getting conversations started and kids (and us- ahem!) thinking!

Category: Good Intentions, gratitude, health, Kids, Meditation, reading, Spirit, strength, surrender  One Comment
Nov
09

Yoga For Chickens: Relaxing Your Inner Chick by Lynn Brunelle

Yoga For Chickens: Relaxing Your Inner Chick by Lynn BrunelleLook… there’s very little else I can say to encourage those who haven’t yet made their way onto the mat, and until now, I wouldn’t have thought of this one, but if a chicken can freaking do it then, really…

As you’ve probably guessed, this won’t be your yogi’s yoga manual.

In this clever and fowl take on the practice, not only has Lynn Brunelle, one of the creative minds behind the TV show Bill Nye the Science Guy and the board game, Cranium, offered yoga from one of the most unique perspectives in print, she’s provided just that little extra encouragement in the form of an eagerly game, albeit slightly harried, model to guide you through the poses.

Written and illustrated by the talented Brunelle, Yoga for Chickens is geared to “lead you along the poultry path of self-awareness” and if you are interested- and who wouldn’t be- ponder along with you, your “being and chickenness.”

There is practical instruction, though brief, introducing readers to poses they might not be familiar with, such as “Wingstand,” “Rooster’s Sunrise Salutation,” and “Boneless Chicken Pose” (more commonly known as Corpse Pose).  But what is most charming about the book is the tidbits of wisdom, the things we likely have already heard, but could use perhaps another reminder, in a unique and memorable way.

As you might rightly assume, your average chicken is probably a little ruffled trying yoga for the first time.  But, as with anything, if a chicken can transcend her fears and give it a go… what are you waiting for?

Category: health, instruction, Just Crazy... In A Good Way, Postures, Practice, reading, yoga  Leave a Comment
Nov
16

The Farmer’s Luck… Maybe. Words to Live By

zenshortsI’ve raved written in the past about this wonderful book of stories before.

In Jon M. Muth’s Zen Shorts, Stillwater, the serene and friendly Giant Panda of a neighbour to three children, siblings Karl, Michael and Addy, offers his own brand of Zen guidance and advice.

Through ancient stories infused with traditional Buddhist teachings, Stillwater provides solutions to the childen’s various individual conflicts.

These stories provide such tangible messages through simple yet engaging narrative along with wonderful artwork, moving between the full colour drawings of Stillwater and the children, and black & white sketches of the various ancient tales.

And while, yes, this is another plug gentle encouragement to give this book to your child, or your neighbour’s child, or your sister’s husband’s mother’s child… or yourself for that matter, it’s really one of the stories I’d like to specifically address here.

It’s the tale of an old farmer and his son.  In short, and without infringing on copyright(!), the story has the farmer’s son buying a horse (good luck?), horse running away (bad luck?), horse returning with two other wild horses (good luck?), boy attempts to ride one of them and is thrown, breaking his leg (bad luck?), shortly thereafter visited by military recruiters who won’t accept him due to his injury (good luck?)….

And so it is.  With each new circumstance the ever-sympathetic neighbours qualify it with either judgement, “such good luck”  or conversely, “such bad luck”, to which the wise old farmer consistently and simply replies, “maybe’.

The message, as summed up by young Michael to the gentle Stillwater, “Maybe good luck and bad luck are all mixed up.  You never know what will happen next.”

Hmmmmmm.  Wonderful messages and a certain must read for any child… or adult….

Category: Kids, maybe, reading, Spirit, surrender  4 Comments
Apr
23

Definition of Cute? Born Yogis!

Babies and toddlers are wonderful examples of the miracle of the human body and it’s capabilities…. or at least, what it might have been capable of once upon a time!

When learning how to crawl, they will arch their torsos up into “Cobra”.  And just before they can walk, they will spend weeks crossing rooms in “Down Dog”.  Even while sleeping, they will unconsciously tuck into the aptly named “Baby Pose”.

As a photographer myself, I can’t imagine the time and patience that went into each and every image… babies aren’t known for doing what their told, after all.

Noticing that a baby naturally performs Yoga is one thing; getting these poses to occur in front of a camera is another story. The photographs that compose this book are captured moments, natural and candid fractions of a second where the lighting, expression and pose all come together. For most of the images, these poses and moves were completely spontaneous, the only staged elements being the placement of the baby or child and yoga mat in the proper light.

It doesn’t get much cuter than this!!  Between the wonderfully fun and engaging images and the inspirational text, Born Yogis is the perfect addition to any yoga family’s library.

Category: Kids, Products, reading, Spirit  Leave a Comment
Apr
17

Little Yogis… by Wai Lana

Wanting to introduce your tiny tots to yoga? Wai Lana, one of the originals in bringing yoga to the mainstream… you’ve seen her, I know.

The beautiful woman, often balancing precariously on a rock overlooking the sea. Known as much for her long, black hair and flowers strewn about her head, as for her peaceful, picturesque locales.

Who better to inspire our little ones?

In Wai Lana’s Little Yogis™
Fun Exercise Book,  how far can a grasshopper jump?  Where does oxygen come from?

With the Fun Exercise book, your kids will learn, laugh, and experience the wonderful benefits of yoga’s most playful poses. The whole family will love the hilarious characters, charming illustrations, and fun-filled activities.

Filled with secret waterfalls, pink elephants, silly monkeys, and rainbow butterflies, Wai Lana’s Fun Exercise captures the imagination while helping your kids grow strong, flexible, and focused.

It’s the perfect companion to her Little Yogis™ DVDs and CDs.

If you’d like it all-in-one, check out the full Fun Exercise Kit: Wai Lana’s Little Yogis.

• All kinds of fun exercises for strong bodies and sound minds
• Educational and entertaining
• Stimulates physical, mental, and emotional development
• 64 colorful pages, 11”x8”, hardbound

Category: Kids, Meditation, Practice, Products, reading, Spirit  Leave a Comment
Mar
10

Manifest Your Magnificence

Manifesting goodness, positivity and empowerment can be difficult for adults these days… let alone the children in our lives who experience our stress and anxiety on an entirely different level.

These wonderful Manifest Your Magnificence Cards from Blue Skies Yoga & EcoStore may be just the thing to introduce and reinforce important messages as well as remind children- and parents, too- that they are Magnificent Creations.

Once the child picks a card, you can reinforce the power of the affirmation by having the child express how it relates to them by:
1.  Writing, talking, drawing;
2.  Singing, acting, dancing;
3. Carrying a card with them as a reminder of who they truly are.

Each set contains 64 full colour cards, with gloss lamination to ensure high quality and durability.  All cards are packed in a beautiful full colour hi-gloss gift box to keep cards within reach and organized whether as a game or for those important teachable moments!

Category: Kids, Meditation, Products, reading, Spirit  Leave a Comment
Mar
05

Zen Shorts… A Perfect Introduction

If we had a neighbor like Stillwater…

A certain favourite among my kids, ranging in age from 4 to 10, and for me as well.  I love reading this to my gang, as much for them as for myself.

Gentle little reminders, shall we say, beautifully illustrated, with regards to generosity, forgiveness, and what defines good fortune.

Stillwater, a new neighbor to three children, gets to know them one by one, by way of a traditional zen story, addressing complex themes simply, accessibly, in a wonderfully zen sort of way.

While my four-year-old may not quite grasp the deeper philosophical undertones, she is entirely engaged by the soothing watercolours and the characters themselves.  The stories told by Stillwater to his young visitors, are each relevant to their individual circumstances and presented in dramatic japanese artwork, offering comical animal characters, lending a wonderful distinction between the magical, serene of the watercolour scenes and Stillwater’s three tales.

Zen Shorts is a unique and wonderful addition to any children’s library and so cleverly introduces the ageless philosophy to our young ones.  I certainly couldn’t have taken it on quite so effectively!

Category: Kids, reading, Spirit  One Comment