Had to start a brand new category for this one… titled WTF?!?!
Not that I am judging the parents of this infant, but who could possibly stand by and witness their two-week-old being swung around like a sack of basmati rice?!
Tag-Archive for » Kids «
Category: WTF
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Mar
24
Finally… a school district that has actually taken on the “higher” in higher learning!
A British Columbia school district has approved, among other courses such as Musical Theatre and Outdoor Pursuits, yoga in an effort to address kids’ interest and demand.
According to Superintendent Jan Unwin, “the wide variety of courses is intended to keep kids in school by offering them something they will be interested in.”
This marks a new era in education (finally!?) as those interests that were once considered ‘alternative’, particularly given the spiritual component to something like yoga, are now seen as so positive and constructive as to be considered part of a public school curriculum.
Yoga has proven benefits in the areas of self-esteem and healthy body image, two critical aspects of children’s development, particularly for girls.
Introducing adolescents to the power and beauty of yoga really only introduces and reinforces the power and beauty in themselves…
which is something everyone needs!
Good on School District No. 42 for recognizing it!
Mar
01
The ubiquitous yoga ball. I have three. I offer them a guilt-ridden, never used you for anything other than corner dressing loving glance everytime I pass them stacked precariously in the playroom.
But, as a homeschooling mom of three- two of them active, boisterous boys- I will certainly look at my otherwise under-utilized orbs (minds out of gutters, people!) a little differently after reading this.
It’s remarkable, really…
Kids learn better balancing on yoga balls.
Right on… from pummelling each other with them to actually sitting and learning on them. Hello, Monday!
Category: health, Just Crazy... In A Good Way, Kids, news
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Dec
06
We’ve all known for ever the importance of a healthy breakfast to children’s learning, but one British primary school is also recognizing the benefits of incorporating yoga and meditation into education.
Riverside Primary in Rotherhithe
According to a recent article in The London Evening Standard, the children of Riverside Primary in Rotherhithe were provided with not only a proper breakfast heading into their primary SAT’s but also, under the guidance of a local yoga instructor, exercises in breathing and yoga.
The results astounded as the school, serving an area of considerable social disadvantage, found themselves ranked top of the Evening Standard’s league tables today, helping pupils soar more than a year ahead of their peers between the ages of seven and 11.
While the school made a concerted effort not to merely teach to the controversial tests, contributing to the remarkable results, the additional support in the form of healthy breakfast and relaxation exercises without doubt paid off this year.
Category: health, Kids, Meditation, Spirit, yoga
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Nov
16
I’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….
Nov
13
We have been trying to implement a regular routine of meditation for the kids…
It’s short and sweet, don’t get me wrong.
While eleven year old sits and is definitely interested in ‘getting it’, the others are typical kids and do what they have to to endure the seemingling endless minutes. There’s a bit of fidgeting by seven-year-old. And five-year-old lone girl child feels the need to act out the scenes I describe to facilitate relaxation: eyes scrunched shut, turning her face upwards with an exaggerated smile towards a fictional sun or scratching and digging her toes into the floor as though it’s actually warm Caribbean sand.
Regardless the fidgeting and dramatic performance, it’s a practice. It’s a practice that will provide them with a personally valuable life skill. The ability of being able to still the mind, get quiet, calm down, gather. It’s a practice that will serve them well as they grow and mature and the anxieties and stresses of life intensify. They don’t understand that now, certainly. But I take heart in this being a gift I can give them that will provide them infinite rewards as they evolve into teens and adults.
However, as we- parents- make our way through our own transition right now, implementing new strategies to manage our stress and keep thinking positively, and as we enjoy the benefits of these strategies, it becomes clear that these few minutes early in the day are only part of the picture.
The practice extends beyond just a few minutes of focusing on good feelings for a few moments. It’s an exercise in looking for, recognizing, and even getting excited anticipating, good things throughout the day. Little things, sometimes really seemingly insignificant- inconsequential- things, but together add up to a wonderful day.
As homeschoolers we’re together most of the day. This lends itself to great quality time, but also to more opportunities for conflict and irritation.
So, we’ve begun making lists throughout the day… making a brief stop here and there to quickly consider and jot down those good things that happen, no matter how small. Say, really simply, ‘I had leftover pizza for lunch…” or “I got my language arts done in only one hour…” or “Sister helped me build my fort…”
These little things end up being pretty easy to identify (particularly for kids!) and what’s remarkable about this exercise -an introduction to appreciation and gratitude- is how fast the lists are compiled and how much fun it becomes!
There is no right or wrong in the lists, as long as they’re positive and that they please us to look back upon.
It brings colour to the day.
Of course, this practice doesn’t eliminate the bumps and challenges that can be part of our days, but it gives us a little precious perspective, balancing the conflicts, trials and frustrations with appreciation, fun and wonder.
Category: gratitude, health, Kids, Meditation, Spirit, strength, surrender
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Nov
09
In a recent post I addressed, through the words of Deepak Choprah, the importance and power of meditation in enhancing the lives of our children.
Through meditation- sitting in stillness, engaging and developing the frontal portion of the brain, we encourage the best in who we can be: compassion, empathy, love, and ultimately, happiness.
And isn’t that really what we want for our kids… particularly knowing that all the stuff (TV, video games, mp3′s and all the rest!) isn’t really doing it. Ironically, at least for my own kids, indulging in these pursuits as fun as they may think they are, tends to make them just plain unpleasant rather than happier!
For those of us who make a practice of sitting in meditation know what hard work it can seem. And if it’s this hard for an adult how possibly can my high energy seven-year-old son manage? Well, not on his own, that’s for sure…
“Thump… thump, thump!”
“What’s going on in there?”
“I’m meditating!”
Now, unless my child is gifted at telekinesis, somehow the school chairs came to be overturned with a cat cowering beneath for cover!
Category: health, Kids, Meditation, Spirit, strength, surrender
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Jun
04
Those of us who know, understand and feel what yoga does for our own mental and physical health certainly agree that yoga can do the same for our kids… maybe more.
Category: Blog
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May
18
15 original songs, rockin’ yoga music for kids for tons of yoga fun!
Folksy, rockin’, funky and fun, Come Play Yoga! features an eclectic mix of musical styles, including rock, reggae, disco, country, new age, and rhythmic chanting.
Kids can practice yoga along with popular songs from the popular classes at Karma Kids Yoga, or they can just chill out and enjoy the yoga groove. Each track playfully aims to inspire confidence, strength, imagination, and inner-peace, as well as bring a smile to your child’s yoga practice.
Category: Kids, Products
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Apr
23
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
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