The Kids Yoga Resource

Yoga for Children: 200+ Yoga Poses, Breathing Exercises and Meditations for Healthier, Happier, More Resilient Children

Help your kids de-stress and get healthy with  Yoga for Children: 200+ Yoga Poses, Breathing Exercises and Meditations for Healthier, Happier, More Resilient Children, by Lisa Flynn (Adams Media, an F+W Media Co.)

Description:

Yoga for Children will encourage your child to learn about yoga with an attentive, at-home instructor—you! Even if you are new to the practice, author, mom, and children’s yoga expert Lisa Flynn will guide you and your child through more than 200 yoga poses, meditations, and activities that are suitable for children between the ages of two and twelve. Complete with full-color photographs, instructional scripts, and pose modifications, Yoga for Children will help build your child’s confidence, self-awareness, and focus while strengthening your connection—one yoga session at a time.

Endorsements:

“Yoga for Children is holistic: encouraging the skills of focus, mindful reflection, and mind/body awareness, inspiring confidence, self-regulation, and self-efficacy while teaching gratitude and optimism.”

Sat Bir S. Khalsa, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Yoga Researcher; Author of Your Brain on Yoga

“Lisa Flynn has mastered the art of bringing yoga to children . . . . [This book] is absolutely packed with clear and practical guidance for any of us who want to bring the healing grace of yoga to the kids in our lives.”
Stephen Cope, Director of the Kripalu Institute for Extraordinary Living; Author of Yoga and the Quest for the True Self

“In this practical how-to guide, Lisa Flynn shares the secrets of empowering kids and families to connect with one another while learning positive, productive skills for managing the stresses of everyday life.”
Amy McCready, Founder of Positive Parenting Solutions; Author of If I Have to Tell You One More Time . .
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Read more endorsements for Yoga for Children.


About the Author:
Lisa Flynn, E-RYT, RCYT, Founder of ChildLight Yoga® and Yoga 4 Classrooms® has an award-winning kids’ yoga studio in Dover, New Hampshire. Certified in several schools of yoga for children and adults, Lisa shares her knowledge with hundreds of parents, educators, and yoga teachers every year through her trainings and workshops. She is also the author of the Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck.

ORDER NOW at the ChildLight Yoga Boutique for a SIGNED COPY!

ORDER at Amazon.com.

 ORDER at Barnes & Noble.com.


Upcoming Book Signings:
Friday, May 10, 6-10pm, Angels for Amy Fundraiser, The Red Barn, South Berwick, ME
Saturday, June 1, 10am-2pm, Dover Main Street Children's Festival, Dover, NH
Sunday, June 2, 11am-12pm, Barnes & Noble, Newington, NH
Tuesday June 25, 10:30-11:30am, River Run Books, Portsmouth, NH. Followed by Prescott Park Annual Yoga in the Park Family Class.

WHOLESALE ORDER INQUIRIES: Contact stacey@childlightyoga.com. 

 

Play, community and openness to experience at the heart of ChildLight Yoga Teacher Training

ChildLight Yoga Teacher Training is an incredibly fun, interactive and educational experience, with a passion for yoga and a love for children is at the core of this training.

Owner of Spiral Tree Yoga & Wellness in Portland, ME shares her recent experience at the ChildLight Yoga Teacher Training on her blog:

"With an amazing group of women I was fully immersed into playing like a child, seeing the world from a child’s eyes, and from a ‘tween and teen-like' perspective.
 
We gave gone through so much laughter, joy, play and yoga, breath and mindfulness that felt so so light and free. I’m ready to take what I have learned into the world and share not only with children but also with all my students who all will benefit from these tools that were presented to me.
 
Some of my lessons:
 ■laughing feels so good
 ■don’t take life super seriously all the time, allow for more play
 ■I’m forever a student and I love that
 ■be lighter on myself
 ■how much I value sense of community again and again
 ■when I trust the universe amazing thinks happen
 ■how grateful I am for everything and yoga
 ■yoga introduced to children can change the vibrations of the planet
 
On a side note, I recommend this training to anyone: yoga teachers, educators, teachers, and parents who would like to share yoga with children or adults, or just simply for yourself".

Here is a few more testimonials from ChildLight Yoga Teacher Training attendees:

"I learned so much and was left with every tool imaginable to study and explore yoga for children... It has impacted my classroom teaching, and my overall attitude and philosphy have changed so much...Thank you so much for this incredible gift. I feel profoundly changed." – E. J.

"This was one of the best trainings I've ever been to! I'm excited to carry over what I've learned into real life." – M. G.

 "It was fun to play with other adults. I think the poses, songs, games, classes were amazing and I can't wait to share them with my community. I think I have all of the resources and more to start teaching." - C.M.

Feel inspired to bring yoga and mindfulness practices to children in your community?

Join us during one of our next training weekends - see the full schedule here.

Also, learn about the upcoming ChildLight Yoga Teacher Training LEVEL II! ChildLight Yoga instructors who seek to build and strengthen their skills for teaching yoga and yoga-related concepst to children ages 2 - 12 will delve deeper into their techniques for teaching, while learning dozens of new activities. Let us take you to the next level in your kids yoga certification!

Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck Making a Difference for Kids in Africa

The Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck has been making its way around the world by yoga teachers, school professionals, counselors and many others working with children internationally.

Here is an inspiring story we recently received from Lynn Deutsch, Peace Corps Volunteer working in Botswana, Africa:

"I am a 55 year old Peace Corps Volunteer in the small village of Mmathethe, Botswana.  My primary job here is to infuse a Life Skills Program, and in thinking how I was going to get through to the primary kids, many of whom don't speak English yet, I thought what better way to inspire them than to do life skills via The Yoga 4 Classroom cards.  Having been a Child Psychologist for 21 years, and a Yoga enthusiast, I've always loved the connection between life and yoga, the work done on the mat finding it's shadow in life's situations. 

With these African children bursting with energy, yet having little staying power, possibly due to the lack of nutrients in their diet, this is the perfect venue for them---not only to increase their health, but to instill a sense of accomplishment and self-esteem.  With their enthusiasm for the poses, they know that every kid is a winner here!  The kids are practicing poses like Boat and Chair on a daily basis now with the teachers, and when I walk about the village, kids flock to me showing me the poses learned. 

A funny thing happened my first day teaching it: all sorts of kids were peeking in the window, and I was trying gently to shoo them away...well, they were relentless, and I was becoming a bit frustrated with kids outside, and then one kid in the class shouted out--"breathe into the balloon, teacher!" It was so funny, and I guess at least I know that they're absorbing the meaning of what I was trying to teach.

Time will tell how these children will translate yoga to life, but working with them is a pure joy and an experience I'll never forget".

Inspired? You too can be the change!

Perhaps you'd like to support the Africa Yoga Project dedicated to bringing the gift of yoga to multiple communities across Africa. Among other organizations, the Yoga Service Council, Yoga Activist, and the Give Back Yoga Foundation are also promoting yoga service to address the needs of various populations and communities in need of the transformative and healing power of yogic practices.

To learn more about the Yoga 4 Classrooms program, Professional Development and Trainer Intensives, check out our website www.yoga4classrooms.com. You can also follow our blog for more stories about yoga programming in schools and related resources.

WIN a Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck!

Our Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck "Rocks" reports Donna Freeman of Yoga in My School...and she's giving one away! She writes:

You really, truly need to get your hands on the fabulous Yoga 4 Classroom card deck. Today.

This well thought-out deck is packed with yoga and mindfulness ideas that are easy to use in the classroom. Ideal for Elementary Schools, and even Middle Schools, the deck is comprised of 67 over-sized (6″x8″) cards, sturdy enough to withstand daily use by teachers and youth.

Lisa Flynn of ChildLight Yoga has done a fabulous job  of providing step-by-step instructions as well as additional creative applications on every card. The illustrations by James Vaughn are bright, cheerful and depict children of diverse ethnicities and abilities...

Read the full article and ENTER TO WIN a deck here!

By the way, if you don't already follow Yoga in My School, you should. It's an absolute goldmine of useful information, including radio interviews and articles for kids' yoga teachers, parents, educators and others interested in sharing yoga and mindfulness education with children.

Yoga Calm's Flying Eagle DVD: Kids Teach Yoga

Are you looking for a short yoga DVD to share with your child or your classroom?  We found a great one!  Yoga Calm’s Flying Eagle DVD inspires the imagination through yoga poses, breathing techniques, focusing techniques, and music.

The entire DVD is about 30 minutes long, with the primary yoga class lasting for just over half that time, which is just right for children ages PreK-Grade 5.  The most endearing feature of the class is that it is led by a child.  The leader is great at giving directions, she encourages the other students to take the lead occasionally, and she continually asks the students to praise each other.  These are impressive, subtle ways in which positive re-enforcement and social skills are demonstrated. 

The class is built around the theme of the Eagle, and emphasizes our connection to nature through poses, visualization, and music.  After warming up with a focused breathing technique, simple and repetitive yoga poses are woven throughout the leader’s narrative, often encouraging the children to visualize themselves as Eagles. 

Some standout elements of the video include:

•    A meditative exercise centered on the Eagle and the Grand Canyon. 

•    In another segment, a child performs her original song written about the Eagle.  (Later, in an interview with the creators of the DVD, we learn that the whole DVD actually originated after the student presented them with the song after being inspired by one of their yoga classes!)

Other special features include:

•    Informational video about Eagles

•    Interview from creators of video who talk about the inspiration for the video, and about how yoga can positively affect the behavior of children (included for parents)

•    Focusing activity- involves tossing a ball back and forth 10 times without dropping it. Best for a group, but suitable for two people as well

The best audience for this DVD is the K-5 age group.  It keeps children’s attention and the length of yoga class is just long enough to really immerse children into the theme of the Eagle. 

After using the DVD, my own son felt calm and refreshed, as the title promises.  It also peaked his curiosity about Eagles and the Grand Canyon, so be prepared for your little person to request a search online for images and information when the DVD is over! 

The poses are in the easy to moderate range of difficulty, providing comfort in the easier poses, and challenges in the slightly more advanced poses.  The entire program is put together beautifully, from the setting to the class participants.  The participants display a wide variety of body-types and ethnical diversity, which makes the concept of yoga approachable for any child. 

Children, along with their parents and educators, will like the unique aspects of this DVD which make it stand out from a traditional yoga DVD.  Yoga Calm Flying Eagle could be very useful for a parent or educator who is interested in settling bodies and focusing minds while presenting some education on the life and qualities of the wise, majestic Eagle.

See a clip here! 

For more information and to order this DVD, click here.

Cari Quater is a writer and longtime yogi and parent of two young yogis, students of ChildLight Yoga.

Yoga Calm is a leader in the field of yoga and mindfulness education for children. For more information about the work of Yoga Calm, visit www.yogacalm.org.

The Power of Your Child's Imagination: How to Transform Stress and Anxiety into Joy and Success. A book review, giveaway, and free gift!

Let’s face it.  Some days it’s awfully tough being a kid.  School work, social pressures, parent expectations and overscheduled activities can all lead to stress and anxiety for children. 

As physical problems like headaches, sleeplessness, panic attacks and bedwetting appear, parents will want child psychologist Dr. Charlotte Reznick on their side.  In her book, The Power of Your Child’s Imagination: How to Transform Stress and Anxiety into Joy and Success (a Los Angeles Times Best Seller), Reznick shares her nine tools for using imagery to empower children and alleviate stress. 

The Power of Your Child’s Imagination is based on Reznick’s nine tools for handling common struggles.  Reznick does a great job of explaining each tool, then providing a sample script for adults to explain it to a child, variations on the technique, the way a child will use the tool and troubleshooting. 

Reznick begins by teaching Balloon Breath, which we love, because it incorporates deep breathing as the foundation to any relaxation practice.  Once the reader learns and understands the value of deep breathing (or belly breathing-the practice of filling your abdomen and not just your chest with air), he or she can move on to the remaining skills, including Discovering your Special Place, Tapping into Energy, Using Color for Healing, and Meeting a Wise Animal Friend.  Because Reznick builds each tool upon one another, one does not feel overwhelmed when beginning this practice.

“These tools facilitate a child’s inward journey to that deep place sometimes called the subconscious or unconscious.  Each touches a world of metaphor, creating a waking dream,” says Reznick in her book’s introduction.   “These images help children direct their attention to problems and symptoms they want to change.  They are easy-to-use, whimsical, and remarkable effective.”

Perhaps the most valuable aspect of Reznick’s imagery-based practice is that all the tools are easy for a child to use on his or her own.  Parents or teachers provide the guidance a child needs to learn these techniques, but kids are then free to access and utilize them as needed.

“You’ll help your kids use imagination to access their natural strengths and wisdom, and deal with their problems,” says Reznick.  “With just a little guidance, our kids can gain access to the answers for most of life’s questions within themselves.”

Here at ChildLight Yoga and Yoga 4 Classrooms, we’re big believers in using imagination-based techniques for relaxation, play and staying healthy.  Teaching children tools for stress management, resilience and emotional regulation through yoga, mindfulness and reflection is the cornerstone of our programs.  We’re thrilled that Dr. Reznick has shared her techniques, used for over twenty-five years to help kids, parents and professionals.  In fact, we honor Dr. Reznick in the opening pages of our Yoga 4 Classrooms Teacher's Guide as her important work helped to inspire some of the 'Imagination Vacations' that are part of of the Y4C classroom curriculum and Card Deck activities.  As well, her book is listed as a must-have resource in both the ChildLight Yoga Teacher Training and the Yoga 4 Classrooms Teacher Workshop and Instructor Trainings.  We've recommended it to many parents who have children suffering from anxiety, and have successfully used these visualizations at home with our own children.

For more information on Reznick, her program and where to buy The Power of Your Child’s Imagination book, CDs (listen to samples!), and others products, please visit www.imageryforkids.com.

READ MORE ABOUT THE 9 TOOLS in our post from Sept. 11th, 2009.


ENTER TO WIN!  Win a copy of The Power of Your Child's Imagination by Charlotte Reznick. 

Leave a comment here telling us why you feel it's important to encourage children's imaginations and how you plan to use the book should you win it. 

Contest is open to US and Canadian residents only.  Contest will close on Dec. 31st and a winner will be selected and notified on or around Jan. 1.  Good luck!


FREE BONUS GIFT:  Dr. Reznick gifts you with a free White Light Meditation. Listen and be transported to a sanctuary of inner peace.

Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck Review & Giveaway: by Omazing Kids Yoga

The Omazing Kids Yoga review of our new Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck is well, Omazing!  We especially appreciate that Angela Moorad, the founder, notes the features that we feel make the deck and Yoga 4 Classrooms program unique, comprehensive and user-friendly. 

Highlights of the review....

Wow…. The new Yoga 4 Classrooms Activity Card Deck has it all!  The Y4C card deck provides an easy to use, well-rounded & comprehensive approach to yoga for kids. It is a “must have” for classroom teachers & kids yoga teachers.

Here’s what I LOVE about the Y4C Card Deck:

    •    Yoga is so much more than just “poses” so it is refreshing to see this expressed so well in a kids yoga product!

    •    The instructions on the back of the card are easy to understand & often provide ideas for partner variations, ideas to include books & music and other classroom extension ideas.

    •    The cards would be very easy to use in any setting with the use of standing & chair poses (no need for yoga mats or floor space) and do not have anything in them that could be viewed as “religious” (no Sanskrit words, Om symbols, etc..) thus avoiding the potential objections school administration or parents might have.

    •    The cards are colorful & large enough to be seen in a group setting.

    •    The cards are color-coded by category.

    •    The illustrations on the cards depict kids of diverse ethnicities & abilities.

    •    The words on the front of each card capture the essence & purpose of that activity or pose and would be easy to use as “affirmations”.

    •    The “Be Well” cards  address “Yamas” & “Niyamas” of yoga via “Character Education” in a classroom-friendly way. Yamas are social disciplines –  how we behave toward others & Niyamas are personal disciplines – how we care for ourselves.

READ MORE AND ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE.