Unexpected Lessons from Kids Yoga

Yesterday I started a new yoga session with kids, ages 3-6.  I had been preparing all month – reading books on how to incorporate yoga poses into games, new poses with sound effects and other ways to keep my young clients’ attention.  As I’ve mentioned, I’m the proud mom to a 20 lb. furry girl - no human kids – so this was unknown territory for me.

When our 45 minutes for class arrived, it actually went pretty smoothly…Tree Pose and Happy Baby were big hits.  As we were working on Cradle the Baby, a seated hip opener, and discussing how sometimes babies need to be cradled & soothed if they’re crying, one 3 year old participant remarked that his baby was made of butter. I’m not sure what that means exactly, but the comment brought smiles all around, and extended to my later class when I recounted the story. 

To be a kid – just enjoying the moment. Moving, playing, using your imagination – not at all concerned about what you’re going to make for dinner later, or whether the person on the mat next to you has better form, legs, arms (you fill in the blank).  I look forward to learning lots from my young, but wise clients.

I left the class feeling like I had a good cardio workout (who needs a treadmill with kids yoga?). I spent the rest of the day feeling refreshed, energized and inspired to approach my other classes, as well as my day with a little more wonder, a little more fun. 

Yoga at Home: Beginning a Home Practice

You feel so calm and relaxed after your favorite yoga class you begin to wonder, how can I do yoga more than once/twice a week? For many of us, committing to yoga classes 3+ times a week isn’t very practical balancing work, home and everything else. So that brings us to a home practice. Common responses I hear from clients when discussing a home yoga practice include “I’m not sure what to do”, “There are too many distractions at home” or “With so much to do, yoga gets pushed to the bottom of the list”. With those in mind, here are a few ideas about beginning a home yoga practice, along with tips to get you started.

• Start Small - Your yoga practice at home doesn’t have to be an hour long. Start with 5, 10 or 15 minute sessions and build up. As your yoga practice becomes part of your routine, there may be opportunities where a longer practice will work.  If not, remember even small doses of yoga does the body good.  

• Listen to Your Body - The beauty of a home practice is that you decide what to do! Your practice may vary depending on the day you had, your energy level, as well as your body’s tightness or tension. If you’re feeling stressed, you may want a more gentle practice with ample time for breathing and relaxation. If you want a more active practice, incorporating more standing poses and full flows will complement your energy level.  Just make sure you’ve warmed the body with active movements such as Sunflowers or Full Flows before deep stretches or twists. If you’re not sure what to do, check with me (or another trusted yoga teacher) for ideas.  Yoga DVDs and books can also be very helpful in guiding your practice. 

• Work with the Distractions - We can minimize some distractions during our yoga time by setting the expectation with kids, turning off the TV and muting the phone.   However, life doesn’t usually stop for yoga time. That’s when yoga should be worked into the mix.  Try stretching with Cat & Cow and Spinal Balance while watching TV with the kids.  If you practice Dolphin Plank, try holding the pose during a commercial break. Practice balancing with Tree while getting dinner ready. Whenever you can, find your Mountain Pose to improve your posture, lengthen the spine and breathe more fully.

Just like our YogaXoga classes, you can adjust your home practice to what you need that day and to what your time allows. Some days you may need a long run or a good book & a cup of tea instead of yoga – and that’s ok too. Remember when we take a little bit of time for us regardless of the activity, we’re better able to give to others.