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The Magic Yoga Seed
Wide eyes watch me intently as I gingerly place an invisible magic yoga seed in each set of small cupped hands. “It’s not magic yet,” I caution. “You have to put your own magic into it.” They’re guided through breathing in through the nose, breathing out through the mouth – onto the seed. “Feel the warmth? That’s YOUR magic.” My own anticipation builds as I watch them follow my instructions to carefully place their hands still holding the seed over their hearts and repeat after me…I – Love – ME!” A thrill shoots through me as I receive their immediate acceptance of this most basic component of self-worth. They have been reminded of what every child is born knowing but perhaps has forgotten within a few short years. Sometimes in this moment of remembering a chant spontaneously erupts … “I Love Me! I Love Me! I Love Me!” To seal the deal I tell them that I can feel energy and if they remember to say or think to themselves – I Love Me – the energy will grow bigger and bigger. I show them how I can feel energy between my hands and how I’ll check their heart energy the next time we meet.
This is my favorite opening exercise to do with preschool and elementary children that “plants the seeds” of self acceptance, a basic yogic teaching. There are hundreds of games, techniques and exercises that have made yoga and yogic concepts accessible to children.
Across Our Nation
In the United States the practice of yoga has been steadily gaining acceptance since the 70’s as adults experience the benefits to their health and well-being. As these waves of practitioners matured it was sensed that the earlier these teachings could be offered, the better. Many fine organizations like Yoga Ed.™, Next Generation Yoga, Yoga Kids, Radiant Child (to name just a few), and locally The Children’s School of Yoga, emerged to serve our young yogis. Now you can find kid yoga programs not only in yoga studios but schools, camps and community centers as well.
Adult vs Kid Yoga
A kid yoga experience is nothing like the pin-drop silence of an adult yoga class. Kid yoga is an interactive, boisterous romp that challenges children physically, mentally and emotionally. Yoga postures become fun group games. Partner poses allow for exploration of trust, balance and kinesthetic awareness. Group discussions and the use of affirmations build self-esteem and awareness of choices. Guided imageries help children discover their inner world and its importance for rest and renewal while also giving them access to finding their own answers and developing self-responsibility.
Benefits of Starting Young
Kid yoga programs inspire young people to establish a lifetime of wellness by supporting children to find enjoyment and success in physical activity. There are tools that develop focus, concentration and self-awareness that in turn enhance social, mental and emotional well-being. Yoga is non-competitive and creates balance, integration, flexibility and quiet as it slows down brain waves, aligns body, breath and mind while releasing tensions and toxins. I’ve found that children are very receptive to the concept of “yoga off the mat.” In other words, they easily transfer what they learn on their mat to their daily lives. In my opinion, all kids are natural yogis!
Try This At Home
A kid and family favorite is a partner pose called “Lizard on a Rock.” It’s an ideal pose for an adult and child to do together. Whenever doing postures together it’s important to move slowly, communicate with each other and feel your way in and out of the pose. For this pose have a third person close by for any assistance you may need. The adult is the rock and goes into the yoga posture called Childs Pose. To do this the adult sits on his/her own shins, tops of the feet flat, hips to heels. Hinge at the hips and bring the forehead to rest on the floor, chest on upper thighs. If you feel comfortable you can add the lizard – your young partner. The child then carefully sits on your hips facing away and lays down along your back so you end up spine to spine. Instruct the lizard to relax while you do the same and then enjoy the gentle stretching as you continue to relax and breathe. To come out, the rock places both palms on the floor near your ears. Pressing into the palms and using the strength of your arms slowly raise your upper body. The lizard doesn’t move and just allows him or herself to slide off as the rock comes up to sit. Remember – always move slowly and communicate with one another.
What I Live For
Four-year-old Dakota is running up behind me, “Miss Kathleen, Miss Kathleen!” I turn and kneel down eye to eye. “Check my I-love-me energy…it’s getting SO BIG!”
Kathleen Wellcome, RYT teaches Amrit Yoga better known as “Meditation in Motion,” or “The Posture of Consciousness.” Her training for kid yoga is through Yoga Ed.™.
She teaches locally at studios, schools and community centers and runs the yoga program at Hillcroft Day Camp in Billings, NY. Her current focus is training for schoolteachers which gives them the tools to bring yoga into their own classrooms. Kathleen can be reached at wellcomeyoga@optonline.net.