It is Back-to-School time, already. For my second grader, we had our supply list the last day of school. And while in Target looking for a summer birthday gift, we came upon the aisle filled with bins of erasers, pencils, index cards, post-its, pens, etc. I think it was only June 30!
I needed a moment. My plan was to relax this summer. Less work, less stress and more time outside with my seven-year-old. My pranayama (breathing) practice commenced in the center aisle of Target.
Last year I wrote an article, Kids Yoga: A Basic Back-To-School Supply, here for Barista Kids. It was a post-it note to me, and all the other busy moms I know, to slow down, keep it simple and take a moment to breathe with our kids. After re-reading it last week, I was reminded of the necessity to supply our kids with the essential tool of yoga. Yoga brings our kids back to the basic elements of breath, movement, fun, balance, stories and rest.
BREATHE – It all starts with the breath. Sit with your kids, in criss-cross-applesauce or an easy cross-legged position. Find a favorite pillow, blanket or rug. Make it comfy for your child. (You too.) Inhale and Exhale. That simple. Try to breathe in through the nose and out through the nose. Add some vocals. Kids love to make noise. Inhale quiet, Exhale Aaaahhhh, or Ooooooo, or EEEEeeeee. Add some arms and move a little. Inhale arms reach up over head. Clap hands together. Exhale hands together come down in front of your heart.
This is the start of a Sun Salute. I often tell my students, let’s bring a little sun into our hearts to warm up the love. Kids love to answer questions. I like to ask, “What’s in our hearts?” The kids always know the answer…..LOVE!!! This is a great way to talk with your child about who they share their love with. Listen carefully, their answers may surprise you and warm your heart too.
STAND – Getting kids to stand up and be still can be tricky. Make it fun. Standing with feet together. Have your child close their eyes and count to ten, or sing their favorite song. Or chant, the vibration of sound can be healing. For kids, chanting isn’t a long innvocation in Sankrit. It can be as basic as their name or their favorite character of the moment. In one of my classes, we chanted to Frosty. Yes, as in Snowman. It kept the kids focused, calm and happy for ten minutes! Simple.
Add the arms and the breath. Similar to what we practice in a seated position. Inhale arms up overhead. Exhale arms reach out to the sides as the child folds over their legs to touch their toes. Inhale slowly up to standing, arms can reach overhead again. Exhale arms can return back to the side of the legs or in front of the heart. Some kids love this, while others express discomfort. Make it easy and fun by choosing the elements that your child enjoys. Ride the breath with easy movement, or Vinyasa.
BALANCE – Most kids know the Tree Pose. Balance on the right leg with the left foot resting on the right ankle. Kids love to fall down. To add focus, have your child count or sing their favorite song. Remember to balance on both legs to bring equal comfort to the body. For older kids or more challenge, try Warrior III or Airplane pose. Variations can be inspiring. Again, balance on one leg with the opposite leg stretching back. Arms can be on hips or stretching forward, Superman-like.
SIT – As we go back to the floor, stretch the legs out front or sit with the feet together, knees apart know as Butterfly (Buddah Konasana). Count, sing ABCs or one of my favorites, count “1,2,3 and laugh out loud.” Then “1,2, 3 laugh very quiet”. Ask, “What color is your butterfly?” Kids can be very creative and love to express happiness. This helps to release lots of discomfort and tension.
REST – Time to relax, take a little nap and introduce meditation. The goal of Yoga is to calm the mind. This can be magical. In many of my classes this became a favorite. We layed down on our yoga mats, closed our eyes and see (visualized) in our dreams our favorite ice cream flavor. Your child does not need to share out loud. Actually, quiet can be better. Depending on the age of your child, try to see the flavor of ice cream that is NOT their favorite. This is a great way to chat about trying new things we do not like. Because maybe we may like it a little more than the last time we tried it, or maybe not, and that’s okay too. Also, pick something to see that’s current: apples on trees, leaves falling, pumpkins, snowflakes, clouds in the sky, stars out at night, Valentine hearts, seashells, etc.
TELL A STORY – Most of philosophy comes from a folktale, poem or a simple story. There is a bundle of Yoga stories for kids out there, but my favorites are the books I find that follow a theme. Stick with the season, the current holiday, lessons in manners and simple stories of love, peace, joy and kindness are embraced by kids. Or tell one you create, in the moment, or share a favorite from your childhood.
THE BIG FINISH – Honor, respect and tradition are not lost on our children if we give them simple reminders. At the end of a class, we seal our practice, with a tradition. We sit up, comfortably, bring our hands together in front of our heart and say to each other, “Namaste.” In translation, the light in me honors the light in you.
Kids love the fancy word and after a few classes of practice, they love to say it.
Every new school year brings new challenges. When our kids have yoga as a tool, they are able to feel confident, look at a situation from a new perspective and face the difficult tasks, both academic and social. This year, I am embracing my last days of summer and looking forward to that first day of school. A day filled with excitement, a little sadness and the anticipation of something new. Take a moment to double check that list, take a breath and tuck the essential back to school supply of Kids Yoga into that new backpack. See you at drop-off.
Namaste.
Melody Lima, R.Y.T. teaches Yoga at pre-schools and yoga studios in and around Montclair and is a mom.
(Photo: Flickr)
What a well written piece. Thank you Melody for reminding us to just breathe. Namaste.