Kids Yoga

6 Yoga Freeze Dances to Teach that Kids Love

Yoga Freeze Dance

You are probably familiar with the classic freeze dance game where the music plays and everyone dances, then when the music stops everyone freezes in a yoga pose.

This game can be played with all ages, as long as you choose age appropriate music for the dancing.

There are also many variations of the Yoga Freeze Dance game, including those you can learn from the children you teach if you give them an opportunity to show you what they know, like number 4 on the list below that some eleven year old students taught me.

6 Yoga Freeze Dances to Teach that Kids Love

Who’s the Pose Caller: At the beginning of the game the teacher can call the yoga poses for student’s to freeze in, then switch it up and have the students call out the poses.
Different Pose Every Time: Each person can choose their own yoga pose when the music stops but they must choose a different pose each time.
Themed Freezes: Freeze with a theme each time the music stops, for example: Freeze like… your favourite animal (or a creature from the sea, a super hero, a zombie, a partner pose, a group pose, or a letter of the alphabet – your imagination is the limit!).
Super-Freeze: If someone moves during the freeze dance they do a Super Freeze, meaning they stay on their mat in their yoga pose during the music until someone comes along and unfreezes them by doing the same yoga pose.
Super-Dance: Listen to different types of music: popular music, hip hop, disco, classical, and let the children explore dancing to these different styles.
Match the Mystery Card: Pick a pose from a deck of yoga cards while the music plays and place the card face down where everyone can see that it has been chosen. When the music stops people freeze in a yoga pose, then turn over the card. If someone matches the card, they get to pick the next song or yoga pose (make sure you have Spotify or iTunes for this variation so you can play any song and make sure it is the radio version).

Tweens doing yoga poses in an after school program.

Other Considerations for Teaching a Yoga Freeze Dance

During the freeze part the yoga teacher can give cues to assist the students, like if a child is struggling in a difficult pose, they can have everyone shift into child’s pose or transform their pose into another pose.
Limit the freeze time to a reasonable amount for your class.
Let the kids set the pace and tone of the class, let them teach the class and be fair about everyone getting a turn.
Remind people that if they are getting tired they can freeze in a relaxation pose or child pose. When everyone is in a resting pose that is a good sign to finish the game.
Otherwise, finish the game on a high note, when everyone is still enjoying it. Don’t be afraid to hear the kids protest that they want the game to last longer. That means they will look forward to playing it next time you put it in your lesson plan.

Kids Creating Lesson Plans for Yoga Class

Indeed, kids like the yoga freeze dance so much that when I gave my class the opportunity to plan our lessons over the summer, two friends chose the freeze dance for their warm up.

This was in a class of senior school age kids in their last year of childcare at one of the centres where I taught a weekly yoga class. The senior school age group can be challenging because a lot of the kids would rather be on their own at home during the summer. Plus many had been doing yoga with me for years so they knew all the games and activities.

To make the summer classes more interesting, the students created a schedule where they would take turns planning the lessons and leading the class. Two girls chose to plan a class together and when their teaching day arrived, they faced a challenge right off the top: rain.

Give Kids Opportunities to Handle Challenges

We couldn’t go outside to do the game they had planned, which needed a lot of space to run around. So they had a choice of postponing their teaching to a day with better weather or changing their game to something we could do inside.

The girls didn’t wanted to miss out on their teaching day so they quickly brainstormed new games and chose the Yoga Freeze Dance as their new warm up.

All the kids enjoyed this activity led by these two best friends. There was no complaining or sitting out! It was such a joy to see all the kids dancing freely then freezing in a yoga pose. And a greater joy to see the happiness of the kids in the role of teacher as they led the class and called out poses, then introduced variation number 4 above.

This activity was a huge hit and went five minutes longer than what was planned for the warm up activity.

Praise for the Freeze Dance

Children start doing the freeze dance at a young age, but don’t be too quick to put it away for older kids. There is something comforting about a familiar activity, it can be a joy for any age.

What’s your favourite song to dance to in a freeze dance?

Let me know in the comments because I love finding new music for my “Freeze Dance”play list.

Shocking Facts of First Aid

Do You Know First Aid?

Yesterday I finished my First Aid and CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) training so I feel like shocking everyone – because now I can handle it.

The course was taught by Jim Beck of EMS and he did a great job of keeping the information relevant and fresh. That’s him in the picture saving a baby. He’s so good at it, that’s why he looks so calm.

Actually, these are the practice babies we used so we can help all ages. The shocking fact is that children can be saved by CPR more than adults because it is not usually related to a heart attack. As long as CPR is performed right away.

A couple of stories about First Aid; one that happened to me in a kids yoga class and another a parent told me about from a yoga birthday party.

but first an….

Important Notice
This week as you go to your classes (adult or children) take note of where they keep their first aid kit. Unfortunately I learned this the hard way when one child got a nose bleed (see below). The whole incident would have been much easier if I had used the First Aid Kit hanging on the wall the whole time. I just didn’t realize it was there.

The Bloody Nose Incident:
With kids’ yoga accidents can happen quite easily. The teacher needs to keep watch of where kid’s feet are going to land and how close the kids are to each other. Prevention is key!

But sometimes kids’ noses start bleeding for no known reason.

This happened in my latest First Aid situation. My student came to me with blood coming out of her nose, all over her hand, and there was also a trail of blood on the floor behind her. She said she often gets nosebleeds.

What would you do?
Fortunately it was at the community centre with another staff around so I sent one of the older kids to bring another staff for backup. I brought the child (7 years old) to the sink in the room and since I didn’t have gloves, I gave her the paper towel to hold under her nose. Then got her to pinch her own nose just below the bone and lean forward. The nosebleed stopped in a couple of minutes.

However, the room is now “contaminated” by the blood on the floor. So all the kids needed to leave the room. There was actually only 5 minutes left so parents were arriving already. We ended the class early.

The girl’s father was informed when he arrived and the necessary incident reports filled out.

Wearing gloves, the floor was cleaned with diluted bleach.

It all went pretty smoothly, although one of the staff wanted her to tilt her head back. According to First Aid, tilting forward is the recommended way so the blood can drain out. So with that in mind it really wasn’t a big deal.

Which brings me to the next incident:

Incident 2: The Yoga Birthday Party
This incident I wasn’t there for, but it is worth noting because a lot can be learned from this.

A parent told me her daughter was at a yoga birthday party and they were all learning crane pose, balancing the body on the hands.

One little girl at the party lost her balance, falling forward and planting her face into the ground. The result – 2 teeth lost.

First, according to my first aid course there are some conditions where the tooth can be re-inserted and it will re-attach on its own. So this is where first aid can really pay off.

Second, be careful with the balancing poses! Use mats for these. I like to stick to standing poses like tree or airplane, or sitting balancing as in Kundalini Lotus pose (see below).

I avoid poses like crane and headstand. If you are going to do them, use one-on-one supervision to start with.

Kids can be very fearless and not aware of the dangers of each pose so clearly the best it to prevent accidents from happening at all.

Also consider arming yourself with first aid training too.

Kids Yoga Teacher Training and Certification with Young Yoga Masters — Find out about becoming a Certified Kids Yoga Teacher – click the image above

X Marks the Spot

I chant this in yoga class to:

– Get kids attention
– Help kids stay focused when holding a pose
– Have fun!

If the class is getting loud, I start to say the poem with one child who is sitting quietly. I draw it on the child’s back (and head – for the egg). Pretty soon all the children will be asking for a turn.

I don’t answer them until I am finished the poem, and then I tell them I will be choosing other kids who are quietly doing the next yoga pose.

Make sure each child gets a turn by the end of the class. Although, if a child isn’t quiet they may have to wait till the next time I come in to try again, but this rarely happens.

The poem goes like this:X marks the spot
With a dot, dot, dot
With a dit, dit, dit
With a Question Mark (?)Crack an egg on your head
(tap their head softly)
Let the yolk run down
(run your fingers down their hair)

Feel the breeze on your back (blow softly on their neck or back)
Let the chills go up
Let the chills go down………….

Got Ya (give them a little hug)

They will love this poem so much you won’t be able to stop doing it because they will ask for it again and again.

Now, is this yoga?
I doubt it was ever done in the Himalayas, but sometimes when everyone wants to keep saying the poem, we will all act it out using yoga poses.

Can you think of any yoga poses for it?

Upcoming Kids Yoga Teacher Training Courses and Dates in Toronto at this link — Our next Kids Yoga Teacher Training starts soon!

Transform Your Mood With Yoga!

Transform Your Mood with Yoga-
We all have times when we are not quite feeling ourselves, a little unfocused, grumpy, or just plain feeling off. Maybe we start snapping at people. Or we just can’t seem to follow along with the crowd or do what we’re “supposed” to be doing.

Try this yoga pose whenever you want to get back on track to feel better about yourself and the world around you.

The Sitting Forward Bend
This is a magnificent stretch for the entire back of your body, from neck to heels. Plus the Yogis say it also does all this:

it lifts your spirits
you feel more confident
your focus is enhanced
keeps your weight balanced
and more

How to Do It
Sit down with your feet together. Breathe in while you stretch your arms up. Out breathe while you bend from your hips. Bring your chest as far forward as you can keeping your legs straight. Reach for your toes, ankles or shins.

Take a few relaxed breaths as you stretch forward.

To finish come up slowly and then sit crossed legged for a few breaths. Notice how great you feel afterwards.

3 Ways to Inspire Kids to Hold the Pose

Sing a song or count your breaths out loud (check out my next post for a silly song that gets kid’s attention)
Pretend you are on a sled ducking under a long bridge.
(my favorite) Sometimes when you are holding this pose very still, breathing relaxed, a little ant (spider or frog) mistakes you for a hill and crawls up your back. When the kids are still, crawl your fingers softly up their backs. You can do it a few times with anyone who is still holding the pose.

This is a great warm-up stretch that can turn your frown upside down. Try it anytime you want to feel great.

A Priceless Treasure

To Get Kids Attention
In the year 2003 I found a valuable treasure while teaching kids yoga.

It was a few minutes before ten a.m. when I came into the daycare and the energy was high. The kids were sitting in their little chairs finishing snack, crumbs spread over floors and faces. Seeing me, the teachers gave the kids a 3 minute warning and started one of the many clean ups of the day. I had no idea I was about to discover a wealth that would change my teaching from that day forward.

Gratitude to a Four Year Old
I have Emily (yes – her real name) to thank for that. I’m not sure where Emily is now, she was about four then so I guess she’s about nine years old now. I hope she still does yoga because she really did love it.

Emily loved yoga so much that she was always one of the first ones to sit in the circle. As the other kids sat down, and a few of them put up a fuss, I saw Emily start doing her favorite meditation. I sat down beside her and joined her.

And then the Miracle Occurred…
We sang/chanted the meditation out loud for about 1 minute and without any other words, the group got together and joined in. Without a single piece of direction or advice every kid got ready by themselves.

This was yoga teacher ecstasy. From that moment on this became my map to get kids attention. Meditation became my new best friend!

Best Friends Forever
In my class when you hear chanting it’s time to get back in the circle and join in. I do it at the beginning, middle, and/or end of class. Any time things start getting too lively, there’s me and meditation, my BFF. It’s a win-win solution, I relax and the kids relax too.

You will be amazed how much kids like this. So much so that it became the routine in Emily’s class, a ritual that lasted till the end of the school year. Then Emily graduated to the big school.

I never did thank Emily for this gift, but I think she feels it in how much I have appreciated it.

Stroke of Genius: A Meditation

Don’t always have time to meditate?
Life and family can require mediation! Why not try this simple meditation that lets you:

– maximize your routine with your kids in the mornings and evenings

– give your children the gift of meditation

– build your child’s confidence and self esteem

– enhance your relationship with your children

A Good Hair Day!
This simple meditation is done while brushing your child’s hair. For each stroke of the brush you make, say one positive comment to your child out loud. You may start with simple compliments like:

I love you
You are beautiful
You are so much fun to be with
Your smile is remarkable
list your child’s endearing characteristics to make it as personal as possible – but keep them positive and in the moment

Then as you proceed you can say your favorite mantra, quote, or piece of wisdom aloud. You can say them to your child, say them together or say them “call and answer” style (one says it and the other repeats). Decide which ones to say or who goes first. Some of my favorites are from my Teacher:

Your attitude of gratitude determines your altitude (could be 2 strokes for the longer sayings)
Follow your bliss
Listen to your heart.

Have fun with your child, count even little strokes of the brush. Ask your child to try this special meditation with you one time to see if they like it. My niece, who hated to brush her hair, actually sat totally still while I stroked her hair giving her one compliment after another. The next day she came to me with the hair bush to do it again.

Not only will this meditation help you get ready, it adds significance to the time we take to care for ourselves and let ourselves shine. Every child needs to learn the importance of personal grooming to reflect their inner confidence and feeling of divinity, known as Raja (royal) yoga. This sweet meditation is adding a stroke of genius to your child’s routine.

For more information on upcoming Kid’s Yoga training click here.