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You are here: Home / Archives for benefits

benefits

Kids Yoga For Special Needs and the Story of the Special Olympics

Kids Yoga for Special NeedsMy large experience in traveling the world and working is that we’re a lot much more alike than different at the heart. And sport is a great common denominator. – Dr. Frank Hayden

A Revolution in Play Skills for Kids with Special Needs

We become a wiser and kinder society when we try to understand each child in their uniqueness, with unique needs and unique capabilities.

Dr. Frank Hayden, Founder of Special Olympics
Dr. Frank Hayden

Yet there was a time when children with special needs were thought to be unintelligent and physically incapable of participating in the most basic play and sporting activities.  All teachers, families, and coaches saw was what those children couldn’t do.  Few were asking or wondering about what kids with special needs could do.

Sometimes it takes someone thinking differently than everyone else to transform long-held social beliefs like these. Once such person was Dr. Frank Hayden. He revolutionized the way educators approached teaching physical activity to kids with special needs.

“Nobody taught them to ride a bike because they figured they would never learn. Nobody on the street played with them because they didn’t have the play skills to do it. And people were in some ways, even frightened of them.”  – Dr. Frank Hayden

Dr. Hayden currently lives in Burlington, Ontario, where we hold our kids yoga summer certification, but he started his revolutionary fitness research with a group of inner-city Toronto children in the 1960’s.

It’s Not the Disability that Prevents Participation, It’s a Lack of Opportunity

Using the tools of the scientific method he showed it wasn’t disability that prevented children with special needs from participating in play and recreation, it was a lack of opportunity.  Those children had never been taught play skills which meant they had never gotten the opportunity to learn play skills.

The Dawn of the Special Olympics

When Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the sister of John F. Kennedy, heard of Dr. Hayden’s revolutionary research she asked him to help start an Olympic style event for children of differing sporting abilities. The first such event was held in Chicago in 1968 it became a regular occurrence going on to be named the Special Olympics. Dr. Hayden played a key role in the growth and development of the Special Olympics which now involves over 5 million athletes in 170 countries.

For his pioneering work in sport and play Dr. Hayden was recently inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.

This video of Dr. Hayden’s work is highly recommended because it shows what a difference one person with the right attitude can make.

Dr. Hayden changed hearts and minds and proved that highly skilled physical activity and athleticism was possible for all children, especially those of varying physical and learning abilities.

To develop these skills, kids must be given the opportunity to learn.

Society has become a kinder and wiser thanks to this ground breaking research and world changing actions.

As kids yoga teachers we can honour Dr. Hayden’s work when we learn ways to offer yoga with activities and environments where children with special needs can fulfill their physical and emotional potentials.  All kids can do yoga if we give them the opportunity to learn.

Inclusive Yoga

If you would like to learn more about teaching yoga to children of varying abilities, the next kids yoga teacher training module is Inclusive Yoga and it focuses on yoga for kids with special needs. In addition to poses and music, we present techniques and tools like visual schedules, games like the yoga obstacle course, and activities that teach kids how to self-regulate stress using our super hero Yoga Man.

 

Inclusive Yoga Certificate Kids Yoga Teacher Training

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

 

 

Filed Under: Kids Yoga Tagged With: benefits, children's yoga, kids yoga teacher training, yoga for special needs

Easy Breathing Activities for Kids Yoga

Children's Yoga Teacher Blows Bubbles and Kids try to pop them with their feet in the kids yoga teacher trainer certification

An Amazing Way to Get Kids’ Attention

It’s amazing how much use you can get out of a 99c bottle of dish detergent.

Picture a classroom full of young students, some eager to move and learn while others remain nervous or disinterested. A kids yoga teacher asks the kids to sit still and close their eyes, and when they are ready, the teacher reveals a bubble wand and soap.

The excitement is audible.

Students are directed to lie down beside each other, and the instructor blows bubbles above them encouraging them to pop as many as they can – with their feet. There isn’t an apathetic student in the room when they learn they’ll all get a try.

This method of getting kids engaged is shown towards the end of this video from the Young Yoga Masters Kids Yoga Teacher Certification:

While this simple prop introduction may sound insignificant, it promotes a safe and engaging environment while teaching incredibly relevant lessons. When kids pop bubbles by kicking the air, they get moving. More importantly, it prevents them from getting lost in the excitement, chasing after bubbles with minimal regard for their own safety, let alone that of the other kids.

Incorporating Bubbles into Kids Meditation

This activity is also a fantastic prompt for discussion. Think of the associations or lessons which could be learned by analyzing the use of bubbles:

  •  Blowing bubbles requires a relaxed and smooth breath which requires practice and patience.
  • Students may notice how delicate and short-lived the bubbles are. They are present for a brief time, and we appreciate them while they last rather than focusing on the loss. The fragile and temporary nature of bubbles is an easy connection to detachment and the idea of letting go. This makes for an excellent meditation prompt, as students can be encouraged to slow down their thoughts and imagine themselves dismissing a negative idea with each bursting bubble.
  • Students may also be encouraged to visualize themselves filling each bubble with a positive thought and letting these go, too. This is an important practice for avoiding fixation on things, and finding contentment.
  • The simplicity of bubbles permits nearly anyone to easily sketch them, and thought-bubbles or charts are an excellent way to visually keep track of discussion points and ideas.

The opportunities are truly endless.

“I remember teaching at a retreat and giving children a choice of activities, they chose the bubbles. We went outside and spent a half hour blowing bubbles, without any other activity necessary. The adults were in a three hour workshop and so for the last half hour of our time with the kids we blew bubbles. I considered it thirty minutes of deep breathing, and we all felt incredibly relaxed by the end. It was an added bonus that after this activity the children returned to their parents super calm.” 

– Aruna Kathy Humphrys, Lead Trainer, Young Yoga Masters

Nowadays, it is easy to forget that kids enjoy uncomplicated activities too, especially with the accessibility of video games and wide array of complex entertainment; simplicity can be refreshing.

Keeping kids safe and engaged can often be challenging for parents and teachers, yet it benefits all to stay creative with lesson plans and remember that even a small grocery store purchase can have an incredible impact.Young Yoga Masters Teacher Showing Kids Breathing Exercise

Share your fun kids yoga breathing activities in the comments section below.

Upcoming Events

Kids Yoga Teacher Training Yoga Alliance Registered Childrens Yoga School
Click this link for all the upcoming Kids Yoga Teacher Certification courses

Kids Yoga Teacher Training is always a welcome adventure you’ll be glad you explored!

Filed Under: Classroom Management, Inspiration, Kids Yoga, Lesson Plans, Meditation with Children, Videos, Yoga Games Tagged With: benefits, breathing, Kids Yoga, kids yoga teacher training, meditation for kids, Yoga Games

5 Ways to Use Themed Lesson Plans in Kids Yoga

Who doesn’t love themes? It’s fun to dress in green for St. Patrick’s Day, put out spooky decorations for Halloween, and let kids pick heart shaped affirmations on Valentine’s Day. Here are some benefits you may not have thought of when you plan a lesson around a theme.  The pictures in this article are all from our Kids Yoga Teacher Training practicum, the part of the training with real kids.

1.  Avoid Boredom and Get Inspiration for Yoga Class Plans

Themes can help get you through those 52 classes every week of the year! Whether it’s inspired by a seasonal event, special occasions, or yoga concepts, using themes gives you a starting point for what to teach. With Valentine’s Day approaching use the theme to teach about the heart, love, and friendship. These themes can last a few weeks and vary throughout the year. If you go in without a theme your classes might get boring or repetitive.
Tools from the kids yoga teacher training are used by a student during the practicum to get the children's attention and then to do lunge pose

Here are some lesson plan ideas based on themes we’ve written about already:

  • 5 Kids Yoga Themes for Spring
  • Character Development:  Respect
  • The Runaway Bunny Class Plan based on the Book

2.  Help Students Progress in Their Learning

As kids yoga teachers get to know the children and they get to know you,  you can build on themes each yoga class

You can use your themes to build on ideas, even if the theme is very loosely tied in. For example, the theme of meditation for children can be taught for weeks adding a different component each class. The theme of alignment lets you build up to harder poses. Themes can be used to teach difficult concepts over a period of time, they allow you to introduce concepts that would be lost when working without a class theme.

3. Delight Teachers by Integrating School Themes into Yoga

Teachers in the Kids Yoga Teacher Training Use Worksheets  and Songs in Lesson Plans to give Structure to the Kids Camp Practicum

School and daycare often have a theme each week, and you can integrate them into your classes. Some themes are school wide, like character education like kindness and appreciation. Many Daycares post a monthly schedule at the door of the classroom. Ask your students what they’re learning about, they will appreciate how you’ve taken an interest and may participate more.

4. Increase Student Participation

A theme can be as simple as "Learning Names" as in this ball activity in yoga class for children

When you have been teaching a class for a while, you can let the kids teach the class! The more they get involved, the more fun they’ll have, the more they will learn, and the more they will want to come back.

Themes give youth structure for planning their own classes. Themes help you choose poses and decide what to talk about. I’ve had tweens and teens plan a short class from start to finish around a theme of their choice. They really get excited about it. When they’re done planning, both of you have learned something new.

5. Lesson Plans Save You Time and Become Your Legacy

If you write your lesson plans down, you’ve got something to look back on for future years. Themes can be reused and added to — especially seasonal themes and yoga concepts. They come in handy when life gets busy. As a bonus, you’ve also got something to put in your blog or future book! : )

So go ahead, get creative! Use themes in your lesson plans, and you’ll add fun and excitement to learning!!

Stay tuned for our next post:  When to Throw Your Lesson Plan Out the Window!

Congratulations to the Branching Out Graduates!

kids yoga teacher training certification from yoga alliance registered childrens yoga school

Upcoming Kids Yoga Teacher Training

Kids Yoga Teacher Training Yoga Alliance Registered Childrens Yoga School
Click Here for Upcoming Dates

Filed Under: Kids Yoga, Lesson Plans, Teacher Training Tagged With: benefits, kids yoga teacher training, lesson plans, teamwork, themes

Benefits of Yoga for Kids

Looking for the benefits of Yoga for Kids for a proposal, advertisement, or even to convince your own children?  These benefits just might convince someone that yoga for kids is a great choice.

Benefits of Yoga for Kids

 

All Kids Can Do Yoga: One of the major benefits of yoga for kids is that you don’t have to be an athlete to do it.  In yoga, kids won’t stand in line waiting to be picked for a team,  and you won’t let a team down if you don’t have skills. Yoga meets you where you are at, whether you touch your thighs, your knees, or your toes.  Saying you’re too stiff to do yoga is like saying you’re too old to have fun!  it just doesn’t make sense. Yoga is for everyone willing to try.

a grandmother and young girl and young boy do the forward sitting bend in yoga pose
Yoga is for Every Child

 

Learning for the Joy of Learning: In yoga you can learn because you enjoy it, not because you have to follow a lesson plan or fulfill a curriculum. Now I know that notion may be hard for some of us who were raised in authoritarian classrooms where you learned because you had to pass.  Imagine if you also got to learn because you were interested.

Yoga gives children and teachers permission to be in the moment and explore what interests them.  If everyone is enjoying a pose or activity you can stay with it a little longer.  Kids benefit from slowing down, not rushing from one thing to the next, and taking the time to know yourself and your preferences.

As the yoga proverb goes: we are human beings, not human doings.

 

Mother and Daughters share a tender moment in Kids Yoga Camp.
Yoga Lets You Go At Your Own Pace, To Speed Up or Slow Down as You Wish

 

Child Directed Play and Learning:  If you have a group of children who aren’t interested in what you have planned, you can change the plan.  This is a HUGE benefit because school teachers HAVE to get through a curriculum.  Yoga teachers have to build community and trust with their students, which means yoga teachers can listen to their students and take direction from them.  Yoga allows children to set the course, which means children are more likely to enjoy what they are doing and keep coming back.

We discovered that education is not something which the teacher does, but that it is a natural process which develops spontaneously in the human being.
– Maria Montessori

 

The Science of Yoga is recommended from to learn about the health benefits of yoga.
Recommended to learn about the health benefits of yoga.

Health Benefits for Children: 

As yoga becomes steeped in our culture, more studies are surfacing on the benefits, and also the dangers, of yoga.

If you are looking for a scholarly look at the health benefits of yoga, I recommend The Science of Yoga by William J. Broad. Broad takes a relentless look at the claims made by yogis, and aims to bring yoga into the world of science. He asserts that, gasp, you can’t just say something to make it true.

I was surprised by some studies, like how yoga breathing actually works.  I was reassured by other studies, like the proven emotional  benefits of yoga. Broad also explains why it is so important that teachers become properly trained to help students avoid injuries. This book is well worth the read to educate you on the science behind the yoga.

 

Students enjoying Kids Yoga Teacher Training doing yoga poses and smiling.
Going to Yoga Teacher Training puts a smile on your face!

Going to Yoga School is Fun:  Every once in a while I’ll have a stress dream about taking an exam or writing an essay and I don’t even know the topic.  Its a throwback to my school days when you learned what you were told to learn because it was on the curriculum.  School took discipline, homework, and study. School could be really stressful.

Now before you object, I agree that it takes dedication to be a kids yoga teacher too.  But you will see so many happy faces in a kids yoga teacher training because people are there because they want to learn.  Plus, it’s just plain fun to learn through play.  Its fun to remember what its like to be a kid again. How does this benefit kids?

You know, a happy teacher makes a happy classroom.

There are other benefits not listed here, I invite you to add them in a comment.  What benefit have you seen kids experience because of yoga? What benefits have you experienced?

Thanks for reading.

Aruna

P.S. there are many amazing things coming up for you to consider – please take a look below and see if any of them will benefit you:

Upcoming Kids Yoga and Other Yoga Events

Training that Counts!

To See our latest schedule of Kids Yoga Weekend Training and Summer Certification Programs visit our Teacher Training Page.

Click Here for Upcoming Dates for the childrens yoga teacher training
Click Here for Upcoming Dates
Yoga Alliance Registered Children's Yoga School Seal
Take a kids yoga training that counts!

Young Yoga Masters is a Yoga Alliance Registered Children’s Yoga School.

 

 

Filed Under: Attitude, Kids Yoga Tagged With: benefits, Kids Yoga, kids yoga teacher training, lesson plans

Kids Yoga Teachers of the World – Unite

Yoga Man - the Yoga Super Hero

When I was a kid I loved watching the Justice League, the caped crusaders who banded together to fight evil.  It was exciting to see all that power in one room.

Many years later, one of my first yoga students owned a very popular restaurant in downtown Toronto.  She came in one day talking about a new restaurant opening down the street from her. You might think she would be upset about the competition, but she was actually happy. Over the years their location had become known as a “restaurant district.” Great eateries banding together actually helped their bistro businesses boom. It was a lessons on how to be creative rather than competitive.

Banding together isn’t just for Super Heroes and Restaurants

Today I want to tell you about the incredible way Kids Yoga Teachers from around the world are banding together to create something good for all of us.  Here’s how you can be part of it.

Leah Kalish, founder of Move with Me Yoga, is a finalist in the Partnership for a Healthier America – End Childhood Obesity Innovation Challenge.  She is now 1 of 10 finalists vying for the top three spots, to win prizes that include a lot of exposure for kids’ yoga!  If we all band together to get votes we can put her into the top three.

It’s just great in so many ways. You help children because:

“Pre-schoolers who are overweight or obese are five times more likely to stay that way.  Pre-school is the key time to instill healthy physical activity and self-regulation habits that will last a lifetime.”

–          Leah Kalish, Move with Me

It’s also great because you can:

Win One of 65+ Prizes from the Kids Yoga Community

Equally inspiring to me, is the support the Kids Yoga Community is showing. To get people to vote, over 65 kids yoga prizes have been donated by Children’s Yoga Leaders from around the world.  These include Young Yoga Masters prizes:

  • The Frog Yoga Alphabet Teacher Training Double Pack
  • Yoga Man vs. The Stressor, Yoga for Boys Teacher Training

    The Frog Yoga Alphabet - one of the prizes to be won.

Here’s how you can band together to promote kids yoga.  Then if you want, enter yourself for the draw for some great prizes:

  1. Vote now for Move with Me Yoga in the Innovation Challenge Contest here.
  2. Then Enter the Raffle here for a chance to win one of the 65+ Prizes (see the full prize list here too).
  3. Tell your friends and get more entries for the 65+ Prizes here.

If You Believe Yoga Can Help End Childhood Obesity – Vote Now

Not only will you be helping a wonderful kids’ yoga teacher, you’ll be helping to get kids yoga recognized as an innovative way to end childhood obesity.  Which in turn adds credibility to all the kids’ yoga teachers of the world.

Do what you can to help. I’d love to see a Young Yoga Masters blog reader walk home with some sweet yoga for children loot.

Please leave a comment if you have any questions or any problems filling in the info.

Yours truly,

Aruna Kathy Humphrys
www.YoungYogaMasters.com

P.S.  At the time of this post Move with me had slipped to 4th place in the voting (5 votes behind the important 3rd place spot).  We need your help to get to 3rd or 2nd place.  Get kids healthy and get kids yoga recognized too! Vote now.

Filed Under: Business Development, Kids Yoga Tagged With: benefits, contest, cooperation, news, obesity

How to Start a Kids Yoga Program at a School

An empty playground, soon to be filled with children.

Back to school looms closer and closer.  This is good news for kids yoga teachers interested in finding new classes.   Here are some pointers, from experience, on how to get a kids yoga program into a school.

How Well Do You Know Your School System?
The first thing to do is to get to know your school system and curriculum and this is where we give thanks for the internet. Search your city name and “education,” “Ministry,” or “Board” until you find the official government website.

You’re about to learn a new language – the one used by your school.  Write your proposal using the language from their curriculum NOT yoga language.  You won’t find a single requirement for chakra opening in a school curriculum.  Each school system has their own vernacular, learn it and use it as much as possible in your proposal.

Physical Education Curriculum:
What is it called and what are the curriculum requirements.  In my area (Ontario, Canada) the Health and Physical Education program is divided into “Strands” (see what I mean about language!).

There are three strands in Grades 1 – 8, and four in high school.  When you’ve got a good idea of how your yoga program enhances the curriculum, then who do you talk to?  Usually its the Physical Education Department Head.

Class Sizes – How Many Can You Teach?
Also look on the website for the typical class size.  This will help you determine how many classes you can teach at a time.  If you put two classes together, one teacher can stay for yoga while the other gets to catch up on other work.  It also cuts down on expenses.  My area tries for 23 students or fewer in primary classes.  Put your class size limits in your proposal as well as how many classes you can teach in a row.

Professional Development for Teachers:
Can you sweeten the package by adding a free class to teachers at the staff meeting if they book you for a minimum number of classes?  Talk to the department head, VP or Principal of the school about how you can save them money and time.

Other Types of Education in the Curriculum:
Examples:  Stress Management, Character Development, Healthy Schools initiative, Michelle Obama introduced the Let’s Move program.  Tap into these with kids yoga.  Please share any grants you know of in the comments!

Lunch-Time or After School Classes:
These classes usually involve charging each student enrolled.  If you can get high numbers you can keep the cost down and still make a living.  Approach the Parent Board at the school as a way in.

Daycare Classes:
Some regions offer daycare programs for after school.  Approach the daycare manager about doing a weekly class in each room.

Make someone’s life easier.
Who ever you approach, make their life easier.  No one wants a program that means more work!  Deliver a great kids class.  If you can’t, get the yoga and kids yoga training to do it. You’ve got to know how to manage and run a kids yoga class or you’re program won’t last.

Become a Reliable Resource for the School
Most of the places I teach kids yoga, I’ve gone to for over 7 years, some schools for 10 years!  It’s better to return to a school rather then to keep finding new classes.  If you make the whole program stress-free, they will want you back and this is good for everybody.

The Time is Now:  The Week Before School Starts
All this information is very timely!  There is a window right before school starts where the teachers are back to work but the students aren’t.  In Ontario the teachers start back on Sept. 1 but the children don’t come back till Sept. 7.  Find the window and go in with a proposal.  Or wait a month till the back to school rush is over. You may be able to help the teachers meet their requirements.

All the best to everyone out there working to increase kids health and happiness.  Please feel free to add any insights or links you have to the comments and let’s get more kids doing yoga!

Aruna Kathy Humphrys
www.YoungYogaMasters.com

More News

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Filed Under: Business Development, Kids Yoga Tagged With: benefits, Kids Yoga, new classes, schools

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