Recently, Good Morning America ran a segment on how – and why – more doctors are recommending yoga for young patients. One situation in which yoga is increasingly recommended is for children diagnosed with ADHD, as it is well recognized that yoga-based activities of all kinds can be extremely effective in helping kids learn how to focus and self-regulate.

We see this efficacy regularly in our work with children – Lynea’s at the school where she is a counselor, and our work together in conducting children’s classes at a clinic. And because so many other teachers, counselors, occupational therapists and other adults who work with children are regularly faced with the special challenges of working with kids diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, we found it beneficial to create special Yoga Calm trainings focused on ways of meeting those challenges. (Parents, of course, find these workshops invaluable, as well!)

We teach the ADHD workshops with Jeffrey Sosne, PhD, a clinical Psychologist and Director of The Children’s Program. Widely recognized as one of Portland, Oregon’s leading authorities on ADHD, Jeff is the author of two practical guides for parents and school personnel: The ADHD Notebook and The Anger Notebook. Together, we cover Dr. Sosne’s strategies and games for working with ADHD and show how Yoga Calm activities – both the physical yoga and the social/emotional games – can be used to help nurture self-control and focus in kids for whom such things have been difficult.

Here are five of the tips we teach for doing so:

Practice Making Eye Contact

Eye contact helps children show that they are interested and paying attention. A lack of eye contact leads to “divided attention,” which makes it harder to focus and follow directions.

To practice “shifting” attention, introduce activities in which the children must switch between two (or more) adults giving signals or eye contact for directions (e.g., Steal the Bacon). Also, parents can get closer to their children when they are talking or giving directions, and stop speaking if their kids aren’t maintaining eye contact. If necessary, parents can schedule time to practice eye contact by having their child watch them as they move about the room while reading a story to their youngster. As the child improves, he or she can practice while learning to look away from distractions strategically placed in the room.

Model and Instill a Can-Do Attitude

In workshops, we use different games (e.g., Jenga) and positive self talk (e.g., “I am in control,” “I can do it,” “I can be responsible.”) to illustrate how a positive attitude improves performance and how helpful it is to decide what you can do instead of what can’t be done.

At home, parents can encourage their children to decide what they can do to help before dinner or what they can clean up before going to a movie. We will not respect tasks that are accomplished with a negative attitude, and we value accomplishment of reasonable goals that have been set by the child more than tasks that we have defined and the children have reluctantly completed. Positive self-talk should also be encouraged, leading children to focus on their strengths and accomplishments, nurturing a sense of self-mastery.

Practice Listening and Giving Feedback

There are lots of games you can play with children that require them to listen and to give feedback in a calm, clear manner. For instance, in workshops, we may play Hot and Cold, in which players give each other feedback about finding a hidden object. To find the object, of course, the child who is searching for it must listen, evaluate and respond to the feedback given, while those giving the feedback must do so clearly.

You can build opportunities for reflection into any game or activity, and, of course, give compliments after activities done well. In group situations, Yoga Calm’s Compliment Game can be an especially fun and effective way of learning how to give and receive praise. And it provides another opportunity to reinforce the importance of eye contact!

Practice Stillness

There are many activities in life that require staying in control and not going too fast. To teach this, you can have children participate in several activities that create a bit of excitement and then challenge the kids to stay calm and go slowly to be successful.

The Yoga Calm Mat Tag activity can provide just such a challenge. When any of the children get too excited or out of control, simply ask them to sit down. Once they have shown they can calm down, they may re-join the activity. During any activity, if a high level of chaos or excitement is reached, just stop until everyone is calm, or remind the children to say something to themselves like, “Go slow, easy, easy,” to help them think about staying calm.

Encourage Setting Goals and Making Plans

A goal is something we want to work toward, while a plan is the strategy used to get to the goal. For this concept, we will do some activities several times to work on adding parts to a plan to lead to a more accomplished goal. For example, we may ask students to do a number of increasingly difficult tasks involving tapping a balloon in the air: using just one finger, using only the feet, behind the back and so on. Because the tasks become more difficult, we stop after a child cannot complete the challenge and come up with plans that could help make reaching that goal easier. The children realize that sometimes they needed several points in their plan to be able to reach their goal.

Parents can work with their children at home on the idea of setting a goal and coming up with a plan to reach it. We suggest making a chart with a diagram of a sun with many rays coming off it. Inside the sun, write the goal; in the rays, parts of the plan that will be followed in reaching that goal.

To learn more about helping children with ADHD:

• Buy and watch Dr. Sosne’s ADHD DVD
• Attend a Yoga Calm ADHD workshop (next scheduled for Portland, OR; Feb. 6-7, 2010)
• Find an ADHD class at The Children’s Program

Our yoga program has been carefully developed over decades by Dana Sara to offer the perfect yoga practice for every individual.   Our intention is to offer expert instruction for the beginner to the seasoned practitioner.  We aim to advance each student safely, assist in cultivating  home practice, enrich other classes attended and improve overall quality of life and performance in life and athletics.

Each class provides a full body, mind, spirit workout for your level and style.  Academy Yoga Improv classes are in the moment, tailored to those present and incorporate practices from the many systems of hatha yoga, ashtanga, tibetan and kundalini yoga.   The Yoga Improv classes are offered for 60, 90 and 120 minute Warrior Yoga  sessions.   Gentle classes are suitable for those wishing to to stretch, breathe and reprieve and finish with rewarding restorative poses.

We also offer traditional classes in ashtanga as taught by S.K. Pattabhi Jois, and Kundalini as taught by Yogi Bhajan both of whom Ms. Sara trained under.

Classes are always fun, challenging, rewarding and enlightening.

In the few months we have been open we have had a great time and students are progressing  beautifully.

>> View More of Our Yoga Class Pictures ~ Click Here

Don’t miss out our Exciting Yogafun Holiday program.

Join us for 2 hours jam-packed with YogaFUN Games, Challenges, Stories & Relaxation for both Boys & Girls of All Ages.

Thurs 1st Oct

11.30am: Prep – Grade 2

1.30pm: Grade 3-6

Bring a Friend $30 for 2 Children or $18 per Child

Held at Beaumaris Community Centre.

Limited Spaces. Register by 28th Sept

E:  info@yogafun.com.au

T:  0404 830 533

Yogafun is excited to announce that we will run more 7 Week Kids Yogafun Courses  in the local community in Term 4. The course will be open to BOTH beginners AND students who have participated in the Active After-School Communities (AASC) Yogafun programs.  Proposed locations are:

Beaumaris: Beaumauris Community Centre  -  Tues 5.30pm

Mordialloc: Tranquility Yoga Studio                  –   Thurs 5.30pm

Elsternwick : Yoga Tree                                              -  Wed 4.30pm

Book Now for Term 4. Bookings Essential.  Limited Spaces per Venue.

Email to Register: info@yogafun.com.au

I have now expanded my yoga teaching to children.  A slightly daunting prospect, but I an exciting one too!  Yoga can help to develop many positive qualities in children, as well as the benefits of exercise, yoga can improve childrens ability to be calm and focus. It is a creative outlet for children, an outlet for their emotions to flow freely,  helping them to be more aware of their thoughts and feelings, building their trust in themselves, allowing their intuition to grow, helping them ultimately to make better choices. It can help them to fall asleep more quickly and deeply at bedtime.  It improves confidence and self-discipline when practised regularly.

A yoga class is active, but also includes activities such as storytelling, music, art,games, and relaxation.

For more information on classes contact me

Yogafun Kids Yoga Workshops for Yoga Teachers is finally HERE!

See our Workshops page for more details.

Connie Mah, the director of Yogafun, has been specialising in schools for the last five years.  With a gymnastics coaching background since she was fifteen years old – empowering teenagers and children through body/self awareness and conditioning has been a lifelong passion.  Customizing yoga/pilates programs for specific school requirements and delivering interactive classes with adolescents is a well-mastered art.  There’s nothing more rewarding to see how teenagers grow to understand themselves better through their posture and how they treat themselves physically and emotionally.  The key is to relate to teenagers with the issues that they face in everyday life, through their eyes.  When they learn more about their strength, their unlimited potential in their bodies as well as their visions – they grow stronger as confident achievers in all that they put their minds to. Now that’s pretty amazing to be a part of – to make a difference to our leaders of tomorrow.

Some programs delivered at schools over the years are:

• Year 10 Human Movement
• VCE Sports Psychology
• VCE & Junior/Mid school Physical Ed program – tailored to each year level
• Personal Development program
• Wellness Day & PD days for teachers
• Incursions & excursions
• Physical Ed within curriculum
• Extra-curricular activities ie. Before/after school & lunchtime classes
• VCE Stress Management
• Sports-specific Fitness/Wellness programs  -incl. Snowsports, Athletics, Dance, Golf, Cross-Country

Some schools we have delivered to are:

• Xavier College
• Hailebury
• St Leonards College
• Yeshivah College
• Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College
• Star of the Sea
• Bentleigh Secondary College

Our Yogafun calendar is filling very quickly for Term 4 and 2010!

Teachers Book Now for next year’s AASC, Sports Training, Phy Ed and Personal Development programs – to avoid missing out!

Stretch, by Doreen Cronin, illus. by Scott Menchin, Ages 2-6

Get ready to exercise those muscles! Join our doggy friend as he leads us in a stretching adventure–to the ceiling, to the floor, with a whisper, and with a roar! Children can explore from the depths of the oceans to the heights of the sky as they get limber with this fast-paced picture book!

Doreen Cronin (author of the previous Bounce and Wiggle) provides text that is unfailingly energetic and joyful, encouraging young readers to join in on the adventure. Cronin’s enthusiastic words are paired flawlessly with bright illustrations by Scott Menchin. Bursting with color and texture, Menchin’s art is sure to engage parents and children alike! This fantastic new book is perfect for an action packed storytime with kids who like to get up and go!

Stretch, Doreen Cronin, Scott Menchin, pub. Aug. 2009, Atheneum Books

Want to explore other books to share with wiggly readers? Call us! We’re always happy to provide recommendations. 703-548-4092. Or email: info@hooray4books.com.

Stretch your imagination with a good book today!

–Miss Megan

This week over a hundred primary school children roared like lions and slithered like snakes in the adventures of Yogafun.  What an inspiration to see the children embrace the fun and excitement of the Yogafun program.  The stories, breathing and yoga games left the children ready for relaxation time – if not on the verge of snoring?!  Thanks to the Australian Sports Commission, the Active-After School Program has made various sporting/activities available to many children who would not otherwise be exposed to the great programs within the community.   Not only is Yogafun creating ripples in raising the awareness of kids yoga to the greater community, many parents are also starting to show interest in the benefits of yoga for themselves – now, that’s a bonus!

Yogafun delivers a 5 week intensive for the dedicated Snowsports team of St. Leonard’s College, Brighton.  Every Wednesday morning they have committed to an early rise of 6.45am to improve their control of their body and mind in preparation for their August competitions.  The classes are fun, interactive and encourages increased awareness of their physical body and alignment to prevent injuries as well as their mental focus.  Helping them to concentrate on the tasks at hand, and being able to steer their energy into what they want to achieve both in terms of their goals and the physical direction when on the slopes.  The dedication of the St. Leonard’s Snowsports team is certainly inspirational and Yogafun are blessed to be a part of their training regime.

Yogafun is very excited to announce that we will be running workshops for Yoga Teachers in the coming months.  The workshop is a start of a series of workshops that empower teachers to introduce yoga to their children in a fun and friendly manner.  Helping them integrate kids yoga into their everyday lives, without taking the fun out of it.  Teaching kids yoga is a very specialised field.  To make yoga fun and exciting for our children can be easy, when we are equipped with the tools to understand what will appeal more to different age groups and understand our approach to yoga and our children’s perspective of what kids yoga is about.

The Yogafun Kids Yoga Workshop for Yoga Teachers has limited spaces, to ensure maximum involvement and interaction.  Book now to avoid missing out!

Yogafun Kids Workshop for Yoga Teachers dates:

Brisbane - 19 -20  Sept 

Byron - 26 – 27  Sept

Melbourne -  Coming soon!

Limited spaces. Book NOW by emailing info@yogafun.com.au

The word is out about the fantastic benefits children can gain from the yogafun program.   Its fun, highly interactive that gets children moving, building healthier bodies from the inside out, not to mention emotionally and mentally stronger. 

Two more schools have signed up for Yogafun in the last week, as a part of the fantastic Active After School Care (AASC) program.   Making yoga accessible to the leaders of tomorrow.  St Kilda Primary and Aspendale Gardens Primary have now booked in for Term 3. 

Spaces are filling quick – Book NOW for Term 3!

Email: info@yogafun.com.au

Upon completing our Integrated Approach to Wellness 1 workshop, Debi Doyle, a school counselor in Mukilteo, Washington, wrote to us about how she’s been applying Yoga Calm in her work with kids:

Lately, I have been focusing on breath work with my students, trying to decide how to fuse this with the social skills lessons we already do. Recently, I discovered one way.

On Mondays, I see six classes, and on this particular day, a second grade class was the first to come. As they did, I remained seated, quietly moving a Hoberman sphere in rhythm with my breath. It was my first time using this tool, and I was very curious to see how effective it could be with the variety of classes that I see.

Without a word, the students entered in their normal fashion and sat in a circle on the floor. In less than a minute, the room was filled with 25 peacefully breathing second graders.

I asked if the students knew what their bodies were doing as they watched the “breathing ball.” One of the boys answered, “I’m breathing along with it.”

At this, I gave him a turn to sit in my spot and use the sphere. As he did, I got a small drum out and drummed in rhythm to his movement.

After a while, I asked another student if she would like a turn and asked the first student if he would like to take a turn on the drum. I briefly explained the drum’s purpose to him, and with that, the pair of students began, with the class silently following for a bit of time.

I then asked the class if they had any compliments for the pair. Without question, they received some of the most heartfelt and sincere compliments I have heard a group of students give.

All this activity was a perfect transition to talk about our breath at play, rest and while learning. Using the Hoberman sphere, I showed them their recess breath, running to line up, a few big sighs and then how each of them could calm their minds and bodies just by using their breath.

In another class, I gave the sphere to some kids on the Autistic spectrum. One who rarely has a successful time in my room was able to enter my class and join us quietly that day. Without a word, he watched what was going on and followed what he saw. I gave him a turn with the sphere, which he did really well. When it was his turn to drum, he worked very hard to figure out how to find a quiet rhythm. At first, he banged loudly. Then he adjusted to a quieter strike but took the stick back with great force. I noticed many of his classmates cringing at this, then relaxing when they saw how gently he struck the drum. We saw that he was just using an arcing motion to beat the drum – the best way he found to make the sound soft.

As I watched, I noticed how I had to bite my tongue a couple times to allow him to find his way. I became aware of how often we jump in to correct those who learn in an unconventional manner. Instead of him getting the message, “You can’t; let me show you,” he was able to experience, “You will figure it out; you are capable.”

I love learning from kids.

During the following Compliments activity, many of this boy’s peers were able to express to him how they liked how he had adjusted his drumming. They told him how they saw how hard he was concentrating. No wonder he came in the next week all excited for more! This kid had rarely gotten any communication from his peers, let alone positive words. Now he was being noticed for his teamwork and perseverance.

I am really beginning to see how beneficial it is to use what I have learned in Yoga Calm and integrate it into the Second Step lessons in the classroom. At this point, I am not sure the kids would let me go back to the way we did things without Yoga Calm.

Used by permission

What an amazing experience!  Embracing the creativity of the children at such a large age range from Prep to grade 6 – was a beautiful sight to see.    The school supervisors and AASC regional manager were pleasantly surprised to witness how captivated the children were at their first Yogafun class – from the energetic start till the calming relaxation at the end.  Apparently Yogafun was one of the few programs that had received 100% participation and enthusiasm from the children of Mentone and St. Patricks Primary AASC program.  The introduction of Yogafun to Mentone Primary was deemed a great success by staff and parents.

From the moment I walked into the door, watching the anticipation of innocent eyes, all eagerly waiting and lying on their yoga mats, we explored the exciting fun yoga animal poses through an adventure story. We used a lot of movement, breath work, magical stories and relaxation. I watched the kids grow from innocent anticipating eyes to confident and comfortable young children in a short period of time.  They watched me for instructions and the next cue… I watched them transform from the height of energetic movement and activities, to the calm peaceful stillness in their relaxation time.

It’s been interesting, over the years I have had many people ask how children cope with ‘yoga’ – with the classic view of expecting kids doing silent classes of sitting very still and not utter a word as they move from one posture to another.  Then they ask how do they concentrate and sit still?

I never really understood the question, as my natural response has always been “Why not?”   Kids are natural yogis.  Obviously kids yoga classes are of a different nature to adult classes, they are specifically designed to cater for their level of understanding and attention span.  Kids yoga classes allow them to experience their full spectrum of emotions and explore the potential within themselves.

In kids yoga we do many things that mimic different parts of everyday life. We explore different ideas and move in the direction of the ideas and flow with these thoughts and movement. E.g. we create the idea of walking through a jungle, then we start moving the body… to ‘move in the direction’ of the ‘idea’ of being inside a jungle.  As we move and explore the idea of being in a jungle, we start to imagine and ‘feel’ like we really are in the jungle, as we look up at the imaginary trees, step over the imaginary rocks… we learn to become a character or a person in a different situation.  Children learn so much through just a yoga adventure story – they learn to think, do and be – different characters of themselves.

They explore the ideas of what they can be, do and feel – embracing the endless possibilities and then become them.  So in the context of life, children learn the power of their thoughts, learn to explore their ideas and possibilities without giving judgment or expectation about what they are doing as they are doing it.  They learn to merely try a new idea, explore it in thought, and then give it a go.  Allowing themselves the opportunity to explore parts of themselves they may or may not have experienced lately.  The strength of a tree, the lightness of a bird, the roaring power of a lion…. Nature is only a reflection of us – a reflection of the full potential within ourselves.

From a child’s perspective, we are merely having fun and exploring different postures and movement, on a deeper level – they are exploring qualities within themselves and learning to embrace all parts of themselves. They learn to believe in themselves, as they learn to get comfortable in their movements and actions. They learn to use their thoughts to create movement and an experience that was not there a few seconds ago… the power of their thoughts and actions.

All in the name of fun… Yogafun! Fun with depth of exploration and growth….  And that was only the first part of their class!

For more information about benefits of children’s yoga or to run Yogafun programs at your school, email queries to info@yogafun.com.au

by Amy Halloran-Steiner, Certified Yoga Calm Instructor

Recently, our family camped on the bank of Oregon’s Metolius River, on a second annual event there with two other families and a total of six children under age four. I did plenty of yoga with them, letting them choose their favorite poses from Yoga Calm for Children. We did plenty of Mountain, Tree and Downward Dog. We posed as eagles (adapted for their ability, of course), each waiting to pounce on a mouse.

The third morning, I noticed the kids restless and in need of distraction, munching graham crackers and wandering about. So I asked them, “Do you know the Graham Cracker Pose?” Usually knowledgeable about whatever the topic, the two oldest girls looked at me quizzically.  So, I led: arms straight up to the sky, wrists bent at 90 degrees, fingers activated, tips pointing toward one another to make the upward edge of the cracker. The kids grinned and assumed the pose.  Then we swept downward, doubling at the waist to break our graham cracker in half, because where else would be insert the – you guessed it – marshmallow?!

“Come on, Kids,” I said as we moved into a “Marshmallow Pose,” holding our heads high and circling our arms in front of us, as though holding a big ball in front of our belly.

“But what happens when the stick…?” offered one of the kids.

“Okay,” I replied. “Now we stand tall and thin, arms up, palms together, fingers pointing at the sky. Don’t bend and poke anyone near you, good roasting stick!”

“What about when the stick holds the marshmallow over the fire?”

Marshmallows, once big and activated, now relaxed and melted down to the ground. “What’s next?” I asked.

“Chocolate!” they screamed. So we made ourselves into smaller rectangles: again, arms up on either side of head, with wrists cocked and fingers pointing in to make the top edge. Then we bent, doubling at the waist again to lay our Chocolate selves down on the Marshmallow before returning to Graham Cracker. Voila! S’mores! And for us, also, the birth of “improv yoga” – a way to distract, entertain and stretch us all.

These children remind me that a child’s interest, when ignited, is the force that moves the world, or at least makes us giggle. And to giggle is a wonderful thing.

Image: Virginia Pike-Russell, via Flickr

The word is out! Yogafun has officially joined the AASC program. Yogafun has been running many programs in yoga studios, private classes and various schools over the last three years. We are very excited to be a part of the Active After School Program – introducing yoga to children in a fun and exciting format to ensure kids have a positive experience of being active through yoga.  Building their self-esteem and creativity whilst having a blast – kind of like making vegetables fun to eat! Shhhh…. the focus is ‘fun’, the rest speaks for itself.

Here’s a wonderful video of one of Lynea’s students who is now leading
Yoga Calm classes.  Haley is a compassionate and creative teacher who is already creating guided stories with social/emotional lessons – all at age 11!

For a recent Yoga Calm workshop, school counselor Bonnie Cannon wrote an insightful commentary on her developing awareness of yoga as self-study and how this may benefit the children she works with. We asked if we could share her good words on our blog. We were happy to hear, “Yes.” Thanks, Bonnie!

The primary understanding that I took away from this weekend workshop, which I had not recognized before, was that yoga is self-study.

I had been teaching students poses, facilitating games and guiding discussions designed to elicit understandings and connections on a theoretical level, and the students had been responding positively. But I realized during this workshop that the teaching could be more powerful and more effective by helping students to connect, explore and understand their physical experiences as well.

With that in mind, I will now be asking more experiential questions: “How did that feel?” rather than, “What can we learn from that?” Most students are encouraged to spend an inordinate amount of time in their heads during the school day, and very little attention is paid to what is happening in their bodies. In fact, often they are expected to ignore or suppress what is happening in their bodies.

But our bodies, our feelings, and our thoughts are intricately connected, and students will be most successful if we can provide a balanced educational experience that encourages them to understand what is happening in their bodies, how that affects what they are feeling, how that in turn affects what they are thinking, and how all of that affects their ability to learn and retain information presented in the classroom.

Students are not taught in a vacuum. A student who is experiencing high levels of chronic stress will not be able to attend to, retain and recall information as well as a student who is able to recognize stress in the body and release it.

The self-study focus of yoga and Yoga Calm helps students to better understand and recognize what is happening in their bodies so that they will be able to make decisions and take actions that benefit their bodies and maximize their ability to learn and reach their full potential. This can happen in targeted, direct ways such as learning to recognize when the body is hungry and the effects different foods have on it, and learning to fuel the body for optimum performance. It can also happen in less tangible ways such as experiencing the good feelings that come with giving and receiving a compliment or support during a task, and then continuing to compliment or support others, thereby increasing ones own confidence, self-esteem and serotonin levels, as well as creating a more positive, cooperative learning environment, all of which will ultimately lead to increases in academic performance.”

Read more on this topic here.

Shine in all directions

 Have you ever seen a peacock?  When he displays his feathers, everyone stops and stares. Wow! Peacocks are so beautiful, their feathers spread like multi colored eyes in the shape of a rainbow. In ancient myths and fairy tales, the peacock is a symbol of wisdom, beauty, confidence and talent, demanding to be noticed, but never operating from false pride. The peacock is just being himself.
In your life, do you sometimes want to share one of your unique talents , but are afraid of showing off? Or do you sometimes pretend to be able to do something just so you can be friends with someone popular?
Wouldn’t it be better if you could share your talents without feeling like you need to exaggerate? Wouldn’t it be nicer if you could be as bright as you are supposed to be, just like the peacock , without having to worry that kids won’t like you , thinking you are a show off?
Yoga gives us lots of tools to teach us to shine just as we are.  We learn how to be authentic. Authentic means real. With yoga we get really really real.
 When we practice yoga, we shine.
Here’s how it happens. You do a yoga pose. You notice how you feel in your own body,. You focus on your own breath. After all , you can’t breathe for someone else. You find out if you have any challenges in the pose. You relax. You accept yourself in your pose . You learn to avoid criticizing yourself. You  start to relax even more . You feel your own strength. You breathe even more deeply. You feel good physically, mentally, emotionally. In short, you shine!
Here is a pose to remind you to shine , to be who you are because your REAL self is what everyone wants to see.

Peacock Pose:

 Sit on the floor, with your legs in a V position as wide as you can. Reach your toes up to the sky with your heels on the ground. Take a deep breath in, feeling your light . Reach your hands out in a “T” as you breathe out . Spread your fingers. Feel yourself SHINE in all directions.
Now get up from your pose. Feel how great it is to be you! Get out there and Shine. The world is waiting.
by Marsha Therese
©Color Me Yoga® Enterprises, LLC

Recently, while getting ready to teach our Physical Connections to Learning workshop (Integrated Approach to Wellness 2), I found myself rereading John Friend’s Anusara Teacher Training Manual. One passage in particular jumped out at me, as it really sums up the qualities that we encourage and nurture in training Yoga Calm instructors to give kids the gift of yoga. I thought I’d share it with you:

One of the most important things I believe about effective yoga teaching is that if the students feel better about themselves psychologically and emotionally at the end of a class, then the teaching was successful.

So, what are the most important skills a teacher must have to effectively help the students bolster their self-esteem and self-love? Is it the amount of teaching experience, technical knowledge, philosophical knowledge, ability to perform the asanas [physical poses], or some intrinsic personality or heart qualities that are most important?

From my own inaugural teaching experience, I realized it is possible for a teacher to have minimal yoga experience or knowledge of postural technique and still be effective in inspiring the students about their greatness. Later in my yoga journey, I found that a teacher with many years of technical training and experience could be uninspiring or dry in their presentation to the students. Furthermore, some very experienced yoga teachers could be discouraging, demeaning, or even cruel to their students. So, a great amount of experience and technical knowledge does not automatically make someone a great yoga teacher.

Through my contemplation I have discovered that the essence of a great yoga teacher is three interpersonal qualities which can be summarized into special categories that I call: soft heart, sharp mind and vibrant body. The teacher’s soft heart quality encompasses compassion, sensitivity to others’ feelings, friendliness, kindness, patience, and respectfulness. Sharp mind includes being articulate, creative, and innovative, while a vibrant body includes being enthusiastic, charismatic, positive, humorous, and inspiring.

These three categories represent the most important qualities of a good yoga teacher—they form the soil where the seeds of technical knowledge and teaching experience can root and grow vigorously, bearing fruit for a lifetime.

- Jim Gillen

by Lyn McCallister, via Associated Content

Children can sometimes be unfocused and a bit wild. Sometimes these children cannot concentrate and have a difficult time in school despite being bright and eager to learn. Your child may even have a behavior disorder. Sound familiar? If your child fits this description, it might be because he or she needs a physical outlet to help learn internal calmness and control.

I begin taking yoga in my early 30s in an effort to become more flexible and to help stretch for cardio exercise. After taking yoga classes with an excellent teacher, Jim Gillen, through a work program I learned to have my own inward control. I felt better after class and seemed to be more productive at work. I also slept better.

How Does Yoga Help Children?

Just like yoga helped me as an adult, the same principles of calmness and relaxation can help children. I have a few friends with young children who are enrolled in other, more aggressive forms of exercise. Although the exercise is good and some of the programs are great, not all children benefit from rough-and-tough group sports. Some children will thrive by taking yoga and may become more calm, controlled, and self-disciplined.

Where Can I Find Out More About Children’s Yoga?

I recommend checking out Jim and Lynea Gillen’s program called Yoga Calm. If your child suffers from anxiety problems, ADHD, or other behavior disorders then this system may work for you. They have a book that you can purchase for a home program. Or, better yet, check out their website to see if they will be teaching a workshop near you.

If you live in the Portland, Oregon area, then Jim and Lynea have a studio that you can visit.

If there are multiple children at your child’s school that can benefit, work with the school to see if they can bring a Yoga Calm workshop to your community.

Next, visit several local yoga studios and check out their offerings for children. If the yoga studio doesn’t have a class for children, ask them to become certified instructors in the Yoga Calm method.

Children today often spend way too much time in front of televisions and gaming systems. By offering your child a regular yoga practice schedule, you can help your child overcome many behavior obstacles while becoming healthier. Yoga is for everyone. A good teacher can help you or your child overcome many physical limitations as well as become a more calm and focused individual.

We’ve just been updating our schedule of upcoming Yoga Calm workshops, and wanted to let you know about a couple new offerings in particular: Listening to the Body: Yoga Calm for Trauma and A Sustainable Future: Wellness and Environmental Education.

Taught by Lynea Gillen, Listening to the Body participants willlearn how to combine simple yoga with effective counseling techniques for children and adults in one-on-one therapy sessions or small groups. Counselors and health providers will experience and learn innovative practices that include social/emotional skill building, breathing techniques and yoga poses.

This whole-client approach supports the development of wellness habits and directly addresses some of the most persistent physical symptoms of trauma such as dissociation, powerlessness, anxiety and sorrow. Participants will also learn self-care techniques, recognizing that by developing and presenting a calm presence, a safe and trusting relationship is more attainable, and counseling work is less stress inducing.

Taught by myself, Lynea and Kim Wilson, MEd, A Sustainable Future demonstrates how Yoga Calm and environmental education activities can be used to develop high interest, interdisciplinary lessons that meet and support K-8 health, science and physical education standards and curricula. Through exploring techniques of physical yoga, observation, self-reflection, social/emotional skills development, storytelling and simple schoolyard explorations, teachers, counselors and environmental educators will learn how to cultivate children’s innate curiosity and appreciation of their bodies, each other, animal life and other aspects of their natural, daily environment. This foundation provides the motivation and a powerful thematic basis for integrating more cognitive environmental education and natural science curricula.

With this creative, highly experiential and integrated approach to environmental education, meaningful connections between personal and planetary health can be drawn, fostering a lifelong interest in science and increased environmental citizenry and stewardship.

Both workshops will be offered for the first time this spring. CEUs are available for both, and registration is required.

As ever, more info is available at yogacalm.org.

- Jim Gillen

Child image by timheyer, via Flickr

Back-to-school time often increases stress for all concerned – kids, parents, families, teachers, administrators…. Now an increasing number of people are turning to yoga as a tool for stress management, as well as improving physical health and creating balance in their lives.

In this recent article from the Portland (OR) edition of Natural Awakenings, Jim Gillen, Registered Yoga Teacher and co-founder of Yoga Calm, gives some excellent tips for helping the kids in your life use yoga-based activities to cope with stress. (They work for adults, too!)

Stress-Proofing Kids through Yoga

by Jim Gillen, RYT

Children stream into the Monday night class. Soft music plays as the lights are dimmed and the kids take off their shoes, placing them outside the door. David, a fourth-grader who struggles with ADHD, walks in with his blue yoga mat slung over his shoulder. He sighs deeply and says, “I really need this class today. It’s rough out there!”

David is right. It is rough out there, and the mounting pressures on children are taking their toll. Our modern environment provides an ongoing assault on a child’s developing nervous system. Over-stimulation has become a way of life. Everywhere there is noise, electronic visual stimulation, academic and social pressures, and often frenzied adults. The result? Sky-high levels of stress, which can lead to unhealthy habits and illness.

It’s no wonder, then, that nervous system disorders such as anxiety, depression, and ADHD are now commonplace, and that families, schools, and all others responsible for the care and upbringing of children are seeking solutions.

When Oregon school counselor Lynea Gillen began to see more and more children struggling with such problems, she turned inward. Reflecting on how yoga had helped her survive three parental deaths before she was 19, she was inspired to blend yoga with her counseling specialty, social and emotional skills-building.

Reducing children’s “sensory diet,” practicing physical yoga and calming techniques, and communication and social skills development are at the heart of Lynea’s approach. Here are just a few of her favorite stress-busting activities:

• One-Minute Vacation: Turn off lights, phones and all electronics. Rest your head and think of your favorite place in nature. Where are you? Who’s there with you? What is it like? This activity relaxes and develops positive thoughts and imagination.
• Volcano Breath: Breathe in, pause and take hands over head; exhale slowly, taking hands down and back together. Excellent for getting “big emotions” under control.
• Pulse Count: Place two fingers along the groove next to your windpipe and press gently until you can find your pulse. Close your eyes and count your pulse for 30 seconds. This activity develops awareness of “how fast our engine is running” and is self-soothing.
• Woodchopper: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and knees bent. Interlace hands and take arms overhead. Chop down towards the floor with a grunt. Fun, a great release and a quick energizer for those sluggish times of the day.
• Tree Pose: Lift one foot off the floor and balance for 10 seconds. Grounds, focuses, and energizes.

According to Lynea, four components are critical to yoga’s appeal and effectiveness in reducing children’s stress. It should give kids:

• An opportunity to experience being relaxed in the body.
• A sense of play and authentic interactions with adults and peers that don’t involve any technology.
• The challenge and stimulation that comes from strengthening the body through physical yoga poses.
• An opportunity to experience beauty in themselves, in each other, and in the environment.

Also key in reducing children’s stress is providing an environment that is quiet, safe, and supportive. Lynea’s counseling room has become just such a refuge. Decorated with fresh flowers, art and beautiful objects from around the world, the classroom is a place where children’s natural inclination to beauty is drawn out. They are taught to be supportive and compassionate toward one another. They are motivated to make our world a safe and beautiful place. As one of her fourth grade students stated, “In this class, our bodies and our hearts are safe.”

The idea of finding a way to relax is catching on in her school. In fact, one day as her students were practicing, the principal came in to participate and “just relax with all of you.”

Reprinted by permission.

For more information:

• yogacalm.org
• Yoga Calm on Squidoo
• More sample activities