“Peace Begins with Me”. ~Natalie Shoemaker
With so many families getting overwhelmed with the idea of school beginning, I sat down with Natalie to discuss ways to pacify your little ones at home. She gave us fun ways to introduce breath, affirmations, meditation and movement. She gave us so many great ideas to work with your children that can be used immediately. Check out the resources below to work with!
Website
https://kaleidoscopeyogastudio.offeringtree.com/
Facebook Kaleidoscope
https://www.facebook.com/kaleidoscopeyogastudio/
Facebook Kids Yoga
https://www.facebook.com/kiddingaroundyogawithmissnatalie/
Literature
Here are some lovely yoga books from my resource shelf:
- 'Hello Sun - A Sun Salutation to Start Your Day' by Sarah Jane Hinder
- 'No Ordinary Apple - A Story About Eating Mindfully' by Sara Marlowe
- 'Breathe Like a Bear - 30 Mindful Moments for Kids to Feel Calm and Focused. Anytime. Anywhere' by Kira Willey (also available as a download) ** Fabulous, engaging mindfulness/breath work in under 2 minutes! **
- 'Mouse was MAD by Linda Urban' (lovely story with lots for children to act out as mouse learns how to breath through his big emotions)
- 'Peaceful Piggy Meditation and Peaceful Piggy Yoga' by Kerry Lee Maclean
- 'Zen Shorts and Zen Ghosts' by John J Muth (lovely little parables on truth, kindness, thoughtfulness, compassion)
- 'Goodnight Yoga and Yoga Friends' by Mariam Gates
- 'Meddy Teddy - A Mindful Journey' by Apple Jordan
- 'I am Yoga / I am Love / I am Human / I am Peace' by Susan Verde
- 'ABC Mindful Me' by Christiane Engel
Kids Yoga Card Decks
Mindful Kids - 50 Mindfulness Activities for Kindness, Focus and Calm by Whitney Stewart and Mina Braun
Yoga for Children Yoga Cards - 50+ Yoga Poses and Mindfulness Activities for Healthier, More Resilient Kids by Lisa Flynn
Recording Artists
Kidding Around Yoga has amazing songs for children's yoga - just a few of my favorites as there are TOO MANY to list:
- Every Little Cell
- Yoga Makes Me Strong
- Sarge Salutations
- Toe-Ga
- The Yoga Slide
- The Yoga Shake
- This Little Light
- Head Shoulders Yoga Pose
- Yoga Limbo
- Jogging Through the Jungle
- Yummy Yoga
- Bari Koral Albums - Relax and Be Happy: Mindfulness for Children / Little Box of Happy / It Takes a Little Kindness
Toys that promote mindfulness
Breathing Ball aka Hoberman Sphere
Meddy Teddy - super poseable and bendy yoga and mindfulness stuffed teddy bear www.meddyteddy.com (also available: Meddy Teddy book listed above and Meddy Teddy Sun Dance song by Bari Koral)
Mantra
Each of my kids yoga classes closes with this repeat after me mantra; oftentimes the children take turns with this closing wish and the rest of us repeat it back to him/her, with our heads bowed to our hearts, our eyes closed (if child is comfy) and our hands at our hearts:
"May the whole world be filled with peace and joy, love and light and lots of peaceful children".....Namaste
Natalie has offered to do a Family Yoga class through Zoom in September for little ones!!!! Stay tuned!
