The alarm rings a little earlier. The daily pace is a little more hurried. The scales tip to more work and less play. School is in session.
Ease the transition with yoga. There are many yoga options for kids and their parents in our health conscience and creative city. However, Yoga Rocks the Park offers an ideal situation for parents to share time on the mat with their kids. As an added bonus, classes are outside in beautiful Denver parks. http://www.yogarocksthepark.com The next two Sundays will close the 2012 season.
Why do kids need yoga? For the exact same reasons their parents do. Lora Haase, Omaha yoga instructor and Director of Yoga Rocks the Park, Omaha recently led a vinyasa class at Sunken Gardens Park. In tandem with the adult class, Casey Feicht, Local Denver Kid’s Yoga Teacher and Trainer, led the younger set in play based yoga. http://www.kidsyogaguide.com A calm energetic glow lit the park; adults and children sharing a yogic experience together, but within seperate realms.
Haase said it best, “…we teach our children by bringing them here, this is the way to live…” Haase was referencing the amazing effects of a regular yoga practice on our bodies, minds and spirits. We hold tension in our bodies. This tension is in direct relation to our “mental junk”; negative, self defeating talk and pent up emotions. Stretching tight hamstrings not only feels better physically, but gives us an opportunity to let go of the mental junk and make room for more joy in our lives.
Continuing to use yoga at home can teach children how to handle emotions and unpleasant situations in a healthy, effective way. Deep breathing is proven to lower stress hormones. Specific yoga postures are effective for handling specific emotions. The first partner pose demonstrated here will open the heart and create a grounded feeling. Both important for handling transitions effectively. http://www.spiritvoyage.com/blog/index.php/partner-yoga-5-partner-yoga-poses-to-try/ . Try this posture with a partner of similar size.
Feicht recommends that parents use yoga techniques to help ease the transition from a playful summer into the school year. She reminds kids to use yoga breathing when feeling the pressures of school. “Kids have fun all summer and they think of school as work. Yoga is light and fun and helps kids find a balance. Parents can practice this with the kids as well, I like to involve the whole family. ” said Feicht. She invites you to try her free online class; http://kidsyogaguide.com/freeclasssignup/ .
Envision a family life of less stress, more smiles and kinder words. Bring yoga into your families’ daily routine. Find more resources here http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/210 . Let the lightness of summer shine well into the school year with a little help from yoga.
