Wellness Column

Here is how we find yoga in the tree and how it is presented to children:

1.The ROOTS: There are 5 precepts: Non-Injury, Truthfulness, Respect for others, Moderation and Simplicity.

2.The TRUNK: There are 5 precepts: Cleanliness (of self, environment and mind), Contentment, Self-Regulation, Self-Awareness and Faith.

Both the roots and the trunk of the tree compose of fundamental character-building guidelines and values that we share as a society. Young children make these discoveries over a lifetime of interaction with parents, teachers, mentors and life experiences. In a children’s yoga class, storytelling plays a huge role, as provocation for these revelations. Storytelling provides language for meaningful communication, increases listening skills, cognitive planning and inner orientation and calmness. A successful early childhood yoga class is filled with the rich, imaginative world of becoming a part of the story.

3.The BRANCHES: Postures, physical movement

We associate yoga with flexibility and pretzel poses. Yes! As a child engages in the livelihood of the story, postures are interwoven, and we all embody the “pictures” making it come alive. The sequence has predictable aspects, is doable for the body of the young

child because the foundation of yoga postures, are interconnected with neurological development. The Flower Yoga approach is supporting key movements that strengthen brain-body skills needed for higher learning.

4.The LEAVES: Breathing Practices

Paying attention to the breath is a fast and accessible means for self-regulation. When we are aware of taking a deep breath, we have room for a deliberate pause and reboot for the nervous system. For children, this is an essential part of their ability to process their surroundings and access higher centers of connection in the brain. Helping children make connections in an imaginative way to the joys of breathing, our young yogi’s relax and get focused. Breathing-play is coupled with deliberate movements or activities.

For example:

• Standing in the shape of a tree, using our breathe to blow the leaves down.
• Making a pie-shaped pose and smelling the pie.
• Relaxing on the tummy and smelling a spray of water and essential oils.
• Blowing a pin wheel
• Blowing a feather across the room.

This kind of breath-play later leads to breath awareness and emotional regulation.

5.The BARK: Sensory Integration

The young child absorbs the world through the senses.

Children’s yoga has many components that heighten and refine the senses and perceptions:

• Sight: Attractive props, such as the seasonally based nature scene placed in the middle of your yoga circle and a focus on doing our poses as a whole group increases the ability to visually focus and imitate safe and healthy movement.
• Sound: The yoga class is enriched with language through storytelling and song. Simple cues help children to refine their listening skills and make motor planning connection while they move.
• Touch, Movement (proprioception) and Balance (vestibular): Children are experiencing their relationship to gravity and in space. As the move in and out of postures they feel, their own body move, contact with yoga mat, props, a partner or with the whole group.
• Smell: Children become aware of their breath, smell beautiful essential oils and imagine foods that smell good.
• Taste: Imaginative discussion can lead to fun ways to make taste associations or become the “shape” of foods we like!

These sensory experiences are the main part of the recipe for a FUN and EFFECTIVE children’s yoga experience.

6.The SAP: Concentration, Affirmations

The focal point in a children’s yoga class is to use affirming language, compassion and empathy, providing the child with clear directive cues, expression and connection to his/herself and the world around them. Children have clear and developmentally follow- able rules for yoga that aid concentration and success and positive redirection.

• Look (beautiful props and graceful and follow-able poses)
• Listen (songs, story, verses, simple verbal cues)
• Stay Together (self-regulation and attention to whole group, partner activities both on and off the yoga mats)
• Have Fun (looking, listening and participating in the class together makes yoga safe and fun!)

7.The FLOWERS: Meditation, Mindfulness

Quiet moments and stillness are an important part of the practice. Breath awareness is associated with slowing down, stillness and listening.

In a children’s yoga class, mindful listening is followed by attention to the breath.

• Ringing a bowl bell or playing a melodious tune on a xylophone entices the children to enjoy the art of mindful listening.
• Beautiful sounds and mundane sounds are intriguing for children. They are capable of periods of stillness and quiet when invited to explore.

8.The FRUIT: Wonder

This is where the practice of yoga and the Reggio Emilia philosophy cross paths. Instilling a sense of wonder happens by paying attention to children’s questions and curiosities while providing means for them to investigate through the arts. When possible, our yoga class lessons are tailored to the interests that children are exploring in the classroom.

The aim in sharing yoga with young children is to meet them in their developmental phases, rather than imposing a concept.

Often when yoga teachers define yoga to adults, there are 2 key components:

• An ounce of practice is worth a ton of theory.
• Yoga is an experience.

Both points are aligned with the world of the young child and can be summed up as such:

Yoga is a Process and, childhood is a process of becoming…