Yoga and Mindfulness Tools for Children

10/20/15
My Backgrou nd
Yoga and Mindfulness
Tools for Children
Diana Ane. M Ed. Schoo! Counselor
licensed Yoga 4 ClassroomsFramer
D!~~3@yabo=
• I am a School Counselor, with several years of
experience working with students.
• I am a Certified Child light Yoga Instructor (on- the·
mat yoga for kids).
• I am a Licensed Yoga 4 Classrooms Trainer (staff
workshops and public workshops).
I enjoy the benefits of yoga tools as an adult, and
see the potential benefits for students.
Why Are You Here?
Why Are You Here?
• What challenges do you feel children today are
facing?
• Stress and anxiety- due to increased academic
demands, testing and over-scheduling
• Under-developed personal and social skills- due to
Increased availability and use of technology
• Unsafe environments and trauma- due to adverse life
or home circumstances, bullying, traumatic events,
etc.
Stress and the Brain
Yoga 4 Classrooms
Sequence
"Excessive stress damages the developing brain
architecture, leading to vulnerability to lifelong
problems in learning, behavior and overall health."
National
Scientific
Council of the Developing Child
(2007)
Yoga and mindfulness tools can be used to reduce
stress, so the earlier kids can learn these techniques
the better.
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The Relaxation Response
The Relaxation Response
Breathing
Rate
Blood Pressure
Heart Rate
Metabolism
Blood Sugar
• Written by Herbert Benson, a
Harvard physician and
researcher, in 1975.
1
I
• The Relaxation Response is the
opposite of a "fight or flight"
response.
Adrenaline
Sensory Awareness
I
Thought Processes
Creativity
Concentration
I
Immune System Function
Digestive System Function
The Relaxation Response
The Relaxation Response
Proven techniques for evoking the Relaxation
Response:
• Visualizations/
By teaching children yoga and mindfulness
techniques, you can help them learn to evoke the
relaxation response, which can reduce their reactivity
to stress.
imagery
• Progressive muscle relaxation
• Repetitive word or phrase (chant, mantra)
Mindfulness meditation
Focusing on breath
What is Yoga?
Yoga and Religion
• Yoga means "to yoke" or "unite".
• It IS a way to connect the rmnd, body and SPIrit.
• Yoga is an ancient system of holistic healthcare,
empowering health, happiness and an Increased
sense of self.
for
• Yoga is currently practiced worldwide With many
diverse cultures
"Rather than enforcing a doctrine, yoga instead gives
kids a tool for spiritual exploration. Kids may have big
questions and yoga doesn't seek to answer those
questions. That is the parents' job, or the job of your
religion. Yoga simply encourages kids to find their
own spiritual identity. What a wonderful gift for a
child!"
• It Involves mindful breathing, movement and builds
awareness and focus.
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What is Mindfulness?
• Mindfulness is an open, undivided, non-judgmental,
non- reactive, present-centered attention to and
awareness of what is happening within and around
oneself.
Benefits of Mindfulness
Practicing
mindfulness
• Shift attention
Improves the ability to:
when needed
• Self- regulate feelings and stress
• Concentrate on a task
Benefits of Yoga and Mindfulness
·Research
on yoga
In
schools
IS
Benefits of Yoga and Mindfulness
in the early stages.
Elementary:
Additional benefits of yoga in schools:
Decreased
test anxiety,
Increased
Independence,
Increased
concentration, Improved mood, increased ability to deal with
pressure,
and decreased
negative behaviors
• Nurtures resiliency
Middle School:
• Fewer negative thought
Improved work habits, increased cooperation,
Improved
academic
emotional
performance.
Intelligence,
stress
• Increased seltesteern
more alert.
Increased
less aggression, Improved ability to cope with
patterns
• Provides direct instruction on self- regulation and
awareness
Promotes overall strength and development
Yoga Books
Yoga Games and Activities
MINDFUL
MOVEMENTS
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Yoga Tools
Yoga Books
~A.
~
Yoga and Mindfulness Apps
Yoga Websites and Blogs
Anything you would like to
share?
Thank You for Coming!
Namaste!
Diana Arie, M. Ed., School Counselor
Diana [email protected]
4
Yoga and Mindfulness Games and Activities
Balance Game: Play music and have the children dance around. When the music
stops they must freeze.
Beach Ball Yoga Poses: Draw stick figures or write the names of yoga poses on a
beach ball. Kids toss the ball around a circle and demonstrate the pose that their
thumb lands on.
Chime Listening: Kids sit silently and listen for the sound of the chime. When they
no longer hear the chime, they raise their hand.
Crab Races: Kids race while doing a crab walk pose,
Create-a-pose: Kids create their own idea for a group pose, All kids must be
connected or touching in some way. Each group demonstrates their pose for the
other groups.
Follow the Leader: Kids choose a yoga pose card from the center of a circle, then
demonstrate and lead others in the pose they selected,
Gratitude Ball: Kids toss a ball around the circle and each student shares something
they are grateful for when they receive the ball,
Mandala Coloring Pages: Mandala coloring books can be purchased and free
Mandala coloring pages can be found online (WWW____J2ril1tm.andala,com), Kids can
color them while listening to relaxing music.
Mindfulness Walk: Have students look for details related to all of their senses
while taking a walk or hike.
Mirror: Pairs of children stand face-to-face and put their palms against the palms of
their partner, They mirror each others movements and facial expressions.
Musical Mats: Similar to musical chairs, but replace the chairs with yoga mats. Place
yoga pose cards at each mat (or space), When the music stops, kids demonstrate the
pose for the space they are in,
Pass the Chime: Kids try to pass the chime around the circle before the sound
stops.
Tree Tag: Similar to regular tag, When someone is "tagged" they must go into tree
pose until someone untags them.
Yogi Says: Similar to Simon says, using yoga poses and breaths for the movements.
Kids Yoga Books (and other resources)
The ABCs of Yoga for Kids
By Teresa Anne Power
Babar's Yoga for Elephants
By Laurent De Brunhoff
Be Good to Your Body: Learning
Yoga
By Roz Fulcher
Frog·s Breathtaking Speech
Frog's Breathtaking Speech: How Children
(and Frogs) Can Use the Breath to Deal
with Anxiety, Anger and Tension
By Michael Chissick
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Good Night Yoga
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By Mariam Gates
Kids Yoga Books (and other resources)
The Happiest Tree: A Yoga Story
By U rna Krishnaswami
Meditation is an Open Sky: Mindfulness for
Kids
By Whitney Stewart
MINDFUL
MOVEMENTS
Mindful Movements: Ten Exercises for
Well-Being
By Thich Nhat Hanh
Moody Cow Meditates
By Kerry Lee MacLean
Peaceful Piggy Meditation
By Kerry Lee MacLean
Kids Yoga Books (and other resources)
Peaceful
Piggy Yoga
By Kerry Lee MacLean
Stretch
By Doreen Cronin
Walk Like a Bear, Stand Like a Tree, Run
Like the Wind: Cool Yoga, Stretching and
Aerobic Activities for Cool Kids
By Carol Bassett
You Are a Lion! And Other Fun Yoga Poses
By Taeeun Yoo
Kids Yoga Books (and other resources)
Creative Yoga for Children
By Adrienne Rawlinson
Imaginations: Fun Relaxation Stories and
Meditations for Kids
By Carolyn Clarke
Little Flower Yoga for Kids: A Yoga and
Mindfulness Program to Help Your Child
Improve Attention and Emotional Balance
By Jennifer Cohen Harper
Sitting Still Like a Frog: Mindfulness
Exercises for Kids (and Their Parents)
By Eline Snel
Storytime Yoga: Teaching Yoga to Children
Through Story
By Sydney Solis
Kids Yoga Books (and other resources)
The Yoga Adventure for Children
By Helen Purperhart
-_--
~
Yoga for Children: 200+ Poses, Breathing
Exercises, and Meditations for Healthier,
Happier, More Resilient Children
By Lisa Flynn
Yoga Games for Children: Fun and Fitness
with Postures, Movements and Breath
By Danielle Bersma and Marjoke Visscher
YogaKids: Educating the Whole Child
Through Yoga
By Marsha Wenig
, ...UTISM
SPECIAL NEEDS
Yoga Therapy for Children with Autism
and Special Needs
By Louise Goldberg
Kids Yoga Books (and other resources)
CDs:
Dance for the Sun: Yoga Songs for Kids
Kira Willey CD
How to Be a Cloud
Kira Willey CD
I Grow With Yoga: Yoga Songs for Children
Sammie Haynes and Lisa Flynn CD
Card Decks:
Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck
Created By Lisa Flynn
Yoga Pretzels Card Deck
Created By Tara Guber and Leah Kalish
Kids Yoga Books (and other resources)
Yoga Tools:
Hoberman Sphere
- used to demonstrate inhale and exhale
Zenergy Chime
- used to gain attention
- used for mindfulness games: pass the
chime, listen for the chime
Color-changing iHome Wireless Speaker
- used to play music
- used for "candle gazing" meditation
exercise
Yoga and Mindfulness Apps
NameofApp
Arabian Nights by Relax Kids
Breathe2Relax
Description
I Cost
Includes 5 soundtracks I Free
(in MP3s section), and
4 adventure exercises
Includes a pre- and
post-rating scale for
rating stress levels,
and guided breathing
exercises
Recognizing emotions
and practicing
breathing
I Free
Includes guided
relaxation and
breathing exercise
I Free
Free
The Breathing Butterfly
Teaches breathing and I Free
problem solving
Breathe, Think, Do with
Sesame Street
Calm by Calm.com
Includes guided
meditation sessions
with beautiful nature
scenes
Includes guided
relaxation, relaxing
sounds, empowering
techniques
I Free
$1.99
Calm Down Now
Daily j ournal for
1$1.99
documenting gratitude
Gratitude Journal
Happify
•
Headspace
iZen Garden 2
Meditation Jar
My First Yoga
I
Developed by scientists I Free
to train you to
overcome negative
thinking and build
skills for overcoming
challenges
Basics of meditation in I Free
10 minutes a day
I
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Zen garden without
1$3.99
any mess from sand,
gives you the ability to
place objects in the
I sand and rake the sand I
Yoga story
$3.99
Yoga story
1$4.99
Guided meditations to
help kids relax
I $1.99
Similar to a "calm
downjar"- the jar fills
with color and clears
up with time
I Free
Yoga flashcards for
animal poses
Free
o
Omvana
Serenity- the relaxation app
Settle Your Glitter
Huge library of guided
meditations
I Free
Interactive water and
fish
Free
Relaxing music with
color changing
backgrounds
Free
Interactive water
Free
Beautiful, relaxing
video and audio
destinations
$1.99
Calming strong
emotions and deep
breathing
Mindfulness
meditations separated
by age groups
Daily check ins and
guided meditationshighly rated
Stop, Breathe and Think
I Free
Free
I Free
Teaches kids yoga
poses and breathing
techniques
I Free
Super Stretch Yoga
Daily mindfulness
activities
Take a Chill- Stressed Teens
Coming soon!
Yoga 4 Classrooms App
$1.99
Kids Yoga Slogs
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yoga 4 classrooms
Professional Development
Workshop for Educators
• Integrale simple classroom friendly yoga and mindfulness tools into your
class day supporting self-regulation and sooal and emotional learning skill
OUrr .... rch
demonstrates
ImDfOV8m8flts In:
. academic performance
, focus and attention
. stress management
, confidence
. sodal interaction
Facilitate learning readiness. which can Improve student achievement
• Cultivate well-being, resilience and a posfive classroom climate
• Become a more effective educator as you practice these tools
with your students
''Yoga''
CI._rooma.'.
the m._lngl'nlc ourschool. need
to brillfl all type. of leamers together, present, ,rounded
and ready to "aml~' - J. 0., Educator
Upcoming Workshop in Columbus,
..January 16, 2016· 11 :30·5:30
OH:
Funcore Fitness Studio 1108 Gahanna Pkwy, Gahanna, OH 43230
Registration deadline: 7 days prior
Contact: Diana Arie, Licensed Trainer
[email protected] I 614.352.6923
ThiS workshop is appropnate for all K-12 classroom teachers adminIStrators, school
counselors physical education teachers. health educators, therap SIS. paraproreSSionals
and other scboot professionals. AbaoIut.., no,.... ............
requlredl
$180 Tuition Includ .. : Bhr Workshop, Program Manual and Note-Taking GUide Downloads, Certificate of Completion
Recommended Resource: Yoga 4 Classrooms· Card Deck can be purchased at amazon.com or on site at the worksho
Register online!
.yoga4classrooms.com 603.343.4116