Kids Yoga week 3

Another week of Kids Yoga...and the Director was right. Week 3 they begin to test you!

I brought the drums out at the beginning today. Not the best idea! They were wild the rest of class. I have two boys that know each other well, so they spend much of their time running after each other. And today one mom brought both kids, so she was trying her best to be "good cop" to both of them.

It began to settle out when I brought the scarves out in the mystery box. I found two songs related to scarves to use. And to encourage the boys to return back to the circle, I challenged them to "paint" their mats with the scarves.

My Scarf Goes (Tune: Farmer in the Dell)
My scarf goes up, my scarf goes down, and then my scarf goes around, around, around.
My scarf goes in, my scarf comes out, and then my scarf likes to fly all about.

Scarfkin (Tune: where is Thumbkin?)
Where is Sadie, where is Sadie? [child hides under scarf] There she is! There she is! [pull scarf off]
Hello Miss Sadie, hello Miss Sadie. Hide again, hide again

Kids Yoga Week 2

I am quickly developing a lesson plan for the kids classes. We open with a greeting song, introduce the theme, do the Sun Salutation song, then some creative movement/pretend play with the poses. The Mystery Box always comes out, then transition to resting and finally goodbyes.

This week the theme was insects. I drew upon a song I learned in Four Winds this month.
Sung to "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes"
Lyrics:
Head, thorax, abdomen, abdomen.
Head, thorax, abdomen, abdomen.
Two antennae, wings and six wiggly legs,
Head, thorax, abdomen, abdomen!

I got some wooden insects for them to use and we pretended we were insects in a garden of trees and flowers (parents).

It was fun, but the insect part was way over their heads. Ah well.

Kids Yoga begins!

Today was my first "Creative Kids" Yoga class at Evolution Yoga. I am excited, nervous, happy, thrilled.

I am learning much about using the space, the music, the heat of the room, and mostly: the kids. 3- and 4-year-olds, happy and eager to play and do yoga.

I have a lot to learn about the songs. Evolution likes to keep some similar themes and flow so families know what to expect from each class. The Director has some songs she likes and they work, but it's all new to me so I'm learning quickly.

Every week I want to have a theme. This week I had an "Apples" theme. We began class with introductions and a song that uses each child's name. I asked them their favorite fruit. After that I taught them the sun salutation song that Evolution uses.

We did some exploring of the yoga mats, stretching. Then I dove into the theme. We did pretend play, like we were picking apples in an orchard. We squished them to make applesauce. Then we were animals in an orchard.

Evolution uses a Mystery Box with something inside to surprise the kids. I used some felt hearts this week. They stick nicely to the body and they can use them to rest with.

I closed the class out with a goodbye song. Then we give out stamps.

Kids Yoga

I have been interested in doing yoga for kids for a long time, since I began the teacher training.

Today, I have been given an opportunity to teach kids yoga! Starting in September, I will join a new yoga studio, Evolution Yoga. Fridays at 10:45am I will teach kids.

This. Is. Exciting!!

Another class!

Today I have been granted another class at The Edge! Starting next Tuesday, I will teach another Gentle Yoga class at Eastwood Terrace.

Yay me!

Easy does It

Subbing for Sylvia this summer. Today I subbed her gentle and Easy Does It classes. I forgot how I need to make it really easy for the EDI class. But using the chair, props and lots of slow stretches I almost ran out of time. Feels good to be so involved in yoga.

Junior Yogis at Project Inside Out

Last week, I volunteered at Porters Point Project Inside Out to lead a yoga workshop for four days. In each workshop with eight children, I had to fill up about 4 hours of time. Although we were in a tent, it was still hot on some days, and stormy on others. So needless to say, flexibility was KEY. Kids can't just do poses for four hours. Attention span, physical endurance, behavior issues all came into play. I have developed a bag of tricks I'd like to share with you all.

Each child had a yoga mat, and I started off with some basic warm ups not just to limber up, but to remind them of their "personal space". With arms and legs spread, we swept our arms around in an imaginary bubble. If two "bubbles" touched, the kids rearranged to make sure they had enough space.

We then began to go through poses. I have read many different kids' yoga books to come up with 36 poses that can all be named after animals or objects. The reason I did this is because I have a bag of little plastic animals and shapes that the kids use to learn from. They closes their eyes, reach into the bag, draw one out, then we learn that pose. Those animals are also good for Savasana breathing at the end: I place one animal on each child's chest and have them watch the animal rise and fall with their breath.

We did modified Sun Salutations. We did handstands using the baseball backstop. We did partner poses. We also did the three Warrior poses in a series I call "Flight of the Arrow" (I changed the names to "Archer" poses). We start in Warrior 2, "put your hands together in front, and draw back your bow". Then we "make the arrow" by putting our arms up into Warrior 1. "Place the arrow in the bow" (bend forward with arms parallel to ground, bent over knee) "then let the arrow fly!" by bringing the back leg up into Warrior 3.

One thing that amazed me was the fact that almost every child could do Crow by the end of the workshop. And it was, by far, the most favored pose. As I said, poses are physically demanding, and frustrating for some children who are still learning balance and coordination. That is where some hands on stuff comes in!

The first activity we did was to review the poses using marshmallows and toothpicks. One large marshmallow, 6 mini marshmallows, and 9 toothpicks. After we assembled, the kids arranged the figure into yoga poses that they learned. The best part, of course, was eating the marshmallows at the end!


The second activity was coloring mandalas. I bought the stained-glass mandala coloring book by Dover publishing. Using markers, the kids had some quiet time coloring their mandalas to take home.

Other things I did was teaching them about breathing, placing their hands on their chest to feel their heart, ribs, belly and how they move while breathing. I also made up a story with words that were the yoga poses they learned. As I said each yoga pose word, they were to show me that pose. I.e. "Then the EAGLE landed on the TREE."

This is one of the most rewarding yoga workshops I have been, and probably will ever be, a part of.

CPR/AED certified

For the job at S&FE I am required to be CPR/AED certified and I got that today! Hooray! I feel that this is an important thing to know anyway, to be prepared in an emergency. The class was taught by a wonderful instructor and everyone there was eager to learn as was I. I'm going to miss my dummy...I think I was growing fond of him by the end of class.

Veni, Vidi, Vinyasa

I came, I saw, I practiced yoga. I gentle twist to Ceasar's famous quote.

I held vinyasa this evening to 4 young women who I think enjoyed the class. For me, It felt wonderful teaching a harder class and playing around with more poses.

Vinyasa

Taught my first vinyasa class for YVT today. One person, a friend, participated. Thank you Mike!

Teaching at Yoga Vermont

I'm finally on the schedule, officially! The Summer 2009 Yoga Vermont schedule is firming up and my name is listed not once, but twice!

Kindergarten Yoga

I taught yoga to kindergartners at the school that my son will be going. I had a plan...which was immediately thrown out the window when the fire drill occurred. *sigh*. But then we got them back in and settled and began again. Then I realized in the movement, I lost my "outline" that also had the story on it. Luckily, I found it halfway through and I finished will a little more confidence. I did forget to do a breathing exercise, but in retrospect, that would have disrupted the flow. This is what we did...

Took a deep breath (through the mouth)
Deep breath through the nose. Reminded them to keep breathing through the nose while we did yoga.
Hands on ribs, felt rib cage open and close.
Coordinated head movement to breath
Standing poses: mountain, crescent moon, tree, eagle
Transition poses: cat, dog, gate, arm/leg balance
Seated poses: butterfly, turtle, frog, boat, bridge, relaxed
Flight of the arrow sequence: warrior 2, 1, 3
Read a story with poses, children did the poses when I came to it in the story.
In relaxed pose, a mom brought ducks. Put ducks on their chest so they could see them rise and fall with their breath.
Q&A

The activity that I wanted to do but forgot, was to blow a cotton ball around using a straw. Oh well. The kids were giddy enough, this would have not been a "relaxing" exercise.

Yoga for Girl Scouts

I told a friend who is troop leader to two different Girl Scout troops a few months ago that I needed some teaching opportunities. Since then, I have taught a regular power yoga class at a health club and now will be teaching a Seniors yoga class at Yoga Vermont at the end of the month.

But teaching girls/teens is still interesting for me. I want to get experience with a variety of demographics. So, we are scheduled for April 6 in Highgate.

I looked online and it looks like Christy Brock is a known experts to teaching teens. Note to self: look into this.

Subbing again

I subbed a power yoga class again at my friend's health club. I decided that I wanted to try the 9-pose standing sequence from FitSugar. Despite practicing it at home several times, I blanked out on the order of the sequence. But, I improvised and, of course, the practitioners did not know. I also did all of the core poses that I wanted to have them do. It feels good to get into a groove of teaching and feel comfortable switching up a class impromptu.

The Seniors class in a few weeks will be more challenging. More breating techniques, more gentle poses. One would think slowing down a class might be easier. But after teaching 45-minute classes, and hour and a half will be interesting.

Seniors class

It is official! I will be taking over the Seniors class on Tuesdays from 10-11:30. I'm so high right now!!

Pictures/Portfolio

The folks at Jay Peak asked me to create a flyer for the Apres Ski Yoga sessions we are offering. I have no good pictures of me doing yoga (except in a bikini--hardly "apres ski"). So, this evening I set up my camera in the corner of the dining room. The photo shoot proved difficult because I not only had to focus the camera on nothing, but then I had to run and get into position before the timer ended. I realized that I need to have a real session sometime so I have pictures in my portfolio.

Subbing Power Yoga

Tonight, I subbed a power yoga session at my friend's health club. It was nice getting back there again. I did not know anyone in the class, but I think they enjoyed having me.

I did not create a sequence ahead of time, like I did through the Fall classes I taught. I'm feeling more confident about my style and method. It is difficult to get a good session in 45 minutes, but I chose some basic poses that target the whole body.

At the end, one practitioner said he liked having someone different. The other instructor has her favorite poses and way of teaching, he's used to it. He said he liked challenging his muscle memory to do different things with me.

I had fun. I liked challenging myself!

Last Power Yoga (Fall)

This morning I taught my last Power Yoga session at my friend's health club for the Fall. I enjoyed this class very much. I am looking forward to the Spring. I was thinking that I would be able to do some classes with them in the winter, but it is doubtful. I think I will focus on my practice for now.

Sixth Power Yoga Session

It was a cold morning and the studio was not heated up yet, but three ladies showed up to practice the Friday of a long weekend. The students are more comfortable with me now, asking more questions. Since I am not a trained health professional, I have to be careful what I say. I tell them we'll do some poses that help with their ailments, but if the problem persists, to seek a professional. I also reminded them that if the constant vinyasa in between bothers them, they can cut those out of the practice and just work in the postures, holding them longer.

Suryanamaskar A and variations, Suryanamaskar B, Dolphin, Vasisthasana, Utkatasana, Utkatasana w/ twist, Padangustasana, Utthita Hasta Padngustasana, Garudasana (Eagle), Virabhadrasana I & II, Utthita Trikonasana and reverse, Dandasana, Purvottanasana, Janu Sirsasana A & B, Mariachysana, Navasana, Upavishta Konasana, Baddha Konasana, Camel, Paschimottanasana, Supta Padangustasana, Sarvangasana, Matsyasana, Savasana

About teaching

I often wonder about teaching yoga. Am I good enough? I wonder less now that I am in a position to teach and learn by teaching. It is coming to me well, and the people who come are good enough student to give me feedback if they need to do so.

But I read a good article on Yoga Journal about "To Each Their Own, to Teach Their Own" with some good points I want to remember (copied from the article):

• If a student objects to your style, then it is their responsibility to change--find another teacher. You are who you are. And so long as you are teaching the techniques without ego, honestly and as you have been taught, the way in which you present is the real you. As a teacher, you have the right—and some might say the obligation—to bring all of your talents to the table and express the teachings through yourself. And students always have the right to listen or walk away.
• It's important as a teacher to be in an open space to receive students' feedback, because it really tells more about where THEY are at than where you are at. As long as you are honest with yourself about your own motivations and choices, you will be on solid ground with most students. In fact, you must find some ground to stand on in order to be a rock for the people you teach.
• A yoga class is a divine appointment that students have made with themselves. It's your job to deliver the teachings, not engage with the ego of your students. To deflect critism without getting on the offensive or defensive, merely say, "You are right. My style is not for everyone."

Other helpful hints in finding you way through critisism:

• Know Thyself, Open Thyself. Your teaching is a combination of age-old wisdom that cannot and should not be changed, and the unique translation of that knowledge through you. You're just the mailman, not the mail. You are delivering, and your style of delivery is unavoidably the manifestation of your own being. Certainly, it never hurts to listen to criticism, to see if possibly it has some merit; but you can't stifle yourself after you've tuned in. What flows through you, the way it flows through you, is the grace of the divine. Being able to simultaneously hold both a sense of humility and a knowledge of your own importance will make the road easier to travel.
• Strength in Numbers. It's harder to reject feedback that comes from more than one student, and over a longer period of time. If one person complains, listen. If more complain, act.
• Shopping Around. On one hand, students are free to leave if they can't take the heat. But on the other hand, it may be your responsibility to suggest they stay through their own discomfort. Western students feel free to shop around for teachers and leave when the going gets tough. They want it to be the way that their ego wants it to be, to feed them in the way they want to be fed and that's not always the best thing for spiritual development. As a yoga teacher, you can try to guide them through the difficulty. Sometimes just talking to them once allows them to stay and find their way. But if it is repeated, then suggesting another studio may be the best course.