I recently was invited into first grade to share some relaxation practice after recess. As you can imagine, the energy was high and distracted, with students buzzing around the room like bees. So, I invited them to be the "very best bee they could be" and buzz right...
This morning in our small group yoga time at school, we practiced relaxation skills using a spinner visual aid. This visual aid helped students to stay focused on what we were learning and was a great tool to bring attention back to the present moment when it was...
It's getting towards the end of the school year in my district. We are wrapping things up, saying goodbye to a year that passed so swiftly, and sending our fifth graders on to the larger horizon of middle school. Even my own daughter, Maiya, is graduating from high...
Here's another fun book produced by Singing Dragon: Ladybird's Remarkable Relaxation by Michael Chissick and Sarah Peacock. I love how they champion relaxation practice! This is a wonderful resource for parents, therapists and educators. "Based on anecdotal...
Give your child a relaxation and self-calming tool to feel deeply loved and secure in a moment's notice. The Big Bear Hug is just that, a BIG bear hug....for yourself. Next time when your child's energy is erratic and he is having a hard time settling down, help him...
This weekend I had the opportunity to be a part of Casey Feicht's, (kidsyogaguide.com), parent/child yoga class for kids. There were dances, giggles, deep breathing with breathing buddy friends, poses, toys, stories and singing. Making yoga fun for kids is certainly...
I have been practicing Qigong! According to the National Qigong Association (nqa.org), "qigong is an ancient Chinese health care system that integrates physical postures, breathing techniques and focused intention." The other day while I was finishing my morning...
The act of shaking our bodies resets the nervous system. We can shake our bodies to release muscle tension and bring our entire system back to neutral. 1. Do a body check and notice where all of the tension is currently showing up in the body. 2. Pretend to glue...
Snow is silent, snow is soft, quiet, calm and so delicate. Spend a few mindful minutes walking in the snow. Feel the tiny, wet cold drops on your skin. Lie down in the snow and make some snow angels with your child. Practice a deep breath while you are lying...
Go outside and listen to the silence of snow falling in the forest. What will you most likely hear? Silence. If you aren’t near an area where the snow falls, then create your own space, maybe inside an indoor fort, and make paper cutout snowflakes and pretend. Set...
