Yoga 4 Classrooms Blog

WIN a Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck!

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 13:30:00 GMT

Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck "Rocks" reports Donna Freeman of Yoga in My School...and she's giving one away. She writes:

You really, truly need to get your hands on the fabulous Yoga 4 Classroom card deck. Today.

This well thought-out deck is packed with yoga and mindfulness ideas that are easy to use in the classroom. Ideal for Elementary Schools, and even Middle Schools, the deck is comprised of 67 over-sized (6″x8″) cards, sturdy enough to withstand daily use by teachers and youth.

Lisa Flynn of ChildLight Yoga has done a fabulous job of providing step-by-step instructions as well as additional creative applications on every card. The illustrations by James Vaughn are bright, cheerful and depict children of diverse ethnicities and abilities...

Read the full article and ENTER TO WIN a deck here!

By the way, if you don't already follow Yoga in My School, you should. It's an absolute goldmine of useful information, including radio interviews and articles for kids' yoga teachers, parents, educators and others interested in sharing yoga and mindfulness education with children.

NH Chonicle features Yoga 4 Classrooms

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 22:14:00 GMT

WMUR-TV's NH Chonicle program featured ChildLight Yoga and its affiliate school program, Yoga 4 Classrooms, based in Dover, NH. The thorough piece features interviews with Founder, Lisa Flynn and Lead Instructor, Sharon Trull, as well as with staff, students and the Principal of Horace Mitchell School in Kittery, ME. In addition, the program features clips from the Y4C program in the school, the newly published Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Ceck and shows a bit of the studio and boutique in Dover, NH.

Notable quotes:

"It's just like peace and soothing. It's like you're in somewhere that's nice and calm." ~ Student

"To be learning-ready, children must be present in the moment and comfortable in their bodies...but what we know is that children are increasingly stressed. We live in a fast-paced culture. There's not much we can do about that. But what we can do is teach them how to manage it." ~ Lisa Flynn, Founder of ChildLight Yoga/Yoga 4 Classrooms

"Now I can focus like a thousand times better." ~ Student

"The curriculum that we share really complements a lot of the school's curriculum...anti bullying and a lot of the wellness initiatives like how to take care of yourself, proper foods to eat, how much sleep do you need, how to be a peacemaker with your words, actions and thoughts..." ~ Sharon Trull, Yoga 4 Classroom Instructor

"The students who are impacted most are those that are diagnosed with ADD, or have focus issues or family issues - they are the ones who are taking it on the strongest in my class." ~ Terry Hartley, Teacher

"They are doing it on their own, independently. I get stories pretty regularly about the kids doing this at home and how it's helping them, or on the playground. They've really incorporated it into their repertoire to help them cope with all the stresses that they go through - it's really true." ~ David Foster, School Principal

We are extremely grateful to NH Chronicle for choosing to focus a piece on yoga and mindfulness education for children. Special thanks to Cindy Jones, the Producer and Editor of the piece.

Watch....

The Rise of Yoga and Mindfulness in Schools

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:02:00 GMT

Karma Carpenter Shea, IASYM (International Association of School Yoga and Mindfulness) Founder, was recently interviewed by Donna Freeman of Yoga in My School's Blog Talk Radio Show. The goal of IASYM is to promote pediatric health through sustainable yoga, mindfulness and contemplative ed programs for students and staff. ChildLight Yoga / Yoga 4 Classrooms is an involved supporter and sponsor of the work of IASYM and Carpenter Shea mentions our work in the interview.

The interview is very informative. They discuss why mind-body tools are becoming so popular and the growing trend of bringing yoga and mindfulness into schools. As well, they delve into some of the science behind the hoopla, including specific research references and current studies in the works. Interview features call in guests including Debbie Cohen, Ryan McGraw, Dee Marie and Rachel Glowacki.

Carpenter Shea concludes the interview with a call for volunteers to support the all-seva IASYM project, specifically seeking assistance with website overhaul and organization. FMI or to volunteer, please visit the IASYM website: www.k-12yoga.org.

Listen to the interview...

Huffington Post: Educating the Whold Child

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:01:00 GMT

"...we are currently in a unique historical moment, when our mainstream culture is acknowledging that "living well" is not a luxury, but crucial to being better and more productive citizens and people in all we undertake. This is a largely positive development, and I think it is about time we include our neediest schoolchildren in that project..."

Read the full article by Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, via the Huffington Post.

Kiwi Magazine features Conductor Breath from the Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 17:15:00 GMT

Kiwi Magazine features ChildLight Yoga's Conductor Breath, also one of the 67 classroom-friendly activities from the Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck.

Oct/Nov, 2011 issue

Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck featured in Tathaastu Magazine

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 17:14:00 GMT

We are thrilled to announce Tathaastu Magazine has given the Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck a big 'thumb's up' by featuring it in their Jan/Feb 2012 issue.

Dear Congress, Pass the Academic, Social and Emotional Learning Act of 2011

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 13:45:00 GMT

Here at ChildLight Yoga and Yoga 4 Classrooms, we strongly support social and emotional education for a healthier generation of students. We just signed the following petition, created by Shanti Generation for Change.org, and addressed to Congress. Please read and join us

Pass the Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning Act of 2011

Bipartisan legislation supporting students’ development through social and emotional learning has been introduced to the 112th Congress by Representatives Judy Biggert (R‐IL), Dale E. Kildee (D‐MI), and Tim Ryan (D‐OH).

The Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning Act of 2011, HR 2437 will expand the availability of programs that teach students skills such as problem‐solving, conflict resolution, responsible decision-making, relationship building, goal‐setting, and self discipline. “This legislation will help teachers provide result‐driven instruction in skills that keep children focused on learning and prepare them to succeed in the real world,” says Representative Judy Biggert, a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee. (Bill Summary via Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning)

Again, our hearts break as the story unfolds of another act of violence in schools. Equally as heartbreaking is that it takes a tragedy as deep as a school shooting to bring the dialogue on safety and wellness in schools to the forefront of mainstream media, which, as we know, dominates so many peoples' thinking.

Fortunately, the conversation on wellbeing in schools has grown rich in several arenas of education including the social and emotional learning movement and the school yoga and mindfulness movement. At the heart of these interconnected movements is the knowledge that well being is not only essential to learning, it is essential to safety. Kids who are stressed beyond belief by a world in turmoil and pressured to perform in rigid school environments are bound to snap. Unfortunately, it's not only the kids who commit extreme acts of violence that are hurting deeply.

The victims, and I include here the perpetrator, of the recent shooting in Ohio, have a message that must be heard by each and every parent, teacher, administrator and tax payer:

STOP ignoring the cries of children and teens all over the nation who are suffering in a broken educational system.

STOP piling on the homework and the demands.

STOP standardizing education at the cost of students and teachers creativity.

STOP putting outcomes over sanity.

For schools to become healthy and thrive, the individuals must be respected and honored.

START listening to the voices of our youth that so clearly articulate the need for social and emotional support.

START including children's hearts in education.

START dialogues within communities about the real purpose of education.

START putting the pressure on legislators to respond to research that shows the benefit of social and emotional learning programs.

PLEASE JOIN US IN EDUCATING OUR POLICYMAKERS about Social and Emotional Learning - Sign the petition today.

Yoga in schools...a Band-Aid or a solution?

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:50:00 GMT

A recent Chicago Tribune article titled, Yoga in the Classroom, highlighted the benefits of school-based yoga programs. In it, Dr. Michelle Riba, professor of psychiatry at the University of Michigan, and past president of the American Psychiatric Association, made an interesting comment.

She said, "teaching yoga to children for stress relief is akin to putting a Band-Aid on a tumor. One might say, 'Why don't we de-stress them instead of doing something to fix the stress.' It's like giving a medicine — and then giving another medicine to fix the side effects. Maybe people should look at trying not to put so much stress on the children. Cutting back on after-school activities would be the first step," she concluded.

Though I certainly understand her point and agree there is room to cut back on scheduling, we also should remember that there are endless potential stressors in life which we can not control. While an overscheduled day may (or may not, as some children actually thrive with a jam-packed schedule) cause Johnny stress or anxiety, a homelife where there is mental illness, poverty or abuse, a walk home that is dangerous, an unfriendly classmate, learning challenges, or even the bright lights and noise experienced during a typical school day may be even more stressful for him.

The fact is, we can not rid the world of stressors. But we can learn to manage our reactions to those stressors, and thus regulate our stress response. Through yoga and mindfulness-based education, we can learn simple, yet powerful skills and tools to help us self-regulate, reflect before reacting, and take control of our state of being. A growing body of mind-body and brain-based research (not to mention our own subjective experiences and observations in the classroom and via parent, child and teacher surveys) shows that when children utilize these tools, they become more present, empowered to manage their emotions, and are in general more content and successful in school and in life.

A Band-Aid or a solution? We'd love to hear your thoughts.

Read more from our March e-newsletter here.

Chicago Tribune: Yoga in the Classroom

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 23:28:00 GMT

Yoga in the Classroom: The elements of stress relief are catching on for even the youngest kids - many of whom face intensifying obligations in daily life
Feb. 15, 2012 - Chicago Tribune

Article features quotes and highlights from us here at ChildLight Yoga / Yoga 4 Classrooms (classroom-friendly activities from our Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck), as well as from our friends at YoKid...Stretch Your Limits, S.T.O.P....Your Special Needs Toolbox, Happily Ever Active, and Ananda Kula.

"Yoga helps them release excess energy, tension and stress while instilling a sense of calm, and helping kids develop self-awareness and self-soothing techniques which they can use in any situation." ~ Laurie Jordan

Read more...

Yoga for Kids & Teens Coming Soon to a School Near You: 5 Reasons Why this is Awesome

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 18:57:00 GMT

Our friend, Abby Wills, Founder of Shanti Generation, recently shared this fabulous article on her blog and at Mind Body Green online. Of course, we couldn't agree more. She writes...

While yoga has been practiced in schools across the country for several decades, lately the movement has sky rocketed. Organizations coast to coast are successfully implementing yoga in thousands of classrooms via live teachers, digital video technology and even apps. Why has this ancient practice taken root in our schools? Perhaps because yoga offers practical solutions to some of our schools biggest problems.

1. Healthy students are effective learners
2. Affordable and accessible programs
3. IQ, SQ and EQ
4. Inclusive by nature
5. Less stress, more success

Read full article here.

Yoga 4 Classrooms: Helping Students of all Abilities Learn

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 18:19:00 GMT

Zensational Kids, LLC founder and OT, Allison Morgan, shares how she is using the Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck to meet the needs of various learning styles in the classroom...... specifically, she shares some wonderful ideas on how to use yoga to prepare kids for handwriting activities.

Read more...

Thoughts on Mindful Awareness Practices in Education

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:20:00 GMT

Thoughts on Mindful Awareness Practices in Education, a thought-provoking, must-read article, written by Ramaa Reddy Raghavan, posted today (12/27/11) at The Huffington Post.

"My last three articles dealt with a burgeoning phenomenon -- mindful awareness -- which has been gaining popularity among public and private school administrators, as a method to help kids relax, become more attentive and less aggressive at school. In this concluding piece, I present thoughts from established mindfulness practitioners who discuss the state of mindfulness research, from its practice pitfalls and nuanced lexicon, to its necessity in today's complex world." Read full article here...

Comments from Yoga 4 Classrooms founder, Lisa Flynn:

SEL (social/emotional learning), resilience, stress reduction, improved academic performance and many other benefits relevant to education and whole child wellness, are natural outcomes of these practices (see research cited in the article), but as Dr. Jennings states, the approach for teaching mindful awareness to children can and should be quite different than with adults. Reputable programs designed for schools understand this and incorporate kid-friendly approaches which include breathing, movement, reflection, focusing exercises, discussions, community building exercises and more.

It is exciting to know that Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) has a bill in Congress to pass SEL legislation that would make it a part of every school's curriculum. If it passes, schools are going to be seeking out these programs.

Here are a few reputable programs and tools, some included in the article, some not: Mindful Schools, MindUp, Inner Resilience Program, Yoga Calm, Garrison's Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education (CARE), and Yoga 4 Classrooms, which includes training and curriculum for educators and school counselors, in-service workshops, classroom residency, and new...the Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck, dubbed by a group of enthusiastic educators as "a must have resource for all 21st century teachers!"

6 Tools That Support Kids Social Emotional Development for 2012 and Beyond!

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:02:00 GMT

6 Tools That Support Kids Social Emotional Development for 2012 and Beyond!

Great suggestions provided by our friends at Move With Me Action Adventures includes our very own Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck.

Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck Review & Giveaway: by Omazing Kids Yoga

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:44:00 GMT

The Omazing Kids Yoga review of our new Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck is well, Omazing! We especially appreciate that Angela Moorad, the founder, notes the features that we feel make the deck and Yoga 4 Classrooms program unique, comprehensive and user-friendly.   

Highlights of the review....  

Wow…. The new Yoga 4 Classrooms Activity Card Deck has it all! The Y4C card deck provides an easy to use, well-rounded & comprehensive approach to yoga for kids. It is a “must have” for classroom teachers & kids yoga teachers.

Here’s what I LOVE about the Y4C Card Deck:  

    •    Yoga is so much more than just “poses” so it is refreshing to see this expressed so well in a kids yoga product!  

•    The instructions on the back of the card are easy to understand & often provide ideas for partner variations, ideas to include books & music and other classroom extension ideas.  

•    The cards would be very easy to use in any setting with the use of standing & chair poses (no need for yoga mats or floor space) and do not have anything in them that could be viewed as “religious” (no Sanskrit words, Om symbols, etc..) thus avoiding the potential objections school administration or parents might have.  

•    The cards are colorful & large enough to be seen in a group setting.  

•    The cards are color-coded by category.  

•    The illustrations on the cards depict kids of diverse ethnicities & abilities.  

•    The words on the front of each card capture the essence & purpose of that activity or pose and would be easy to use as “affirmations”.  

•    The “Be Well” cards  address “Yamas” & “Niyamas” of yoga via “Character Education” in a classroom-friendly way. Yamas are social disciplines – how we behave toward others & Niyamas are personal disciplines – how we care for ourselves.  

READ THE FULL REVIEW AND ENTER THE GIVEAWAY CONTEST HERE.

The Need for Yoga in Schools

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:44:00 GMT

December 15th, 2011
By Faye Martins

People of all ages and abilities can benefit from Hatha Yoga. It gently stretches muscles and ligaments, facilitates blood flow within the body, and encourages deep breathing. The yogic philosophy includes taking the time to breathe consciously, and still the mind for a time. People can benefit from quick yoga breaks throughout the day, where they stretch, breathe, and re-energize the body and mind. If schools incorporated yoga into the curriculum, or trained teachers to incorporate it into individual classrooms, perhaps students and teachers would be better able to focus, learn, and deal with the stresses of the day.

Academic standards continue to rise on a yearly basis, causing schools to take on a greater burden for the welfare and academic success of all students. Government sanctions require specific numbers of students to reach specific benchmarks, regardless of the diversity of students’ abilities, backgrounds, and needs. As a result, schools are stressed out, teachers are burning out, and the students are feeling it too.

Yoga can help. With little to no cost to school districts, they can begin to incorporate a healthy practice into the classrooms to teach stress management, and to encourage healthy habits throughout the rest of young people’s lives. Yoga requires little to no equipment, depending on how it is practiced, and teachers can easily be trained to teach a few basic, stress relieving poses to students.

I am not suggesting the students roll out the Yoga mats, foregoing other academic responsibilities, but instead to incorporate Yoga into a hectic day. Perhaps teachers can take five minutes before a test to lead students in a deep breathing exercise, or do a series of neck and shoulder stretches for three minutes before a particularly intense class is over. If Yoga practice takes place on a regular basis, students will realize the benefits soon, and might even begin to incorporate Yoga into their lives away from school.

Many schools have varied and exciting physical education programs, where a unit on Yoga could fit in nicely. Sports teams can use it to stretch and cool down muscles after practice, to visualize winning the game, and to relax during particularly stressful times during a match.

Yoga is a healthy, lifelong activity used to relieve and cure a number of common ailments. Who knows what these children’s futures hold. By teaching them yoga, we are giving them a helpful tool to use for the rest of their lives. Schools are responsible for turning out well-rounded, well-educated individuals. They could be doing a disservice to the students if yoga wasn’t part of the school day.

© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division

To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher training courses, please visit the following link.
http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/

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Yoga 4 Classrooms Blog

WIN a Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck!

NH Chonicle features Yoga 4 Classrooms

The Rise of Yoga and Mindfulness in Schools

Huffington Post: Educating the Whold Child

Kiwi Magazine features Conductor Breath from the Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck

Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck featured in Tathaastu Magazine

Dear Congress, Pass the Academic, Social and Emotional Learning Act of 2011

Yoga in schools...a Band-Aid or a solution?

Chicago Tribune: Yoga in the Classroom

Yoga for Kids & Teens Coming Soon to a School Near You: 5 Reasons Why this is Awesome

Yoga 4 Classrooms: Helping Students of all Abilities Learn

Zensational Kids, LLC founder and OT, Allison Morgan, shares how she is using the Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck to meet the needs of various learning styles in the classroom...... specifically, she shares some wonderful ideas on how to use yoga to prepare kids for handwriting activities. Read more...

Thoughts on Mindful Awareness Practices in Education

6 Tools That Support Kids Social Emotional Development for 2012 and Beyond!

Yoga 4 Classrooms Card Deck Review & Giveaway: by Omazing Kids Yoga

The Need for Yoga in Schools