Anna and her Rainbow-Colored Yoga Mats by Giselle Shardlow

Kids Yoga Stories has recently released a 2nd edition of Anna and her Rainbow-Colored Yoga Mats by Giselle Shardlow.  It is one of my favorite books for a kids yoga class, and it was in the Top 3 of the Top Storybooks for Kids Yoga by OmAzing Kids and Bambino Yoga.

Anna is a new student at school and a child with hearing loss. Her classmates think she is weird, and point out all the things that make her different. As they make fun of her, she follows her heart and does what makes her happy, yoga! Eventually she makes a new friend, who also has hearing loss. Each day they do yoga together, and eventually all the classmates join in with colorful yoga mats to make a rainbow.

The book includes lots of fun yoga poses for kids including Cat, Horse, Duck, Tree, Jaguar, Snake, Pyramid, Sphinx, Camel, Mountain, and Bears. Multiple themes of rainbow colors, individuality, bullying, and staying true to yourself allow you to integrate the book easily into a yoga class or classroom.

The yoga book is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French on the Kids Yoga Stories website or on Amazon.

Anna and her Rainbow-Colored Yoga Mats book is also a recommended Time Extender activity in the “End of the Rainbow” lesson plan offered here.

Want to win a copy of Anna and her Rainbow-Colored Yoga Mats by Giselle Shardlow and a copy of Imaginations 2 by Carolyn Clarke?

Enter the giveaway to win this book by April 1st Midnight PST on our Giveaway and Contest page.

The Biz of Kids Yoga Review and Giveaway!

Giveaway for TBOKY and an Imaginations Book

Win an exclusive "Seat" in The Biz of Kids Yoga 8-week Online Course.

Dates: FALL 2014

September 18th-November 13th (no class on October 16th)

September 18, 25

October 2, 9, 23, 30

November 6, 13

Sessions are 80 minutes: 10:00-11:20am PST

More info here:

Winner's “seat” is non-transferable. Prize has no cash value.

Review

Earlier this summer, I enrolled in Jodi Komitor's The Biz of Kids Yoga Online Course, fondly called TBOKY.

Here is what it entailed:

  • 8 weekly Online classes on Google Hangout
  • Weekly assignments and journaling
  • Connecting with a buddy

Here's what I loved:

Based on the experience of a kids yoga teacher

Jodi is a rockstar in the kids yoga world. She opened the first kids yoga studio, wrote a great book on kids yoga (The Idiot's Guide to Yoga with Kids), trains teachers, and teaches kids all over the world. Now she has started sharing her business insights, techniques, and stories in The Biz of Kids Yoga Online Course. Most business classes do not focus solely on a yoga business, no less on a kids yoga business. I found it helpful to hear from another kids yoga teacher exactly what worked and what didn't work in her business.

Well-organized

The course was well-organized with 8 modules of information. Each 80 minute class started with some sharing of our insights or questions from the previous week followed by new material, discussion, and assignments. The modules included:

  • Follow the Yellow Brick Road- Setting a Mindset for Success
  • Marketing
  • Beyond Kid's Classes (covered in 2 classes)
  • Create Community
  • Money Matters
  • Your Biz Online
  • Hit the Ground Running (A summary and self-evaluation)

Each module applied to both teachers just starting out and teachers that had been in business for years. We received an outline by email before each class for note-taking and assignments. 

Collaborative

We all had a buddy to share with, as well as a Facebook group for sharing ideas and asking questions. With a small class size, the course felt intimate and conversational. I loved hearing what other teachers were doing, as well as hearing their struggles with some of the same things that challenge me.

Convenient

Who doesn't love a training that doesn't force you to leave your house? Using Google+ was relatively easy once I got the hang of it (get someone that is good with tech to help you if you need to work out any kinks). Using the cameras on our computers and the audio on our microphones made it feel more intimate and connected than a conference call. Also, the classes were recorded, so I could catch up after missing a class for a vacation.

Open-ended

The modules were very applicable to everything that is happening in my business right now. There were some aspects (ex: opening up a yoga studio) that I didn't need right now, but will be able to use in the future when the time comes. I can keep revisiting the material at any stage of my business. I envision cycling through my notes and the modules every six months or so to reevaluate my business and regroup if necessary.

Here's What I Learned:

This course was extremely helpful for me. I've been in business for over 10 years, and most of the time it has felt like I am flying by the seat of my pants. Through TBOKY, I have discovered and fine-tuned my niche of kids yoga with guided imagery. I now know that I don't have to be everything to everybody. The more focused I am with a niche, the more my business will grow.  I also realized in the class that I have been very "loosey-goosey" with my marketing and business efforts, so I am now committing to daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals to keep me on track. I also realized that I have connected with hundreds of people over the years of teaching, but I have not been good at keeping in touch consistently. Now I am putting systems in place to consistently reach out to my community (that's you!).

If only this course had existed when I started out! I feel that TBOKY grounded me in my business and gave me the tools to decide which areas need my focus. It was like taking my business to a yoga class!

 

 

Two Kids Yoga-Friendly Books on My Gift Giving List This Year

Check out these two great children’s books that I plan to give as gifts this year. Enter the drawing to win a copy of both books, plus an Imaginations book here. THE ABC’s of Australian Animals by Giselle Shardlow

abc_of_australian_animals1_full-461x598

Giselle Shardlow’s The ABC’s of Australian Animals is my new favorite ABC book for kids! Each colorful page includes an Australian animal, many of which were new to me, and a corresponding yoga pose. This book is so fun to read to kids because they are learning and moving at the same time! Check out all of these fun animal poses:

Anemone Pose

Brolga Pose

Crocodile Pose

Dingo Pose

Echidna Pose

Frilled-Necked Lizard Pose

Goanna Pose

Humpback Whale Pose

Ibis Pose

Jellyfish Pose

Koala Pose

Leadbeater’s Possum Pose

Magpie Pose

Numbat Pose

Octopus Pose

Platypus Pose

Quoll Pose

Red Kangaroo Pose

Sea Star Pose

Tasmanian Devil Pose

Ulysses Butterfly Pose

Venomous Snake Pose

Wombat Pose

Extinct Tasmanian Tiger Pose

Yabby Pose

Zebra Bullhead Shark Pose

As a kids yoga instructor, I find Giselle’s Kids Yoga Stories invaluable. Her book is fun, the pictures are colorful, and each page has a corresponding yoga pose, making it really easy to use in a children's yoga class . If you are a parent, you will love keeping your kids active and healthy while reading them a story. The book includes a guide for parents and teachers that gives tips on using yoga with kids. Thank you, Giselle, for another great kids yoga resource!

Softcover, 42 pages, Retail: $15.95

See sample pages and purchase here:

http://www.kidsyogastories.com/product/abc-australian-animals/

Win a copy here!

The Museum by Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter Reynolds

museum

Susan Verde’s The Museum is one of my new all-time favorite children’s books. The illustrations by Peter Reynolds are colorful watercolors that include clever reproductions of famous artwork, like The Scream by Munch and The Starry Night by Van Gogh.

The story is about a girl that goes to an art museum and is inspired by each piece of art she sees. She interacts with each piece of art in a different way- dancing, twirling, and making silly faces. Then she comes to a blank canvas, and after closing her eyes, she fills the white space with all the colors and magic she sees in her imagination.

Susan is a children’s yoga instructor, and that comes through in her book. There are lots of opportunities to integrate creative movement and yoga, and the book also empowers kids to tap into their own creativity. Yoga can boost creativity, so this book is a perfect way to transition from an active yoga session to an art activity. Thank you, Susan, for a fun and colorful addition to my library!

Hardcover, 32 pages, Retail: $16.95

Purchase: http://www.amazon.com/The-Museum-Susan-Verde/dp/1419705946

Win a copy here!

Namaste,

Carolyn

Carolyn Clarke

www.imaginationsforkids.com

www.bambinoyoga.com

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Giveaway/Review of Namaste Playground's Bedtime Yoga Training

Giveaway:

Win a copy of Imaginations and Namaste Playground’s Peaceful Bedtime Online Training!

Enter Rafflecopter drawing here. Enter now until Midnight PST 9/6/2013. Winner will be notified by email.

Review:

I am loving Namaste Playground’s Peaceful Bedtime Online Training. I received a copy of the multimedia training to review, and I think it will be so helpful to parents that are having a problem with getting their kids down for bed (or really any parent for that matter…).

Here’s what it includes:

ResizeImage.aspx

One Hour Audio Training - MP3-

An audio training that explains the benefits of a good night’s sleep along with leading sleep research. The training goes over tips to improve sleep including food to eat and turning off electronics. (It also recommends reading a story from my book, Imaginations! Thank you Namaste Playground!).

Jackie includes personal stories about her own daughters and her experience with putting her kids to bed at night. She also brings up some interesting points about the similarities between ADHD symptoms and extreme sleep deprivation. Good food for thought.

Playbook Manual – PDF

A thorough 11 page PDF that outlines the research and suggestions from the audio training. Also includes suggested music and the benefits of all the suggested yoga poses. I am looking forward to downloading all of the music she recommends for bedtime to create a good savasana playlist for relaxation time during my kids yoga classes.

Meditation to Use With Your Children - MP3

A sweet recording of a guided visualization to help lull your child to sleep. Jackie’s reads the story slowly, softly, and soothingly.

Video Clip of a 5 Minute Yoga Practice for Parent and Child

A fun video of her daughter doing the yoga routine next to her bed. I’ve adapted my nighttime yoga routine to include some of these poses too.

Heart Shape Eye Pillow Video instructions and Heart Shape Eye Pillow Pattern

A fun craft idea to make an eye pillow! I love the heart shape, and I am excited to try making one.

Although this training was all done through the computer, it has a really nice personal touch from Jackie, by her sharing stories and using videos. Overall, this is a well thought-out online training with tools that any parent will use for years. You can download it from Namaste Playground.

I received a free copy of this training. I had no obligation to give it a positive review.

Namaste,

Carolyn

Carolyn Clarke

www.imaginationsforkids.com

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

March Giveaway- Imaginations and Good Morning Yogis Book Prize Pack

Enter here: We're having a Rafflecopter giveaway! CLARKE_IMAGINATIONS book cover

good morning yogis jpg The winner will receive a copy of Imaginations: Fun Relaxation Stories and Meditations for Kids and Good Morning Yogis by Cate Stillman.

Read the review of Good Morning Yogi's Here.

Enter the giveaway Here.

Good luck! Carolyn Clarke

www.imaginationsforkids.com

Facebook

Pinterest

Kids Yoga Giveaway to Help End Childhood Obesity

Help End Childhood Obesity!

This is big! Send a fellow kids yoga teacher, Leah Kalish of Move With Me, to present to Michelle Obama at the Health Summit in DC in March 2013!mwm_logo

Please vote now for Move with Me Yoga in the Innovation Challenge Contest here. Leah Kalish, founder of Move with Me Yoga, is a finalist in the Partnership for a Healthier America - End Childhood Obesity Innovation Challenge.She is 1 of 10 finalists and must be in the top 3 to present her ideas (CHILDREN NEED YOGA!) to Michelle Obama and other health/education leaders at the Health Summit in DC in March 2013.

Four Red Gift Boxes

Then enter the Raffle here for a chance to win one of the 75+ Prizes (see the full prize list here too). To encourage voting, over 75 kids yoga prizes have been donated by Children's Yoga Leaders from around the world. Please take a few seconds to vote and then reward yourself by entering the raffle. We have donated several copies of Imaginations: Fun Relaxation Stories and Meditations for Kids.

This is an exciting opportunity for children's yoga to be presented as a major health initiative! Think of all the good that could happen if yoga for children was being supported at a national level!

Carolyn Clarke

www.imaginationsforkids.com

Facebook

Pinterest