Giveaway/Review of Namaste Playground's Bedtime Yoga Training

Luke's Beach Day Review, Giveaway, and Beach Yoga Lesson Plan

July 24, 2013

Review of Luke's Beach Day

In case you missed it on Amazon.com, here's what I had to say about Luke's Beach Day by Giselle Shardlow:

"Luke's Beach Day, by Giselle Shardlow at KidsYogaStories.com, teaches children's yoga and environmentalism with a sweet story and easy-to-follow yoga pose pictures on each page.

The story follows Luke and his friends at the beach, discovering sea life, boats, and litter! Luke is bothered by the trash and makes sure to put it all in the garbage can, setting a good example and teaching readers to do the same. The book includes a list of all of the poses used in the book, including Kangaroo pose (fun!) and Sun Salutations. There is also a list of tips that are helpful for people who have never done yoga with kids (it is definitely different than doing yoga with adults!).

I love all the books from Kids Yoga Stories, especially this one that has the corresponding poses listed on each page. I love that as I read a story to my classes, the kids automatically go into the poses that they see in the top corner of the pages. It is much easier than trying to hold a book and to demonstrate a yoga pose at the same time.

Giselle Shardlow has created another invaluable resource for parents, teachers, and kids yoga instructors wishing to share yoga in a fun, healthy, and eco-friendly way."

I think it's a great book for kids yoga classes (enter the giveaway below!), so I've put together a lesson plan using it (this lesson plan was originally created for an OMazing Kids lesson plan constest last year). The lesson plan (below) includes a story from Imaginations: Fun Relaxation Stories and Meditations for Kids, too!

A Relaxing Day at the Beach Lesson Plan

Suggested materials – Imaginations: Fun Relaxation Stories and Meditations for Kids book by Carolyn Clarke Luke’s Beach Day by Giselle Shardlow Shell collection displayed inside of yoga mat circle Cardboard laminated suns Hobermann Sphere Ocean wave music Printed pictures of sand sculptures chosen from: Cat http://tinyurl.com/9tujuck Cow http://tinyurl.com/8qmh4sc Dog http://tinyurl.com/9crw6n8 Tree http://tinyurl.com/8ed6ua4

Sequence of Poses:

Breathing with the Hoberman Sphere

Rub Palms together and feel your own energy

Shell Meditation (Pass around shells and listen to the sound of the ocean)

Shoulder Rolls

Neck stretches (move head like yes and no)

Arms circles

Sand sculptures (Show pictures of sand sculptures and then mimic them with poses) Cat Pose Cow Pose Dog Pose Tree Pose

Dig a Hole (Standing Forward Bend to Extended Mountain with an imaginary shovel)

Jump the waves (Imagine you are jumping over waves staying on your yoga mat or have two kids hold the ends of a long piece of blue material for kids to jump over)

Sun Salutations

Beach ball game (Pass the ball around the circle with your arms, then lying down with your feet.)

Read Luke’s Beach Day and act out the story with the included yoga poses

Starfish Stretches (Arms, legs, and head are starfish arms. Sit down, open legs in a V. Stretch your arms overhead to one side, then the other side, stretch forward, and then stretch backwards until you are lying on your back.)

Kelp Forest (Lying back, arms and legs up in the air. Sway arms and legs slowly with the current. )

Cool-down Flow Knees to Chest, Legs Up, Dead Bug/Happy Baby, Savasana/Relaxation Pose

Progressive Muscle Relaxation (tighten and relax each body part) followed by this story from Imaginations: Fun Relaxation Stories and Meditations for Kids:

A Day at the Beach

Imagine you are walking on the beach.

Feel the sand between your toes.

Is it wet or dry?

When you find your perfect spot, spread out your towel and lie down in the sand.

Feel the warm sun on your skin and a cool, refreshing breeze.

Listen to the waves crashing on the shore…

Children playing…

Seagulls singing…

And people laughing.

Listen to the sound of the waves.

A wave comes into shore, and then the wave moves back into the ocean.

Now, put your hand on your belly.

Feel it rise up when you take in a breath, and feel it fall down when you let out a breath.

Up and down, in and out.

Just like the waves in the ocean…

Enjoy lying here feeling your body relaxed at the beach.

© 2012 Carolyn Clarke from Imaginations: Fun Relaxation Stories and Meditations for Kids

Activities: Choose any of the beach themed activities from the Pinterest board for A Day at the Beach http://pinterest.com/relaxationstory/a-day-at-the-beach/

Enter the Giveaway

So now you are probably REALLY excited to have a copy of Luke's Beach Day of your own!

Enter the giveaway by Friday, August 2nd, 2013 at midnight PST to win a copy of Luke’s Beach Day and Imaginations: Fun Relaxation Stories and Meditations for Kids.

Click Here to Enter

Rules of Participation:

Must be 18 years or older with a valid e-mail address.

Employees or family members of Bambino Yoga are not eligible.

No purchase required.

Comments submitted via Rafflecopter may be copied & pasted into the blog posts on KidsYoga101.com, ImaginationsForKids.com, or Bambino Yoga.com.

Odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries received.

The winner will be chosen via a drawing of valid entries on Monday August 5, 2013.

The winner will receive Imaginations: Fun Relaxation Stories and Meditations for Kids and Luke’s Beach Day. Luke’s Beach Day will be shipped separately by Kids Yoga Stories.

The winners will be notified via e-mail, will be posted on the blog posts & will be posted on the ImaginationsForKids/Bambino Yoga Facebook page.

Legal Info:This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook or Rafflecopter. You are providing your information to Bambino Yoga, not to Facebook. The information you provide will only be used for our internal purposes in relation to the administration of the giveaway. Your information will NOT be sold to any outside parties. Indemnification/Hold Harmless: By participating, entrants agree: (a) to the decisions of Bambino Yoga which shall be final in all respects; (b) to release, discharge, and hold harmless Bambino Yoga and its respective representatives and agents from all liability, injuries, losses or damages of any kind to persons or property resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the acceptance, possession, misuse or use of a prize, or from participation in and/or entry into the Contest or any Contest-related activity and for acceptance, delivery, or use of any prize; (c) that the foregoing parties have neither made nor are in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representation or guaranty, expressed or implied, in fact or in law, relating to any prize.

Namaste,

Carolyn

Carolyn Clarke

How Teaching Yoga Has Taught Me How to Help Kids Go to Sleep at Night

June 6, 2013

Disclaimer- I don't have kids to put to sleep at night. But, over the years I have babysat my fair share, so I am familiar with the struggle of getting a child to go to sleep. The little pitter patter of feet coming down the hall when you think they are finally fast asleep... The feeling that you would do anything to be able to take a nap yourself, so why wouldn't they want to???

My recommendations come from watching children arrive to my yoga classes revved up, and then seeing them afterwards calm and relaxed, saying they could go to sleep. The techniques that I use in yoga class are geared toward helping them use up and burn off their excess energy and transition into being calm and relaxed.

Here's how I apply what I know from teaching kids yoga (in italics) to helping kids go to sleep:

1. Burn it Off -

What I know: Do active poses first to help burn off energy.

Bedtime advice: Help kids sleep at night by keeping them active earlier in the day. If they aren't involved in afterschool activities like sports or yoga classes (hint hint), encourage games of catch, bike rides, frisbee, putting on music and dancing, jumping on the trampoline etc. Anything to get them moving. Lead by example getting exercise yourself, or better yet, play with them!

2. Winding Down -

What I know: In order to bring the energy level of the kids down, environment is important.

Bedtime Advice: As adults, it is hard for us to run around doing a million things during the day and then flop right into bed and go to sleep. We might need to take a shower or a bath, read a book, and listen to some jazz to bring our energy level down. The same applies to kids. Think of the evening as a time to bring the energy level down. Don't have a tickle fight in the living room and then march the kids off to bed. Instead, choose quiet evening activities- coloring, reading books, writing or drawing in a journal, etc. Also, set a time-limit on screen time before bed. Experts have recommended powering off anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours before bedtime. Experiment to see what works for your family. Use soft, quiet voices and dim the lights. Think of this time as a transition time from a hectic day to a calm night.

3. Yoga Poses -

What I know: Certain yoga poses help calm the body and are particularly relaxing.

Bedtime advice: Yoga is a great way to wind the body down at night. However, not all yoga poses are created equal at nighttime, especially yoga geared towards children that tends to be more active and playful. Use poses that are calming, balancing, and restful. (Tree and child's pose instead of Sun Salutations.) Balance poses clear and focus the mind, and forward bends help quiet the body. Also, any poses lying on the back are particularly restful (Happy Baby/Dead Bug, Knees to Chest, Legs on the Wall or Legs Up in the Air).

4. Guided Imagery -

What I know: Guided imagery helps give active minds something to focus on.

Bedtime advice: Reading a bedtime story is well-known as a nighttime activity. But sometimes the stories really get your mind going! I suggest reading a guided visualization afterwards that helps replace busy thoughts in a child's mind with calm, peaceful images. You can read them a relaxation story (Imaginations: Fun Relaxation Stories and Meditations for Kids has 18 to choose from) or make up your own using a theme or place that you know your child enjoys. Remember, always use a slow and soft voice.

5. Essential Oils -

What I know: Good smelling essential oils have powerful effects.

Bedtime advice: Lavender, ylang ylang, and chamomile oil are all essential oils that are known to help bring about sleep. Experiment with different oil scents to find the one that works best with your child (what works for one, might not be the same for another). Remember, always look for pure essential oils (not synthetic fragrance oils), especially when using them with kids. When using essential oils with kids, you only need a tiny little drop, and you can even dilute that drop in a carrier oil (like coconut or almond oil). Try a bedtime foot massage or using a drop in the bath. Try them for yourself too... I can't sleep without lavender or ylang ylang, and I always travel with them.

6. Eye Pillows -

What I know: Eye pillows can make the most fidgety child calm and content during relaxation.

Bedtime advice: Eye pillows are a fun bedtime "prop" that really help with sleep. When you put the pillow over your child's eyes, the weight of the pillow helps relax the muscles of the eyes and face. Have your child use one while you are massaging his or her feet with essential oils, and your child might start asking to go to bed early!

7. Can't Force It -

What I know: You can't force a child to relax. You can only guide them there and create a relaxing environment.

Bedtime Advice: You can't force your child to sleep at night, just as I can't force a child to relax in yoga. As Rachel Rainbolt says in her book , Sage Parenting, "It is your job to offer your child sleep, not to make her sleep. In other words, it is your job to provide the conditions for sleep. It is ultimately up to your child whether or not she chooses to walk through the door to dreamland, and you should grant her that respect and control over her own body."

So, together, let's keep creating relaxing experiences for the children in our lives, whether through yoga or a calming bedtime routine or both, so that children not only choose to drift off to sleep but that they look forward to it.

Have suggestions or comments - please leave them below!

Namaste,

Carolyn

Carolyn Clarke

How My Mom Taught Me Yoga, Sometimes Without Teaching Me Yoga

May 10, 2013

I was so lucky. My first yoga teacher was my MOM, Laurie Clarke in Charleston, SC! I remember her coming to my preschool to do animal yoga poses with my classmates, and I remember her being in Shoulderstand in the living room quite often. But, I didn’t embrace yoga fully until my senior year in high school. I started attending her classes, and it was a welcome relief from the pressure of applying to colleges and making big decisions. At times I have felt regret that I only discovered the amazing yoga knowledge of my Mom during the last year that I lived at home. I could have had a daily, free private lesson!!! But in writing this list, I realize that while we may not have been doing asana together for all 18 years I was at home, she was teaching me “yoga” my whole childhood by teaching me to love and respect all living beings and to find joy in life. And by example she taught me to respect my body and to live in the moment.

Things I learned from my mother (and first yoga teacher):

Do Lion pose to get kids interested in yoga

Eat a salad with dinner, always

Soothe the body and soul with progressive muscle relaxation

Sing while you are doing the chores

Exercise every day

Drink lots of water with lemon

Take your vitamins

Spend as much time outside as possible

Sing when you are in the shower

Dance while you cook

Listen to your body- don’t be afraid to use a strap, pillow, or bolster

Give generously and receive enthusiastically

Sing while you garden

Hold a pose - it is practice for staying very still if you are lucky enough to see a hummingbird

Visit the beach as often as you can and breathe in the ocean air

Practice yogaevery day (even just a few minutes) instead of a long session once a week

Meditate- it is where the magic happens

Be good to your body and it will be good to you

Have and do a little of everything in moderation

Invert to see the world in a different way or find something you’ve lost

Elongate and breathe, always

Om and chant often

Take a leap and start your own yoga business, cherish your students, and expect it to grow

Sing!

I love you Mom! Happy Mother’s Day!

Love and Namaste,

Carolyn

Carolyn Clarke

Music for Kids Yoga - Johnette Downing, Fins and Grins & The Second Line: Scarf Activity Songs

April 11, 2013

Do you get a sense of glee when you discover new music? Music that is perfect for kids yoga? I know I do! Have you heard of Johnette Downing?

Here are two albums that are great for kids yoga classes:

Fins and Grins

Here are the songs (which you can tell are good for kids yoga just by the titles):

1. Rock Hopper Penguin

2. Amazon ABCs

3. Amphibians

4. Clamshell Clap

5. Circle of Life

6. L'ecrevisse

7. I Want to be a Frog Today

8. A Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea

9. Moving Along

10. Stingray Shuffle

11. Camouflage

12. Most Fish Swim

13. Seahorses Listen

14. I Went to the Aquarium

15. Tooth Fairy

16. Turtles

This is a wonderful CD with an aquatic theme. I’ve found lots of songs about cats, dogs, and barnyard animals, but this CD has songs about penguins! Clams! Stingrays! Turtles! Sea Horses! Johnette’s voice is great, and the music is fun and lively. She reminds me of Laurie Berkner, but with a New Orleans style of music. Pretty much all of the songs are great for an ocean themed class!

The Second Line

Song list:

1. Introduction

2. The Second Line

3. Shake Your Scarves

4. Scarves Up and Down and Around

5. Water, Wind and World

6. The Sacroiliac

7. Thread the Needle

8. Scarves on Your Laps

9. Flitter Flutter

10. Crazy Eights

11. Wow!

12. Rhythm In The Scarves

13. Circus Parade

14. The Second Line Reprise

I like to integrate Music and Movement activities into my yoga classes. Is it technically yoga, maybe not, but I think it provides child-friendly body awareness and helps burn off some of their energy so we can do some calming yoga poses. And isn't everything yoga if you are doing it with awareness? These songs are really fun scarf activity songs. Sometimes when we use scarves, I have a few ideas on how to use them and then my mind draws a blank. With these songs you could do a whole class with them!

P.S. This isn't a formal review or anything... I just found something that I like and wanted to share.

Her work can be found at her website and at Amazon.

Namaste,

Carolyn

Carolyn Clarke

Enter here: We're having a Rafflecopter giveaway!

March Giveaway- Imaginations and Good Morning Yogis Book Prize Pack

March 5, 2013

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

Good Morning Yogis Book Review

February 26, 2013

I love this sweet book on an Ayurvedic morning routine for kids- Good Morning Yogis Big and Small by Cate Stillman. This book will be helpful for teaching kids helpful morning habits, but it will also be a good reminder for adults to have a healthy morning routine other than a shower and a cup of coffee!

The story follows a little girl through her morning routine, and each section talks about one of the following steps:

Going to bed early and waking up early Stretch, Ah, and Om Have a Family Hug Morning Poop Scrape Your Tongue Oil Your Nostrils Stretch Eat a Light Breakfast Play

The pictures are cute, and each section has kid-friendly verbiage on the left, and then a page on the right for adults with more detailed information. I think this is a good way for kids to be interested in the book without having all the factoids get in the way. There are a few recipes, too. I tried the Green Smoothie recipe, and it was delicious.

I sometimes find Ayurveda confusing, so I like the simple, whimsical approach that Good Morning Yogis Big and Small has.

Details:

Good Morning Yogis Big and Small by Cate Stillman

It is 8 ½ x 5 ½, 18 pages, and retails for $6. Check out the author's website for bulk deals.

Enter giveaway here.

Carolyn Clarke

There's An Alligator Under My Bed by Mercer Meyer

Kids Yoga and Relaxation for Fear, Anxiety, and Worry

February 21, 2013

I was honored to be part of the San Diego Local Authors exhibit. My book is enclosed in glass in the San Diego downtown library, along with a few hundred other local authors' creations. All the authors gathered for a reception and to accept an award. This seems like a great thing, right?

Well, I was afraid.

It's funny how fear works. Sometimes it's good- your fear might get you out of a dangerous situation. Other times it may be completely irrational.

I was scared to go to this author reception, alone, where I knew no one. What was I afraid of? I don't know, really. I guess the usual.. What if no one talked to me? What if no one liked me? What if I did something that made me look stupid? What should I wear? Ironically, I had anxiety about accepting an award for writing a book on relaxation!

So to help me face my fear of walking into a big reception alone and unknown, as I was driving to the reception, I thought through some of the stories in my relaxation book, Imaginations. I took deep breaths, and I walked in relatively relaxed and calm. I ended up meeting many interesting authors and learning about a ton of local books.

I am an anxious, worrier. Sometimes I feel like a fraud for writing a relaxation book. BUT, I've realized that it's a good thing that I truly have to WORK at staying relaxed. I have to remind myself to breathe deeply. I have to do yoga. I have to tell myself that it is going to be okay, and I have to actively picture a "happy place" . Each of the stories and techniques in my book have actively helped me, so I know they work, and I know that they can help an anxious, worried, or fearful child too.

I've been working on a lesson plan for my kids yoga class about fear, and thought I would share a few suggested yoga poses for kids and fear/worry/anxiety:

Mountain Pose- Abby Willis has written a blog post called Yoga Poses for Kids: A powerful asana for soothing fear. It's a sweet way to address fear in Mountain Pose.
Warrior Pose- YogaKids Brave Warrior with Affirmations: "I am BRAVE"
I find that when I am scared, I contract my chest, so any chest-opening, heart opening yoga pose would be helpful. Like: Camel pose.
Sun Salutations or any Vinyasa flow- I find that when I get my body moving, the fear dissipates. It's like it burns off... Here We Are Together has a cute collection of pictures of a child doing Sun Salutations.
Animals- Anytime I am using fear as a theme, I give kids a chance to share what they are afraid of- lots of times they afraid of animals. We act out those animals with yoga: Dog Pose, Alligator Pose, Shark Pose, Bee Pose. If there isn't a pose, we make it up! I make sure to make it fun and silly... (I secretly am afraid of dogs, so anytime I'm around a dog that makes me uncomfortable, I imagine that I'm in Downward Dog Pose, and that helps.)
Breathing exercises- Slow calming breaths are great for facing fears. Try breathing with a Hoberman Sphere. Open it big and tall when you breathe in and close it when you breathe out.
Guided Relaxation- Reading a relaxation story, or "going to your happy place", can help calm your fears. Check out the Freebie section for a relaxation story here.

Here's a book that I have found helpful: What To Do When You Worry Too Much by Dawn Huebner

Also, I love:

And don't forget some music for Savasana:

Three Little Birds by Renee and Jeremy

I hope these techniques help the children in your life! (Or maybe even you!)

Namaste,

Carolyn

Carolyn Clarke

Breathing and Creativity

February 6, 2013

Breathing and Creativity

I love this idea that breathing is like creativity. Just think of how many creative moments we have in a day!

Super Cute Hibernation Relaxation for Groundhog Day!

January 30, 2013

Super Cute Hibernation Relaxation for Groundhog Day! What a cute yoga lesson plan and hibernation themed relaxation for Groundhog Day! Thank you Alissia at Food.Yoga.Peace.!

Kids Yoga Giveaway to Help End Childhood Obesity

January 15, 2013

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!

• 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.

• 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

5 Ways to Calm Your Elf On A Shelf

December 19, 2012

1. Read it a relaxation story! Elves love hearing relaxation stories, especially ones from the book, Imaginations: Fun Relaxation Stories and Meditations for Kids!

2. Take deep breaths! When elves get tense sometimes they forget to take deep breaths. When elves are tense they misbehave and make MESSES!!!

3. Go outside! Seeing the sunshine and feeling the ground under their feet helps elves relax.

4. Take a bath with some lavender essential oil! What elf can resist the scent of lavender? ZZZZZzzzzzzz....

5. Do some yoga! Elves love doing balancing poses because they help clear their minds and focus on their task at hand- helping Santa!

Wishing you Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

Carolyn Clarke
www.imaginationsforkids.com