Breathing

Let's Take a Breath

Snake Breath

Sit up nice and tall either in cross-legged position or hero's pose. Take a deep breath through your nose. Now blow out through your mouth making a hissing sound like a snake. Try doing this 5 times. You will notice you feel calmer than before you took these breaths. Breathing is a good way of preparing us for sports, or for doing new things. It calms us. Try it.

Poses

Balance Poses

TREE

Stand tall like a tree. Place right foot on your left leg. Place hands at your heart center. Press your hands together. Your elbows are pointing out. Take your tongue and place it at the roof of your mouth and find a fixed place to focus your eyes. See how long you can stand. Now, try the other side! Tree is good when you are trying to learn to balance and concentrate. It helps you relax, too.

Games in Yoga

Welcome! I wanted to be able to tell you a little about what we are learning in yoga class. Here are some activities and games the children enjoy.

Move, Freeze and Melt Game.

In a large circle, we all move clockwise. The leader calls out an animal or a character to imitate. Elephants, monkeys, soldiers, slow-motion people to name a few. Then the leader yells, "Freeze." The children stop and the leader says, "Melt." The children melt slowly to the floor. The leader says, "Reverse," and the children move counter clock-wise and the leader yells out a new character to imitate.

This game helps with large muscle groups, listening, and following directions. Also, it is a great imagination game as the children all come up with a new character to imitate. Lots of fun!!!