What is Yoga 4 Classrooms?

No child wants to feel uncomfortable, cranky or anxious, or to get in trouble because of hyperactive behavior. Children are intrinsically joyful, peaceful, and compassionate. But as the distractions of the external world increase and stress takes over, it can become challenging for many of them children to connect with their authentic, peaceful selves. In fact, it is my belief, and one of the cornerstones of ChildLight Yoga's Yoga 4 Classrooms program, that without having the time and space for reflection and connection, children ‘forget’ that they have the ability to do so at all.

To be successful, creative learners and compassionate, respectful and self-aware human beings, children must be given opportunities to draw their awareness back away from the sometimes overwhelming distractions of the outside world. In doing so, children are brought into the present moment, a place where they can pause, truly hear and feel, reflect and learn. A few deep breaths, physical movement or stretching to reconnect the body/mind, and moments for quiet reflection, are often a quick and easy way to ‘reset’ the nervous system for calm and focus. It is also in this place that children develop the ability to know, understand and appreciate their true nature. Empowering children to connect within at will, is giving them the gift of knowing inner wisdom, confidence, joy, compassion and contentedness.

Science has shown, and educators have experienced first-hand, that when children are anxious, frustrated or stressed, it is nearly impossible for them to learn. It is only from a relaxed, present state of mind and body that our children can be psychologically and physiologically learning-ready. Right now, more than ever before, school teachers and admistrators are searching for a means to this end.

As Founder of ChildLight Yoga, I have had the privilege of sharing yoga with thousands of children and families in yoga studios, gyms, and schools. Trained in part by Yoga Ed.™, a nationally-recognized company focused on bringing the benefits of yoga into schools, I was inspired and challenged by the classroom teachers I encountered to create a program specifically designed for the classroom environment. There was no such program in existence, so after two years of research, development and test piloting at local schools, Yoga 4 Classrooms™ was born.

Yoga 4 Classrooms™ is a low-cost, fun and effective tool for teachers to use with their students for a peaceful and productive classroom. Through the use of Yoga 4 Classrooms activities, teachers can provide their students with opportunities to grow physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. This, in turn, will help them to connect with themselves and others with compassion, understanding and clarity. The activities promote self-awareness, self-acceptance and self-confidence - the foundations of exceptional learning and a lifetime of health and wellness.

Y4C™ features 65 yoga and mindfulness-based activities, divided into six categories: Let’s Breathe, At Your Desk, Standing, Loosen Up, Imagination Vacation, and Be Well. Each activity includes fully-illustrated instructions, discussion points, sub-activities, and educational tie-ins, for a total of over 200 beneficial classroom practices.

The activities were specially chosen for their suitability for the typical classroom space. That means all activities can be done standing beside or sitting at desks, while bodies and hands remain off the floor, away from dirt and germs. A mix of yoga postures, breath exercises, visualizations, mindfulness activities, creative movement, community-building games, and wellness and character-building discussion points such as the power of positive thinking, nutrition, and being a peacemaker, address the whole child – physical, social and emotional – making this the most unique and comprehensive program of its kind.

Yoga 4 Classrooms is easy for teachers and students to use, and helps to create a more harmonious, learning-friendly school day. And its benefits go well beyond the classroom. Yoga 4 Classrooms provides children with life skills they can use in and out of the classroom for long-term health and well-being. Absolutely anyone can use the Y4C program – teachers, students, parents, therapists – no yoga experience is required.

Yoga 4 Classrooms Teacher Workshops are being scheduled now. Teachers can attend a public seminar or bring the seminar to their school as a staff development workshop. Visit the website for more details.

How to Get Teens to do Yoga

I physically cringe when I think back to Jr. High and High School. Yes, it was fun and if you asked my classmates, they would probably say I was one of the 'popular kids' (whatever that means). But inside I really never felt like I truly fit in. I felt I was on the outside, different than everyone else in a way that I didn't understand. I desperately wanted to feel accepted. Everyone else seemed (and that's the key word, isn't it?) to be so together, have lots of friends, and be comfortable in their own skin. I worried a lot about getting good grades to be able to get into a good school later on - as good a one as my friends, as there was a lot of competition in that area. I felt is was important to have the right clothes and 'keep up with the joneses'. I felt I was misunderstood by my parents. And then there were the boy dramas...

If any of the above sounds familiar, it's probably because these are typical thoughts of the typical preteen and teen. And, I'm sure I'm not the only one who, as an adult yogi, has often thought back to those times and wondered how different things might have been had I been introduced to yoga THEN.

So many of us involved in teaching yoga to kids understand the importance of introducing yoga at a young age. Of any age however, I feel it's the preteen and teenage years that can benefit the most from learning yoga, mindfulness, pranayama and relaxation techniques. Our friends at KarmaSpot recently posted a nice list of the benefits of yoga for teens. Check it out.

If you've ever tried to set up a class for teens, you know that they can be tough to fill! Teens are super busy - and they don't want to be involved in anything that may be perceived as 'weird'. If you're going to attract teens to participate in a yoga program, it's important to make it both accessible and acceptable.

Here are some suggestions:

1) The class description should be inviting and utilize teen-friendly language. Unlike with younger kids classes, it's the teens that will most likely be making the decision about whether or not to participate, not the parents.

2) Be sure to mention benefits of teen yoga and their participation as it relates to THEM, the TEENS - not just yoga in general. Tying in what yoga might help them with in their chaotic life as a teen is the key. Mentioning some of the hundreds of athletes and celebrities doing yoga these days can also help gain buy-in from this age group. Everyone knows Madonna does yoga, but did you know the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, Jennifer Anniston, Halle Berry, and even that hot guy, Peter Facinelli, of Twilight fame (thanks to YogaDork.com for the great article and photo about Peter and his yoga practice!) does yoga daily?! That is super important news to a teen.

3) Use non-threatening images in your marketing materials and flyers. Showing an unattainable perfect body doing a difficult yoga position, ie, a Yoga Journal cover image, is not recommended! Instead, either use graphics or fun, friendly image of a real teen with a real body doing a simple position or maybe even just holding a yoga mat. HINT: A most wonderful place to find FREE IMAGES is www.bing.com.

4) Consider holding separate classes for preteen and teen girls and guys. The distraction and anxiety caused by the presence of the opposite sex is removed and possible feeling of modesty or embarrassment becomes less of an issue. I find that in separate classes, preteens and teens of both sexes are better able to enjoy, and gain the most benefit from, their respective yoga class. If you have a female instructor for teen girls class and a male instructor for a teen guys class, all the better for this particular age group.

5) Talk to your local Jr. High or High School health or physical education teachers. They will most likely jump up and kiss you if you offer to you come in to introduce some yoga to their students. I recommend doing a series of classes, the first of which can focus on the myths of yoga to get that out of the way. You know, the ones about having to be a vegetarian, having to be able to put your foot behind your head, having to Ommmm for hours in a quiet room. It's amazing to me the perceptions that are still prevalent out there, especially with the teen set. Shed the myths, talk about what yoga is and isn't, and make the connection for the kids through analogies and personal stories of how yoga has made a difference in YOUR life. You'll be on your way to gaining their trust and buy-in to try it out for themselves.

Need some ideas?
ChildLight Yoga is offering Stress Less Yoga for Teen Girls this fall. Take a peek at the image and class description to get your creative juices flowing. If you live in or around Kittery, ME / Portsmouth, NH, we hope to see you there. Bring Peter Facinelli with you and your class is free! ;)

Finding the Right Yoga Teacher for Your Child

by Lisa Flynn
A few days ago, I got a phone call from a parent seeking a yoga class for her son. She asked me a lot of questions such as, "How would you describe your teaching style?", "Do you use visual props?" and "How do you handle shy children?". Admittedly, it took me a little off-guard. Though these were all very good questions, I realized that no one had ever asked them of me before. Why not? We hand our children over to virtual strangers each time we send them to a class or lesson - shouldn't we all be asking such questions? As I thought back, I realized that though I don't ask these questions of my children's teachers, dance instructors, or coaches outright, the answers do present themselves soon enough.

Whether it's from my observations, comments from my kids, or from interactions with the various adults with whom I entrust my children, it soon becomes clear what the teaching style is, and how well (or not) these adults understand and have an ability to relate to children. Here is what I have observed through training others to share yoga with children, and through my observations of my own children's teachers and coaches (almost all of whom have been wonderful, by the way):

1) Teaching children comes more naturally for some than others. You either 'get' kids, or you don't. Typically, a willingness to be silly, play and not take oneself too seriously is the key here.

2) Great teachers are balanced in their demeanor and energy. The energy you emit gets sent back to you tenfold, so a balanced presence is a must. Have you ever noticed how your child is seemingly drawn to this type of teacher? There is a sense of safety created which enables your child to be his/her true self - trust is created, facilitating the learning process.

3) An understanding of, and ability to adapt to, student's varied learning styles is essential. There is a nice reference to how this relates to teaching kids yoga in an article titled, Doing Yoga With Kids, found at YogaHub.com.

...choosing the right teacher for you and/or your child is essential.

One of the things to consider is whether or not your potential teacher is aware of Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory. This theory states that there are various categories of intelligence that human beings have, and that each one of these areas should be nurtured to help children reach their full potential. Every person has intelligence in the following areas: intrapersonal, naturalistic, interpersonal, musical, visual, linguistic, kinesthetic, and logical. Yoga can be a strong tool to help children cultivate each of these areas and it is therefore important to know whether your child’s teacher knows how to use these ideas and apply them to the practice of yoga.

In a nutshell, we all typically have a dominant learning style or 'intelligence.' So, in a yoga class of say 8 students, it's a sure thing there will be more than one way that everyone learns best. One child may learn best by listening closely to instructions, another by watching a demonstration, and yet another by jumping right in to try something out. A good children's yoga instructor will have the ability to address each student's dominant intelligence, while also cultivating and encouraging development of those that are less dominant.

So, the next time you are looking for a kids yoga instructor for your child, don't be afraid to ask, "What is your teaching style?". If they are worth their salt, they will make it a point to discuss their teaching technique as addressing various learning styles.

For good reason, an understanding of multiple intelligences is at the foundation of ChildLight Yoga's Kids Yoga Teacher Training and many other reputable programs as well. Find a Certified ChildLight Yoga Instructor near you. Other recommended programs:

Karma Kids Yoga
YogaKids
Next Generation Yoga
Itsy Bitsy Yoga (for children 0-4 yrs)

Kids Yoga Teacher Tips from Mini Yogis

For two years now, we have been receiving weekly emails from Shana Meyerson, Founder of Mini Yogis in Santa Monica, California chock full of teaching tips for children's yoga teachers. Shana is a well-known, experienced and talented teacher. She has written about everything from class behavior management to teaching children with special needs to how to teach Crow Pose to kids. It's like getting an insider tidbit from her children's yoga teacher training every week.

Anyone can subscribe to receive these teaching tips. To see the latest tip and to subscribe, go to Mini Yogis Tip of the Week.

Yoga in the Classroom

by Lisa Flynn

A 2003 California State University study, and a growing number of subsequent studies, show a link between yoga and better learning, improved behaviors, and higher self-esteem. Students quickly learn to use yoga as a tool, not just to increase physical fitness, but also to manage their feelings and behaviors, and to create a mental state ready for learning and taking tests.

The following are some of the benefits of yoga and movement to maximize the learning process:

• Partner and group poses require students to work together as a team, creating positive social interaction.
• Balancing poses build focus and concentration.
• Some yoga exercises can help students relax, calming pre-test jitters.
• Other, more invigorating yoga techniques are useful for waking up sluggish minds before class or after lunch.
• Yoga offers children healthy ways to express their emotions, rather than bottling them up or striking out.
• Slow, even, “belly breaths” short-circuit the fight-or-flight response to stress, and promote a more relaxed, comfortable state – a perfect state for learning.
• A non-competitive yoga atmosphere where everyone can succeed fosters a can-do attitude, confidence, and enthusiasm.

More and more teachers and schools are recognizing the effectiveness of taking a few minutes here and there throughout the day to practice physical asanas, conscious breathing and relaxation/visual imagery exercises – right in the classroom. However, most teachers are not trained to do so and therefore may initially feel uncomfortable leading these exercises. That is where a trained instructor (you!) can become quite valuable.

Nearly any lesson plan you develop can be adapted for the classroom environment, though there are some challenges to consider.

There is limited space in a classroom. Most classrooms do not have a large open area in which to practice yoga. When developing a lesson plan, do keep this in mind.

• Most yoga poses and games will need to be practiced at or near one’s desk. Lying down on the floor may or may not be possible. Be creative in coming up with ways to utilize the desk or table and chair for modifications of poses typically done sitting or lying on the floor.

• Conscious breath exercises can be done sitting at a desk or table. Encourage students to sit upright with a long backs and necks, shoulders down away from the ears.

• Relaxation can practiced sitting in silence at a desk or with heads down on the desk. If space and cleanliness allow, students can lie on the floor with or without their legs up on their chairs. You might suggest that students bring in a towel on yoga days so that they can lie on the floor without concern.


Limited time. Before they realize how much it will actually help them in the long run, many teachers feel taking time out for yoga will be too time-consuming. After all, there is so much to be accomplished at school each day! Keeping this in mind, I often limit classroom yoga sessions to 20-30 minutes. Remind the classroom teacher that using the yoga-based activities need not take more than 5 minutes, if that is all the time he/she has available. In the end, any time spent on yoga is worthwhile – helping with transitions, test-taking, stress and overall learning-readiness.


Encourage the classroom teacher to participate in the yoga activities. Experiencing the beneficial effects of yoga first hand will help teachers to accept and even embrace it as a worthwhile part of the school day. As well, the more the teacher learns about and feels comfortable with the lessons, the more likely he will be to utilize them with his students when you are not there. You might even make it easy for teachers by typing up your lesson plans (with step-by-step instructions) to leave behind for their future use. They will love you for it!


Incorporate subjects of study. Find out the current areas of study and try and incorporate them into your lesson. For example, if you learn that the class is studying the American Revolution, you might devise a story about a soldier’s journey and incorporate it into your lesson plan. This might include marching in place (or around the room), Warrior Series, Triangle (Tent), Shavasana using a visualization about sleeping under the stars, and so forth. Ask the teacher if she has any other ideas for bringing the subject matter into the yoga lesson. She will appreciate that you asked and will enjoy helping you with this!

ChildLight Yoga’s own Yoga 4 Classrooms® Program offers a 5 hr. seminar for schools/teachers and yoga instructors seeking to bring yoga into the classroom setting. We are also working to publish the associated Yoga 4 Classrooms card deck. FMI, please visit www.yoga4classrooms.com.

Boat Pose

Sit down with knees together in front of you. Extend arms straight out in front of you, near your knees. Lift your toes slightly off the ground and find your balance on your bottom bones. Once balanced, try and straighten your legs out fully. Strengthens core muscles, tones kidneys.

Here’s an idea!
• Sing ChildLight Yoga’s ‘Row Your Boat Song’ while moving your arms in a rowing motion.
• Inflate your float boat. Start off as a deflated float (Ball Pose) with your arms wrapped tightly around your legs, head down on knees. Very slowly, inflate your raft boat with each deep breath – all the way into boat pose. (Note: Young children often want to rush to inflate and may take in too much oxygen. Skip the deep breaths with little ones and again, encourage a very slow transition with all ages.)
• Rock the Boat – Roll into Ball Pose and try to come up and balance back in Boat Pose. For even more of a challenge, hold the toes or feet in Boat Pose, roll back and come to sitting Boat balance. Very challenging – great for older children.
• Half Boat – From boat pose, lower yourself half way down using your stomach muscles. Hover, hover, hover...then, SAVE YOURSELF from sinking by pulling back up into full Boat Pose. Can you do it again?

Could also be: LEAF, BOWL, SLEIGH, NEST, CUP, BOOMERANG

Excerpted from the ChildLight Yoga Teacher Training Manual, copyright 2007, 2008, 2009 Join us for our next training - CLICK HERE.

Benefits of Yoga for Children

by Lisa Flynn

Yoga programs for kids encourage children to be children. Imitation of animals, nature and everyday objects, the basis of the physical aspect of a yoga practice, comes naturally to them. Children love opportunities to use their imaginations, create and explore. They get excited, calm down, play and dance. Yoga for kids encourages their natural abilities and interests, while helping them to develop strength, flexibility and an overall sense of well-being. Yoga for children also provides kids with tools they can use to get hold of their active lives and sometimes overactive minds.

Take a look at a sampling of what child development experts, parents and teachers (and finally, actual scientific research) are reporting as the benefits of yoga for children:
• develops/improves strength & flexibility
• improves concentration, focus & attention
• develops/improves balance & coordination
• improves general body awareness
• boosts self-confidence and self-esteem
• improves sleeping patterns
• encourages mind/body connection
• promotes calm and ability to be less reactive
• expands creative expression & imagination
• aids digestion, circulation & elimination
• promotes respect for self & others
• improves immune system function
• teaches environmental awareness, earth care, and an overall sense of connectedness
• promotes self-discipline and self-control
• clears the mind, promotes learning-readiness
• promotes an overall sense of well-being

In an era when children are acquiring conditions and diseases previously unknown in childhood, proper breathing, exercise and deep relaxation are a much needed healing force. Yoga helps children cope with the conflicts and stress of a very hectic world. It helps them to see the beauty and light within themselves, boosting their self-confidence, allowing them to feel more comfortable with their bodies, and helping them get in touch with who they are inside. Yoga resonates with children. They love the practice and they love how they feel afterwards. And the bonus is that a child who learns yoga and relaxation will be developing beneficial skills they can use throughout their life. Practicing yoga can help a child develop concentration, patience, gentleness, strength, creativity and stability – habits we’d all love to cultivate. These are the building blocks that create the foundation for a happy, healthy life.

Excerpted from the ChildLight Yoga Teacher Training Manual. Copyright 2007, 2008, 2009. Join us for the next training - CLICK HERE.

Why Yoga for Children?

by Lisa Flynn

Most children are too young to understand what stress is but, according to many experts, children today suffer from stress now more than ever. Over the last few decades, we have created a culture which demands an extremely busy lifestyle. Our hurry up world of homework, over-scheduled activities, competitive sports, electronics/technology, and ultra busy parents creates an environment ripe for producing stress in children.

Children living in the information age of today are bombarded with news of terrorism, war and violence, as well as by endless advertising and marketing pitches. Time spent watching television and playing computer and video games has replaced the time children used to spend outdoors in the natural world, using their imaginations, connecting with nature and getting exercise. Add to that the peer and media pressure aimed at children to wear, have and even ‘be’ the right things. For many children, it has become too much for their young, developing minds and bodies to absorb.

With little to no coping mechanisms, these children often end up suffering chronic stress, which can lead to all kinds of health issues. Stress can manifest itself in many ways in children: night terrors, acting out, hyperactivity, headaches, gastrointestinal problems, lethargy, fearfulness, eating issues, and bed-wetting, to name a few.

Obesity in children is also on the rise, to the point of being deemed an epidemic in the United States. With so much time being spent in front of TV and computers, children are not getting the exercise their bodies crave and need. Then again, fear of our children being harmed or even abducted has created a society where, as parents, we are afraid to even let our kids outside to play. Our increasing dependence on fast and over-processed foods only adds to the growing obesity problem.

ADD / ADHD and diagnosis of Autism are increasing prevalent among our youth. Much of the above is to blame, but many feel the lifeless foods and toxins in our diets and environment are also responsible. Schools are reporting decreasing attention spans, concentration and social skills at a time when the ‘no child left behind’ mentality values results over process. This is a very challenging time for teachers, parents and children alike.

Overall, children are suffering a lack of connection to their own bodies, their environment and the food they eat. This crosses socio-economic barriers – rich or poor, more and more kids today are overweight, have stress and anger issues, and attention and learning problems. There is a real separation of mind and body, with attention being focused outward to the ever-increasing distractions of the external world. Isolation from families and community is common. Children in poor and middle class families may see little of parents who work. In affluent families, the disconnect can be even greater. Rather than sitting down to dinner together, it is now quite common for children and parents to communicate mainly via text messaging.

Some of the detrimental effects of these disconnections are above. Others include an inability to regulate one’s emotions, overeating or mindless eating, substance abuse, decreased ability to use one’s imagination, negative body image, low self-esteem, and a general lack of compassion, empathy and respect for oneself and others. Some believe this has translated into an increase in violence among children.

Phew! Is that all reason enough??

While we live in a world full of war, drugs, crime, depression and toxic food, we must give our children every tool possible to assist them in counteracting a culture and environment that is potentially hazardous to their health and well-being. Through the use of yoga tools, stories and play, we can provide children with opportunities to grow physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, helping them to connect with themselves and others with compassion, understanding and clarity.

Excerpted from the ChildLight Yoga Teacher Training Manual, Copyright 2007, 2008, 2009.

To learn about ChildLight Yoga's programs for children, please visit our website.
To learn how you can bring the gifts of yoga to the children in your community, attend a ChildLight Yoga weekend training near you. For more information about the ChildLight Yoga Teacher Training, CLICK HERE.

Kids Yoga Teacher Trainings - 2009

Come learn to share the gifts of yoga with children!
The ChildLight Yoga Teacher Training is an incredibly fun,
interactive and educational experience! A passion for yoga
and a love for children is at the core of this training. It is
designed to provide serious yogis (at least 1+ yrs. of study of
asanas, pranayama & basic yogic philosophy) with the tools
and knowledge needed to share the gifts of yoga with children.

Training addresses teaching yoga to children ages 2-teens,
with a concentration on ages 3-11yrs. Whether you are
seeking to incorporate what you learn into your current
work with children, or whether you are looking to teach yoga
to children as a career, the CLY Teacher Training will provide you with the information and inspiration necessary to begin doing so
immediately.

Aug. 22 & 23rd, Wayne, PA
Oct. 24 & 25, E. Greenwich, RI
Nov. 7 & 8, Dover, NH
Nov. 14 & 15, E. Greenwich, SC

See what others are saying about this training!

For more details about this training and to register - click here.