Mindful Conversations with KAY

The best and most useful tool for teaching yoga to kids? A good set of physical yoga pose cards with images or drawings of kids doing yoga. Yoga cards are fun and accessible for all ages. In this episode, of Mindful Conversation with KAY podcast, Kelly and Kristi discuss the benefits of yoga cards and share some of their tried and true ways of incorporating yoga cards into a kids yoga class, the classroom, or in the home. Tune in and learn:

Be sure to purchase the Kidding Around Yoga Deck in our Shop: https://store.kiddingaroundyoga.com/products/kay-yoga-deck

For further reading:

Play Games With Your Yoga Card Deck

https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/cards-games-yoga-kids-deck/

Yoga Cards: A Review

https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/kids-yoga-cards-deck/

Creating Space For Children to Regulate Their Energy and Emotion

https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/VvFwLmFiFzb

In this Mindful Moment, we will practice Full Body Breath. This grounding breath activates our relaxation response and stretches our back.

Let's try it! This practice requires four full breaths. Begin in Mountain pose.

On the first breath, look up at the ceiling, lift your heart and stretch arm up like a "Y".

On the second breath, allow your body to melt forward toward your shoes as if you are a ragdoll. Dangle there for a full inhale and exhale.

On the third breath, feel your whole body as you reach for the ceiling again. Feel your feet on the floor, ribs stretch and fingers reach.

Do one more full breath standing tall with energy and power. Now your ready for your day!

You can also practice Full Body Breath from a seated position - which way feels better for you?

We show up to parenting without much formal training, however, our practice 'on the mat' can be applied to parenthood in many ways. Sarah Ezrin, author, world-renowned yoga educator, content creator, and mama based in the San Francisco Bay Area, joins Kristi and Kelly on this episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY. Kelly and Kristi's engaging interview with Sarah inspires us to bring the wisdom of yoga into the parenting journey.

Listen in as they discuss:

Connect with Sarah:

https://sarahezrinyoga.com/

https://www.instagram.com/sarahezrinyoga/

https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahezrin

Purchase Sarah's book for 30% off with code YP30:

https://www.shambhala.com/the-yoga-of-parenting.html

Other links:

https://www.instagram.com/leahsoojinkim

https://www.instagram.com/andreaferretti

https://jasonyoga.com/about/

https://www.bambiniyogaproject.org/

For further reading & learning opportunities:

Creating Space For Children to Regulate Their Energy and Emotions, EP. 44: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/creating-space-for-children-to-regulate-their-energy-and-emotions/

The Intimacy of Family Relationships: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/yoga-intimacy-family-relationships/

Create a Calm Down Box: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/kids-yoga-calm-craft/

Yoga in the Classroom https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/yoga-school-children-classroom/

Benefits of Yoga for Kids: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/benefits-of-yoga-for-kids/

Kidding Around Yoga for Educators https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/educator-courses/

In this Mindful Moment, we will focus on Affirmations. Affirmations are a great form of self-care and stress management. They help us to focus on positive thinking. When we experience angry or upsetting thoughts, we often feel tired or sluggish. Positive or happy thoughts can energize us. Through the practice of affirmations, we can change worried thoughts into positive thoughts.

Affirmation begins with an "I am" statement and includes the opposite emotion to the upsetting thought. For example, if you are nervous about a test, you can affirm: "I am smart and prepared to do great." We can even have a large selection of affirmations available when we need a pick-me-up or a thought change. Choose from the box or jar, read it, and repeat it several times.

Whether your inner voice is loud and clear or more of a whisper, listening to it can be a great source of guidance when you need it most. And in order to hear and trust that voice, adults and children alike need to be able to slow down, pause and notice the thoughts, feelings, and sensations that are coming up when making a choice or decision. In this episode of Mindful Conversation with KAY, Kelly and Kristi discuss intuition and 'turning up the volume' of our inner voice. Listen in as they discuss:

For further reading:

A Sense of Belonging: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/kids-yoga-belonging-community/

Yoga Builds Self Esteem: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/self-esteem-yoga-kids-children/

Children's Yoga and Mental Health: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/mental-health-children-yoga-school-anxiety/

Learning Opportunities:

Yoga for Families: https://learn.kiddingaroundyoga.com/p/yoga-for-families

Virtual Workshop: Engaging Yoga Games For School-Aged Kids: https://learn.kiddingaroundyoga.com/p/engaging-yoga-games-for-school-aged-kids

Kids Yoga Game Bundle: https://store.kiddingaroundyoga.com/products/digital-download-game-bundle

In this Mindful Moment, we will practice Chair pose. This pose is great for exercising your legs, energizing your body, and stimulating your heart and abdominal organs.

Let's try it! Stand with your legs together, bend your knees, and reach your bottom back and your back straight like you are sitting on an invisible chair. Reach arms long overhead, keeping your heart lifted.

Can your chair get low to the ground like a seat for a kindergartner? Or maybe rise tall and become a high chair? Can you chair balance on tiptoes? What would happen if one of the legs broke? Lift one leg and balance, then the other.

Do you find yourself anxiously awaiting those final moments of yoga class when you get to rest in a sublime state of relaxation? Enter yoga nidra. Yoga Nidra, also known as “yogic sleep”, is a form of meditation usually practiced lying down with a teacher guiding the session. Yoga Nidra is perfect for anyone, including children of all ages. In this episode of Mindful Conversation with KAY podcast, Kelly and Kristi define and dissect Yoga Nidra, a powerful practice to incorporate into your and your child's routine. Listen in as they discuss:

For further reading:

Books by Dan Siegel: https://drdansiegel.com/books/

Yoga and Sleep: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/yoga-sleep-family-meditation/

Creating A Peaceful Garden: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/savasana-peaceful-garden-children-yoga-rest/

In this Mindful Moment, we will practice Listen Closely. Listen Closely is a calming mindfulness practice that improves focus and listening skills.

Try it! Find a comfortable seat, sit tall, close your eyes and take a deep breath. First, listen to the furthest sound you can hear. Maybe a car or an airplane. Next, listen to something closer. Maybe something in the room like a ticking clock. Finally, listen to something within your own body like your heartbeat.

Most of us lead busy lives with endless lists of things to do. It's easy to go into autopilot, especially for the more mundane tasks like doing the dishes and vacuuming. In this week's episode of Mindful Conversation with KAY, Kelly and Kristi offer ways to find more enjoyment in our day-to-day responsibilities through mindfulness and presence. Listen in as they discuss:

For further reading:

The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh: https://plumvillage.org/books/the-miracle-of-mindfulness/

Being Present with Your Children: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/present-children-parenting-yoga/

Teaching Mindfulness: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/teaching-mindfulness/

What’s So Great About A Mindfulness Practice? https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/whats-so-great-about-a-mindfulness-practice/

Learning opportunities:

Mindful Parenting: https://learn.kiddingaroundyoga.com/p/mindful-parenting

Yoga For Families: https://learn.kiddingaroundyoga.com/p/yoga-for-families

Root to Rise - Daily Practices: https://learn.kiddingaroundyoga.com/p/root-to-rise

In this Mindful Moment, we will introduce Square Breathing. This calming practice improves focus and reinforces motor skills. Grab a piece of paper and pencil or simply use your finger in the air or a desk and draw a square. 

Try it! Inhale as you draw a straight line, exhale and draw a connecting perpendicular line, inhale and draw the third line of the square, exhale and finish the square. Repeat as many times as you’d like.