In this highly relatable episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY, Kelly and Kristi dive into the pros and cons of technology. The past couple years have really challenged caregivers to find ways to mindfully use technology, screens, and social media. Kelly and Kristi talk about:

*How screen time effects our posture, eyesight, self-image, and attention span

*The social experiences of technology (both positive and negative)

*Methods to mindfully, intentionally utilize and manage technology as a family

Blog links:

Teens Need a Technology Time-Out: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/teens-need-a-technology-time-out/

Being Present in a Digital World: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/social-media-mindfulness/

Compassion builds emotional resilience, a trait we want for our children and ourselves (and for the world, as a whole). But how do we encourage compassionate behaviors and mindsets? Mindfulness practices, of course! This episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY explores the critical importance of compassion and empathy in our children's growth. Kelly and Kristi explore compassion by discussing:

*How mindfulness practices counteract the destructive results of feeling shame and guilt

*Modeling self-compassion for your children's benefit

*Using the Heart Hold gesture to physically stimulate self-compassion

*Making partner poses and group activities a practice in empathy and compassion

*Literature that reinforces compassion

Links to products/people mentioned in the podcast:

Dr. Dan Siegel: https://drdansiegel.com

Brene Brown: https://brenebrown.com

Butterfly Hug: https://vimeo.com/690621309/7aefe1f6e3

Crab and Whale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4RrFsFMJ0s

Blog Links:

Compassion Through Yoga:

https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/compassion-yoga-children-patanjali-sutra/

Mindfulness Activities for the Family: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/family-mindful-games-yoga-meditation/

Loving-Kindness for All:

https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/loving-kindness-for-all/

The CASEL conversation continues with today's episode exploring Self-Management: the ability to manage your feelings and thoughts in healthy, helpful ways. Kelly and Kristi share their experiences as yoga teachers and moms as they discuss:

*The power of yoga and mindfulness practices in building a Self-Management Toolbox

*Why motivation and discipline are crucial Self-Management skills

*Building the courage to try hard things and being okay with failing

*The importance of self-talk in Self-Management.

Links:

CASEL.org

Mindfulness and Social Emotional Learning podcast: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/podcast/episode21/

Yoga and Mindfulness for Teens/Tweens podcast: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/podcast/episode26/

FREE online workshop: How to Weave Mindfulness and Yoga into Academic Subject Areas https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/free-kids-yoga-resources/

Blogs:

Social Emotional Learning: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/kids-yoga-social-emotional-learning-sel/

Yoga for Children May Improve Mental Health: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/yoga-for-children-may-improve-mental-health/

Think back to the good ol’ days of recess and PE when you were a child. Do you remember playing classic games like Hopscotch, Duck Duck Goose, or Freeze Tag with your best buddies? There is a reason classic games are still played today – they are FUN! So why reinvent the wheel? Kelly and Kristi talk about taking an oldie-but-goodie game and yoga-fying it for a whole new (yet familiar) experience in this episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY.

Listen in as we explore:

*Engaging in play as a mindfulness practice

*Reconnecting with your inner-child and your family through play

*Changing the rules of a game to be more inclusive

*Yogafying traditional, classic games (like Simon Says, Jenga, and Candy Land)

*Join the Mindful Conversations with KAY Facebook group for a FREE downloadable game!

A journey of imagination to places real and make-believe.

Use this guided meditation as a way to settle energy before it's time to sleep or when anxious thoughts are racing through young minds.

Practicing these visualizations strengthens the mind/body connection and further develops a child's focus and concentration.

Affirmations are like little magic spells we cast on ourselves to be more confident, more at peace, and more joyful. But how do they work? How do we craft a personal affirmation? And when do we use them? Join Kelly and Kristi in this episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY and learn how to build and use powerful affirmations with the whole family. Join the conversation to discover:

*What, exactly, is an affirmation?

*How your brain's natural negative bias influences your mind chatter

*The power of replacing negative self-talk with affirmations

*The process of creating personal affirmations

*Crafting the most beneficial affirmations

*When to use affirmations

*Pairing yoga postures with affirmations

*How to naturally incorporate affirmations into your family's daily routine

Blog posts:

Affirmations (for the Faint of Heart): https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/affirmations/

Affirmations for Children: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/affirmations-for-children/

Mala Beads and Meditation for the Family: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/kids-yoga-family-meditation-craft-mala-beads/

Mantra Magic: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/mantra-magic/

This episode is the first of five exploring CASEL. The CASEL framework is used as a data-based foundation for Social Emotional instruction. Kelly and Kristi start the CASEL conversation by exploring Self-Awareness:

*What it is, why it is important, and how yoga and mindfulness practices help children develop self-awareness

*Real life examples of self-awareness in action

*Why yoga is the ultimate practice in self-awareness

*Games to practice self-awareness

*Building mental self-awareness through meditation

*Modeling emotional self-awareness

Links:

CASEL.org

Mindfulness and Social Emotional Learning podcast: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/podcast/episode21/

Yoga and Mindfulness for Teens/Tweens podcast: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/podcast/episode26/

FREE online workshop: How to Weave Mindfulness and Yoga into Academic Subject Areas https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/free-kids-yoga-resources/

Blogs:

Social Emotional Learning: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/kids-yoga-social-emotional-learning-sel/

Yoga for Children May Improve Mental Health: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/yoga-for-children-may-improve-mental-health/

This is one of our favorite episodes! Kelly and Kristi sit down with Mark Brown, the creator, writer, and illustrator of the Zen Pig series in this week's Mindful Conversations with KAY episode. Zen Pig introduces children to big concepts like self-love, empathy, compassion, gratitude, and mindfulness through simple verse and charming illustrations. Join in their conversation to learn:

*How Mark's mindfulness practice developed

*The creation of Zen Pig to teach social-emotional skills

*Why children need inner harmony before they are able to successfully learn

*Why Mark believes in changing the roots rather than hacking at the leaves

NEW CONTEST:

 We wanted to keep the party going with a book giveaway! This is your chance to win 4 (yes, FOUR) Zen Pig books, each one teaching children mindfulness, gratitude, and compassion through simple rhymes and charming artwork.   All you have to do is rate and review the podcast on your favorite listening platform.  Take a screenshot and email it to [email protected].  GOOD LUCK!  Contest ends October 31st and winner will be announce the first week of November.

Blogs:

Brain Breaks and Calm Kit: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/kids-yoga-homework-adhd-stress-school/

Mindfulness Activities for the Family: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/mindfulness-activities-for-the-family-2/

Links:

Instagram: @zenpigbook

Facebook: @ZenPig

Book: Zenpigbook.com

Calm Down Kit: https://www.calmdownkit.com/optin1660573843109

Free Workshop - Mindfulness in the Classroom: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/free-mindfulness-into-the-classroom/

We have all experienced episodes of our fight-flight-freeze response... and sometimes we might even get stuck in that stress loop. This is why the practice of somatic experiencing is critical to our mental and physical wellness. In this episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY, Kelly and Kristi dig into this fascinating topic by exploring questions like:

*What, exactly, is somatic experiencing?

*How can we use physical movements to get mentally/emotionally "unstuck"?

*Why is discharging stress crucial to healing?

*How can we instill mindful awareness of physical cues?

*How do we become Body Detectives?

Blogs:

Social Emotional Learning: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/kids-yoga-social-emotional-learning-sel/

Pranayama and the Power of Breathing: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/pranayama-breathing-nervous-system-anxiety-children/

Links:

Tilt Parenting Podcast: https://tiltparenting.com/2022/06/21/somatic-therapy-kids/

Ready to feel empowered (and a little nerdy)?

Kelly and Kristy get into the science of the Vagus Nerve in this immediately applicable episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY. Listen to learn how to turn on your body and mind's "off" switch through postures, breathing, play, and more.

Blog Links:

Vagus, Baby! How the Vagus Nerve Keeps Us Calm: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/vagus-nerve-vagal-tone-parasympathetic-relax-calm/

Dealing with Homework Tension: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/kids-yoga-homework-stress/

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

Pranayama and the Power of Breathing: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/pranayama-breathing-nervous-system-anxiety-children/

How the Parasympathetic Nervous System Keeps Us Calm: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/parasympathetic-nervous-system-fight-flight-calm/

Calming Babies Before Birth: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/kids-yoga-babies-chant-om-health-prenatal/

Links mentioned in episode:

YogaLand Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/yogaland-podcast/id1105565152?i=1000568218405

Further learning:

Anatomy of Kids Yoga: https://learn.kiddingaroundyoga.com/p/kay-natomy?