Show notes and summary:

We are rerelaeasing this episode as a bonus episode this week!  

Everyone can meditate. Yes, everyone! From toddlers to teens, from busy parents to anxious seniors, there's a meditation practice for everyone. Skeptical? In this episode, Kristi and Kelly debunk common myths about meditation and convince you to start small and give it a try.

Join the conversation as we discuss:

differences between meditation and mindfulness

why meditation is so powerful

common myths and misconceptions about meditation

finding opportunities to meditate during the day

how meditation can look, sound, and feel different for everyone

meditating with children in age-appropriate ways

Free Workshop:  Relaxtion and Mediation for Kids:

https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/free-workshop-relaxation-meditation-kids/

We are so excited to share this very special episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY -  an interview with Bari Koral, a beloved children's recording artist and internationally recognized kids yogi. Their wide-ranging dialogue explores a variety of topics including:

Pertinent links:

https://barikoral.com

https://www.facebook.com/barikoral

https://www.youtube.com/user/barikoral

https://www.instagram.com/bari.koral/

Virtual Workshop: The Magic of Music in Kids Yoga https://learn.kiddingaroundyoga.com/p/the-magic-of-music-in-kids-yoga

Blogs:

Magical Music: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/kids-yoga-music/

One Love: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/yoga-reggae-kids-love-unity/

The KAY Way - Using KAY Music: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/using-kay-music/

Hooray for KAY Music: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/hooray-kay-music/

Times of change can be challenging, regardless of our age! Transitions often cause discomfort and anxiety, so how can we help ease those feelings within our children? Kelly and Kristi are back with the debut episode of season 2 of Mindful Conversations with KAY with a great discussion about helping children navigate the big changes that inevitably come with growing up. Listen in as they talk about:

*Your body and mind crave routine and knowing what to expect

*Learning to recognize the physical discomfort of transitions

*Preparing for big transitions by exploring smaller changes

*The importance of consistency

*Using songs to soothe, ground, and prepare children

*Breathing before and during transitions

*Movement practices to help with transitions

*Best meditation practices to support successful changes

Blog articles:

What Family Exercise Taught Me: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/family-yoga-exercise-dance/

Everything Changes: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/impermanence-savasana-death/

Mini-Meditations for the Whole Family: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/mini-meditations-for-the-whole-family/

5 Best Breaths for Little Bodies: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/breath-stress-kids-anxiety/

Products/Workshops:

Breathing Techniques Through the Ages virtual workshop: https://learn.kiddingaroundyoga.com/p/breathing-techniques-across-the-ages/?_ga=2.173740320.265901113.1661787176-445635147.1659661076

Meditation Techniques Through the Ages virtual workshop: https://learn.kiddingaroundyoga.com/p/meditation-techniques-across-the-ages?_ga=2.173740320.265901113.1661787176-445635147.1659661076

Free Mini Course:  Relaxation and Mediation for Kids

http://kiddingaroundyoga.com/free-workshop-relaxation-meditation-kids/

In this episode, we talk about our nervous system and how we can create a toolbox of strategies for both our children and ourselves to help us regulate that system. Self-regulation is the ability to manage emotions, thoughts, and responses. Understanding how the nervous system works helps us to more fully understand self-regulation. We introduce tools such as deep breathing, meditation, and yoga poses that can be used to turn off the stress response of the sympathetic nervous system and turn on the rest and digest response of the parasympathetic nervous system.  Shape breathing, bumblebee breath, and guided meditations are a few of the techniques we share as fun and engaging ways to get your child to practice the skill of calming down. Are you looking for ways to help your kids feel less stressed? Tune in. We've got you covered!

For more information on everything Kidding Around Yoga has to offer visit us here https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/

Check out these blogs for more on self-regulation and yoga

https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/self-regulation-yoga-children/

Do you want to join the conversation?  Come chat with us in our FB group https://www.facebook.com/groups/609981080229473

Thank you to all of our listeners who have joined us on this journey for season 1.  We so appreciate your support.  We are taking a short break from releasing new episodes to spend time with our families.  Today we are re-releasing one of our top listened to episodes "A Mindful Approach to Behavior Management"

In this episode, Kristi and Kelly talk about behavior and how we can use mindfulness to approach it.  They discuss that the root of all behavior is to communicate an unmet need.  Often times behavior is looked at as the problem and can cause the adults to feel frustrated or stressed in the situation.  However, if you can learn to look at behavior differently and find the emotions or cause of dysregulation you can often meet the need and the behavior will naturally end.  This is a practice in mindfulness for the adults to be able to stay calm and get curious about why this behavior is happening.  When the adults remain calm they can then help children to label their emotions or feelings.  Listen to get tips on how to model and practice labeling emotions, recognizing body signals, and notice the mind body connection.

Blog posts you may like:

https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/eq-iq-yoga-compassion-emotional-intelligence/

 https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/mindfulness-parenting-behavior-kids-yoga/ 

https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/yoga-kids-management-behavior/ 

https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/kids-yoga-schools-trauma-mindfulness-classroom/

Is family mealtime a challenge or a treat? In this episode of the Mindful Conversations with KAY podcast, Kelly and Kristi explore ways to make family meals more enjoyable through mindfulness. 

Their conversation includes:

Different kinds of "picky" eaters

The interaction between regulation and hunger/digestion

Flexibility at mealtime (for everyone)

Meal planning and cooking with children

Playing Meal Detective

Using mindful conversations and guided questions to change moods and energy

The importance of planning ahead

Blog posts:

Mindful Eating and Exercise: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/mindful-eating-nutrition-exercise-heath/

Today's teens and tweens are under more pressure, exposed to more constant stimuli, and navigating social media unlike any other generation. In today's Mindful Conversations with KAY episode, Kelly and Kristi discuss the importance empowering our young adults with mindfulness tools. Listen to their conversation as they explore:

*Effects of mounting expectations on our teens and tweens

*Exploring identities

*Mindfulness practices to build self-awareness and emotional intelligence

*Brain development

*Learning to recognize your inner knowing through body cues

*Introducing and practicing mindfulness with teens and tweens

Blog posts:

Connecting to Teens Through Yoga: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/kids-yoga-teens-children-tweens-meditation/

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

Encouraging Teens to Act Selflessly- Practicing Seva: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/seva-teens-yoga-service-selfless-karma-volunteer/

Walk Like a Warrior: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/kids-yoga-teen-tween-confidence-warrior-strength/

For further learning:

TeenKAY: https://learn.kiddingaroundyoga.com/p/teen-kay?_ga=2.120675660.571175401.1655580917-118241787.1649444179

PreTeen Yoga: How to Adapt a Yoga Class for Growing Yogis: https://learn.kiddingaroundyoga.com/p/how-to-adapt-a-kids-yoga-class-for-growing-yogis?_ga=2.154876412.571175401.1655580917-118241787.1649444179

PreTeen Yoga Sample Class and Crafts: https://learn.kiddingaroundyoga.com/p/pre-teen-yoga-2?_ga=2.116537410.571175401.1655580917-118241787.1649444179

Getting More Out of Crafts for Teens; https://learn.kiddingaroundyoga.com/p/getting-more-out-of-crafts-for-teens/?_ga=2.150149490.571175401.1655580917-118241787.1649444179

This week's episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY is the perfect discussion in time for summer vacation. Kelly and Kristi talk about their struggles and successes in finding ways for their families to stay mindful and active over the long break. Take a listen to hear more about:

Pertinent blog posts:

Healthy Mom Healthy Child: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/kids-yoga-family-health-mom/

Dear Parents: Stop and Smell the Roses: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/kids-yoga-parenting-presence-mindfulness/

Four Yoga Practices to Teach Gratitude: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/kids-yoga-gratitude-thanks-aparigraha/

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

Links to virtual workshops:

The Importance of Yoga in the Kids Development: https://learn.kiddingaroundyoga.com/p/importance-of-yoga-in-kids-development?_ga=2.150149490.571175401.1655580917-118241787.1649444179

Fun Yoga Flows for Kids: https://learn.kiddingaroundyoga.com/p/fun-yoga-flows-for-kids?_ga=2.156046591.571175401.1655580917-118241787.1649444179

Meditation Techniques Across the Ages: https://learn.kiddingaroundyoga.com/p/meditation-techniques-across-the-ages/?_ga=2.156046591.571175401.1655580917-118241787.1649444179

Breathing Techniques Across the Ages: https://learn.kiddingaroundyoga.com/p/breathing-techniques-across-the-ages/?_ga=2.120740172.571175401.1655580917-118241787.1649444179

You're never too young to start practicing mindfulness and yoga! Before a child is even born, they are able to benefit from the sounds and rhythms of a yoga practice - and as they grow, the benefits do, too! As moms, preschool teachers, and yoga instructors, Kelly and Kristi share their unique insights and experiences with our youngest yogis. Their conversations explores:

*What we miss when our brain asks, "What's next?"

*The effect of practicing mindfulness while pregnant on baby before and after birth

*Building connections through co-regulation

*Little yogis' ability to associate feeling calm with meditation and mindfulness

*The importance of consistency and repetition

*Young children's natural tendency to be fully present

*Increasing physical literacy

Blog links:

Yoga with Baby: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/kds-yoga-baby-toddler-family/

5 Things NOT to Expect in Your Mommy & Me Class: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/mommy-and-me-yoga/

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

Online courses:

Baby and Me: Practicing Yoga with Our Littlest Ones Virtual Workshop: https://learn.kiddingaroundyoga.com/p/baby-and-me?_ga=2.257410251.1146254382.1654978608-118241787.1649444179

Mudras and Energy Flow for Toddlers and Preschoolers Virtual Workshop: https://learn.kiddingaroundyoga.com/p/mudras-for-toddlers-and-preschoolers/?_ga=2.90106075.1146254382.1654978608-118241787.1649444179

PreKAY online course: https://learn.kiddingaroundyoga.com/p/prekay2-0?_ga=2.254666952.1146254382.1654978608-118241787.1649444179

PreKAY Spanish online course: https://learn.kiddingaroundyoga.com/p/prekay2-0?_ga=2.254666952.1146254382.1654978608-118241787.1649444179

In this inspiring episode of Mindful Conversations of KAY, Kelly and Kristi talk with Erin Williamsen, Special Education teacher and Kids Yoga teacher from Durango, Colorado. Her vast experience with children of all ages and needs have given her a unique perspective on the power of making yoga and mindfulness part of a child's daily school routine:

*How yoga helps level the playing field for students with special needs

*Empowering children to recognize how they learn and what they need, and then advocating for themselves

*Making modifications and accommodations normalized

*How regulating the nervous system sets students up for academic and social success

*Implementing yoga practices within a school setting appropriate for all learners

Links:

Erin Williamsen: www.kiddingaroundyoga.com/yogi/erin

Mindful Conversations with KAY's SEL episode: https://anchor.fm/kidding-around-yoga/episodes/Yoga-in-Schools-Part-1-Yoga--Mindfulness-and-Social-Emotional-Learning-e1j8u9h

Blog posts:

Yoga and Occupational Therapy: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/yoga-and-occupational-therapy-2/

Teaching Yoga to Kids with ADHD and Autism: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/kids-yoga-autism-adhd-accessible-inclusive/

Adaptive Yoga for Children: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/adaptive-accessible-yoga-children-kids/

The Yoga Tree: https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/blog/kids-yoga-philosophy-yamas-niyamas/

Further Learning Opportunities:

Accessible Yoga specialty course: https://learn.kiddingaroundyoga.com/p/accessible-yoga-for-kids?_ga=2.191725930.1146254382.1654978608-118241787.1649444179

Teaching Yoga to Children with a Variety of Abilities and Needs: https://learn.kiddingaroundyoga.com/p/teaching-yoga-to-students-with-a-variety-of-abilities-and-needs/?_ga=2.1494769.1146254382.1654978608-118241787.1649444179