Today I was invited to share yoga with a Daisy Troop who were earning their Red Peal Badge: Strength & Courage. The mom who organized the yoga class desired to teach the girls how strength & courage exists in Yoga. How true it is.
I infused the affirmations “I am strong” and “I am courageous” throughout the class. we did lots of strengthening poses and I weaved in spiritual teachings like a quiet mind is a courageous soul.
It was 2 years ago that I was driving across country heading west on my move to California, we stopped in New Orleans and I practiced at Wild Lotus Yoga. It was no coincidence that I also reunited with Leslee, a graduate of the NGY Teacher Training, who was teaching kids yoga classes at this studio. Fast forward….this weekend, I led the NGY TT for 2-7 yr. olds at this studio and there were 22 amazing participants!!
What I loved most about this group and being in New Orleans is how we celebrated! Now Im not talking about Burbon Street, rather on the yoga mats! We were so full of gratitude, joy and positive energy. I am sure it has to do with the aftermath of Katrina, that so many were so grateful to be in a community of like minded souls. I know I was.
I also wanted to share the joy we all experienced in being in the training with a husband, wife & son. It was a first for me to train a family and what a gift it was. They are a family of givers (a MD, Social Worker & Teacher) and they all desire to bring yoga to the kids that they work with. My heart was so full because of their commitment to each other and those they work with in Atlanta Georgia. And they had an incredible sense of humor!!
Kids are never too young to teach, they are so smart and really do get whatever it is that we intend on teaching them. Todays’ yoga class for 5-7 yr. olds was about Intentions, a perfect theme for the New Year.
I wrote the word “Intention” on the dry erase board, and one of the lil Indigo kids read it. I asked what it meant and another Indigo said it means “to want something.” Another kid laughed and said “like wanting a new present.” I steered them in the direction of setting intentions for things that they wanted for themselves in 2009, ie. freedom, self-love, peace in the home, joy, flexibility, etc. The teachings were interspersed in the warm-up of the class and then in to heart opening yoga poses. We took a long pause in Child’s Pose, and I gave them a loving stretch on their sacrum, spine and massage on their neck…which they LOVE. This was also a quiet opportunity for them to go inward and visualize what it is they want, and then set their own intentions.
We continued the class, flowing in Sun Salutations, Warrior Poses, Balancing postures and stating each of our intentions along with affirmations. My heart was melting as each child shared their wishes for themselves: inner peace, to be a good person, to help the ill, more Ohm, to be strong, flexible, loving.
We completed the class making a group vision board. 12 kids sharing just one piece of oak tag, they grasped that they could collaborate their drawings and intentions and also co-create each others intentions. So they would fulfill their intention and each others.
Great learning happened when 3 of the kids drew lines (like boarders) around their intention drawing. I shared that it was like putting up a fence around their intention, that they weren’t going to share it with another nor were they open to receive anothers’ intention. They quickly turned their boarders into loving designs, hearts and decorations. Truly a beautiful learning experience for all!
I honor the place in you
which is of Love, Truth, Light & Peace.
When you are in that place in you,
and I am in that place in me, we are One.
