Intentions
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!
