I had a wonderful time teaching ‘Storytelling through Yoga: Guiding toward a Joyful Calm’ to a group of k-6 educators at a school district CEU workshop weekend.
Did you know that incorporating wellness and yoga fitness into a classroom is easier then you might think? Yoga is as much of a “work in” as it is a “work out”. It can become a natural part of a teacher’s classroom using breath and movement to bring children life-enhancing skills and sensory integration tools to give them the foundation to be focused and productive.
You can use one of your favorite stories like:
- Nine in One Grr! Grr! By Blia Xiong
- The Mitten retold by Jan Brett or Jim Aylesworth
- A Nice Walk in the Jungle by Nan Bodsworth
- Mama Panya’s Pancakes by Mary and Rich Chamberlin
- Mushroom in the Rain by Mirra Ginsburg
and then add some yoga poses into the mix!
Yoga postures don’t just help children express certain feelings, they let the children mimic animals and objects which helps the kids release excess energy and create balance in a busy, fuzzy, erratic mind. They learn to be proactive instead of reactive to demanding circumstances. Try to incorporate at least 5 fun, simple and active postures and a breathing exercise to each story.
As teachers, by using visualization and storytelling, you can offer children a peaceful place to go to get rid of their fears and challenges. Relaxation and visualization are wonderful skills and tools to enhance all aspects of a child’s experience in the classroom and in their home life. They will use the skills that they learn from you for the rest of their lives.
Enjoy the wonders of reading and mindful movement.
Breathe. Stretch. Play. Make NAMASTE a part of every day!