Have you had an astronomical adventure lately?

May open hearts lead us from darkness to light!

We did, and now we are embracing new beginnings brought on by the equinox and the eclipse! 

As we participate in the cosmic dance, we notice celestial events that offer profound opportunities for growth and transformation. The spring equinox brings us renewal and growth, and the balance between light and dark reminds us to find harmony in our lives. The solar eclipse offers us a moment of transition filled with potent energy where we are invited to set intentions for new beginnings. 

Mel came up to Arkansas for a spectacular solar eclipse viewing party. We were in the path of totality and experienced 3 minutes and 53 seconds of darkness mid-day. What an awe-inspiring phenomenon!

Eclipses are powerful portals of transformation. The alignment of the sun, moon, and earth creates a spectacle, casting shadows that remind us of the interplay between light and darkness, the seen and the unseen. At the heart of this display lies intention, the conscious act of directing our energies. It is a time to envision the life we wish to create and to infuse our intentions with the power of our hearts' desires. 

Amidst the vast expanse of possibility, may clear seeing be our guiding light. For it is in seeing clearly that we find the courage to step into our power, embrace our authenticity, and make connections that resonate with the essence of our being. 

In the yoga tradition intentions are known as a Sankalpa. A Sankalpa is a heartfelt desire that aligns with our true nature. Let us remember we are radiant light beings! May we set our Sankalpa for new beginnings with reverence and gratitude, knowing that with open hearts we can create a world of peace, love, and joy. 

As adults, we set intentions to help motivate, inspire, and guide us. The same is true for children. In a world that is often noisy and chaotic, intentions are a comforting way to guide children back to their center and what is important in life. 

Simple intentions for children inspiring peace, love, and joy:

• I will do things that help me feel peaceful
• I will show people I love that I love them
• I will smile and be kind to my schoolmates

XOXO 

Kathe and Mel

p.s. Though our personal intentions change over time and with the seasons of our lives, our intention as children's authors remains constant - to inspire young readers to stretch their bodies and minds through social-emotional learning, mindful movement, and imaginative play!

In honor of Arbor Day, The Magic Peach Tree ebook will be FREE Friday and Saturday, April 26 and 27. If you haven't read it yet grab it quick and when you have a moment, please leave a review at Amazon or Goodreads. Thank you!!

Get it here > mybook.to/themagicpeachtree

Can yoga for kids reduce anger and aggression?

 

We say yes!

We know anger and aggression are sparked by certain things. We know it happens in schools, on playgrounds, and on street corners. But is there something we can do to help kids learn how to peacefully resolve situations? 

Anger and aggression are reactions, which often manifest when emotions are uncontrolled. Years of research has found that yoga calms the body and the mind, but can it also help kids manage their emotions? Again, we say yes! It begins with becoming aware of our emotions and responding to them instead of reacting. A regular practice of asana, breathwork, and meditation can restore balance and harmony to the whole system.

An asana practice strengthens and tones the body, releasing restless energy as well as feel good hormones. Conscious controlled breathing while practicing helps us turn inward, we focus on the breath and our thoughts and emotions settle down. Guided meditations are great for kids too, a simple 5-minute imaginative journey can encourage self-control. [Guided meditations coming soon :)]

These studies have found that kids that practice yoga are more focused, they think more clearly and make good choices. They have fewer behavioral problems, are more focused and engaged in school, and their personal lives are enriched as well.  Yoga may not be the only way to reduce anger and aggression in kids, but it is one way.

Let’s do this!!

Practice this sequence with your child when both of you are calm. Once you are both comfortable with the postures it will be easier to move into the practice when anger and aggression show up. If your child wants to talk calmly about their emotions after the session allow them to, if they don’t that’s okay too.

1.Wide-legged forward fold pose

Stand tall, feet parallel, arms alongside the body. Step your feet out wide. Inhale and lengthen the spine, exhale and fold forward bringing the hands to the shins or perhaps the floor. Allow the head to hang. Stay in the pose for 3 breaths. Inhale, bend your knees and slowly return to standing. Pause.

2.  Downward-Facing Dog pose

Begin on all fours. Hands under shoulders and knees under hips. Spread your fingers wide. Inhale to prepare and exhale as you straighten your legs, lifting the hips high. Let the heels be heavy. Stay in the pose for 3 breaths.

3.  Plank pose

From Downward-Facing Dog shift forward. Arms are straight and shoulders are over the hands. Legs are straight and the toes are curled. You body is in a straight line from your head to your heels. Stay in the pose for 3 breaths.

4.  Child’s pose

From Plank pose lower the knees to the ground and shift the hips to sit back on your heels. Arms are stretched out in front and your forehead comes to the ground. Stay in the pose for 3 breaths.

5.  Rest pose

Lie on your back with your arms and legs stretched out. Close your eyes. Rest, relax, and breathe.

and then...

Hop, skip, and jump over to check out our series, tailor-made for springtime reading adventures! Explore the magic of story and the wisdom of yoga as each book takes you on a delightful journey blending social emotional learning, mindful movement, and imaginative play. Our kids yoga stories promise to ignite a love of reading while nurturing physical, as well as emotional and mental well-being. Embrace the spirit of spring with our vibrant tales that spark creativity. Click on the book links on the side panel or visit our website and let's spring into reading and yoga together!

visit us at www.ayogastorytellingadventure.com

 XOXO

Kathe and Mel

 

Tap, tap, tap

 

So many things to celebrate this month. Groundhog Day, the play of light - shadow or no shadow … baby, it’s been cold outside!! Mardi Gras, laissez les bons temps rouler - let the good times roll and Valentine’s Day, we all need a little sweetness in our life!

We thought we'd send a little love your way with another simple yet powerful technique you can add to your emotional wellness toolkit - it is called Emotional Freedom Technique, or EFT. Emotional Freedom Technique, also known as 'Tapping', has been shown to be effective for reducing stress, worry, and anxiety in adults and recent studies have shown it can benefit children too.

Emotional wellness is defined as the ability to successfully handle life’s stresses and adapt to change and difficult times. Research has shown that mindful movement and conscious breathing are highly effective to calm the body and shift emotions and that is one of the reasons we practice yoga! EFT is essentially a body-mind practice too.

EFT involves tapping on specific meridian points on the body while repeating a mindfulness statement. It is a self-healing technique (with no negative side effects) which combines ancient Chinese wisdom with modern day neuroscience. 

Did you know that emotions like stress, worry, and anxiety can get ‘stuck’ in the body? Meridians are pathways where energy flows throughout our body, and emotions are energy in motion. When they get ‘stuck’ they cause problems. Neuroscience tells us there is a direct link to these meridian points and the stress center of the brain, and tapping on these points sends a message that calms it down.  

Another interesting component of EFT is the use of mindfulness statement. Statements are like stories we tell ourselves. The brain is like a computer, it stores data that is input. I like to think tapping erases the old story, so we can rewrite a new one.

You don’t need to understand how or why it works. It’s really pretty simple and takes almost no time. Curious? 

Of course, you should try it on yourself before introducing it to your child. Here are some tips to get started.

• Familiarize yourself with the tapping points
• Have a light-hearted manner and make it fun
• Go slow, work on one issue at a time
• Remember, all emotions are valid and acceptable
• Gentle taps, about 7 times on each point

First, begin by identifying an emotion. Encourage your child to express how they are feeling. Keep it simple to start; scared, sad, angry, worried. Then create a mindfulness statement that starts with a feeling.

Example; worry, scared

 "Even though I'm feeling anxious, I know I can handle whatever happens."

"Even though I'm feeling scared, I know that I am safe."

Next, tap through the points. If you notice a yawn, it’s working. Yawns are one way the body-mind releases emotions. If you don't notice anything right away, no worries. Trust the process. End with a slow deep breath in and out, then hug your child!

There are lots of resources available to learn more about EFT. We believe nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our children, perhaps you will find tapping an effective tool for your child along with the practice of yoga. By teaching children to focus on self-care, we can help them self-regulate and build resilience.  

Drum roll…this month’s giveaway, “The Magic Peach Tree” ebook. This title came out last fall, reviews are slowly trickling in and they are fantastic! Here are a couple of short but sweet ones.  

"This book was wonderful: beautifully written, simple storytelling that’s easy for all readers to grasp, and absolutely stunning images. It teaches lessons of mindfulness and kindness, as well as descriptions of various yoga poses to match with elements of the story. Very creative!"

"What a beautiful tale of kindness and generosity. The story begins with an old man who appears to be a homeless beggar. When he is mocked by a local shop keeper, the villagers come to his rescue and as thanks, he performs a miraculous deed. Tied in with yoga poses, this story will be delightful to read and pose with your little ones!"

"The story is wise and really fascinating. Little kids are riveted by it. My niece loves to stare at the pictures. All the yoga poses are super cool too. It's a great 2-in-1 kind of book. Great buy!"

We’d love for you to read and review too if you feel so inclined. It will be FREE Wednesday and Thursday, February 21 and 22.

 Grab it here; mybook.to/themagicpeachtree

 

 May all children be calm, confident, and compassionate.

XOXO

Kathe and Mel