Back to School: Helping Children Build Friendships That Last

The beginning of a new school year brings so many emotions. Excitement, nervousness, anticipation, and sometimes even worry can all show up on that very first day. Whether your child is starting kindergarten or returning to familiar hallways, one thing remains true—we all want children to feel safe, confident, and connected.

That's where mindfulness and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) can make such a meaningful difference.

Mindfulness teaches children to slow down, notice their thoughts and feelings, and respond with kindness instead of reacting on impulse. SEL builds the skills children need to understand emotions, develop empathy, solve problems, and create healthy relationships.

Together, these practices help children:

• Recognize and name their emotions.
• Build confidence in new situations.
• Listen with empathy.
• Practice kindness and inclusion.
• Develop resilience when challenges arise.

One of the simplest ways to introduce these important life skills is through stories.

Stories allow children to see themselves in characters, explore emotions safely, and discover healthy ways to navigate friendships and challenges. When paired with mindful breathing, movement, and meaningful conversations, stories become powerful tools for learning both inside the classroom and at home.

This month, we are sharing our eBook, Forever Friends, to help children begin the school year with hearts open to friendship and connection. SAVE THE DATES, get your FREE copy Aug. 15 and 16, as well as 22 and 23.

As you read together, consider asking:

• How do the characters show kindness?
• What makes someone a good friend?
• How can we include someone who feels left out?
• What can we do when we notice a friend having a difficult day?

These simple conversations encourage emotional awareness while strengthening the social skills children will use every day at school.

Before heading out in the morning try this one-minute mindful practice together.

🌬️ Take a slow breath in...
💛 Think: "I am calm."
🌬️ Breathe out...
💛 Think: "I am kind."

Repeat three times.

It's amazing how one quiet minute can help children feel more grounded and ready to learn.

As we welcome another school year, let's remember that academic success grows best when children also feel seen, heard, and valued. Every mindful breath, every act of kindness, and every meaningful story helps build the foundation for lifelong learning.

Wishing you and your family a joyful, mindful, and friendship-filled school year!

🎁 Download your FREE copy of Forever Friends 
Forever Friends

Happy Reading & Happy Mindful Learning!

Kathe and Mel 

🌿 Nature Yoga: Exploring the Outdoors with Kids

June is the perfect time to take yoga off the mat and into the fresh air. With longer days, warm sunshine, and nature in full bloom, outdoor yoga becomes a simple way for children to move, breathe, and connect with the world around them.

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🌳 Why Outdoor Yoga?

Practicing yoga outside helps children:

• Feel more connected to nature
• Engage their senses (what they see, hear, and feel)
• Release energy while also finding calm
• Build mindfulness in a natural, playful way

Even a small backyard, park, or patch of grass can become a meaningful space for movement and imagination.

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🧘‍♀️ Simple Nature Yoga Flow

This short sequence invites children to connect movement, breath, imagination, and sensory awareness.

Each pose follows a gentle rhythm:

Move → Sense → Imagine → Say

Encourage slow breathing between poses and allow children to move at their own pace.

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🌼 Why Add the Senses?

Sensory awareness helps children:

• Stay present in their bodies
• Calm their nervous system
• Focus attention without pressure
• Connect movement with real-world experience

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🌳 Tree Pose — “Strong and Steady”

How to do it:

• Stand tall on one foot
• Place the other foot on your ankle, calf, or inner thigh
• Bring hands together at your chest or reach them upward

Sense:

• Feel your standing foot pressing firmly into the ground
• Notice small adjustments as your body finds balance
• Feel your breath moving slowly and steadily

Imagine:
You are a tree with strong roots growing deep into the earth and branches gently moving in the breeze.

Say:
“I am strong and steady like a tree.”

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🦋 Butterfly Pose — “Light and Free”

How to do it:

• Sit on the floor
• Bring the soles of your feet together
• Let your knees open wide like wings

Sense:

• Feel your knees gently rising and falling
• Notice the stretch through your hips
• Feel your breath becoming soft and even

Imagine:
You are a butterfly resting in a warm garden, gently opening and closing your wings.

Say:
“I am light, free, and full of joy.”

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🌸 Flower Pose (Low Squat) — “Growing and Blooming”

How to do it:

• Squat low with feet flat or heels lifted if needed
• Keep your chest lifted
• Bring hands together or open them outward

Sense:

• Feel your legs supporting your body
• Notice warmth in your thighs and feet
• Feel the ground steady beneath you

Imagine:
You are a flower slowly opening toward the sunlight.

Say:
“I grow and bloom and reach for the sun.”

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☁️ Cloud Stretch — “Letting Go”

How to do it:

• Stand tall with arms reaching overhead
• Gently lean side to side

Sense:

• Feel the stretch along your side body
• Notice your arms moving through open space
• Feel your breath expanding through your chest

Imagine:
You are a soft cloud drifting slowly across the sky.

Say:
“I can float, dream, and let go.”

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🐞 Ladybug Rest — “Safe and Calm”

How to do it:

• Kneel and sit back on your heels
• Fold forward and rest your forehead on the ground
• Let your arms relax by your sides or in front

Sense:

• Feel your body fully supported by the ground
• Notice the weight of your body softening
• Feel your breath slow and steady

Imagine:
You are a tiny ladybug resting safely on a soft leaf.

Say:
“I am safe, calm, and peaceful.”

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💛 Closing Moment: Gratitude in Nature

End by sitting quietly together. Invite children to place a hand on their heart and silently or aloud say:

“Thank you, nature, for helping me feel calm, strong, and happy.”

Take a moment to notice the sounds, air, and feeling of being outdoors.

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🌍 A Final Note – FREE eBooks for International Yoga Day

As we move through June, it’s also a wonderful time to recognize International Yoga Day (June 21st)—a global reminder of the benefits of breath, movement, and mindfulness for people of all ages.

📚 Explore our collection of kids’ yoga stories, designed to support mindfulness, movement, and imagination in a simple and engaging way.

👉 Download your FREE eBooks on June 19, 20, and 21

Featured Titles:

• The Impossible Dream
• Forever Friends
• Peace and Quiet
• Kahuhu
• The Magic Peach Tree
• The Wish Fish

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These resources are ideal for:

• Parents looking for calm, screen-free activities
• Teachers and educators
• Therapists and group facilitators
• Anyone supporting children’s emotional wellbeing

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🌿 Wishing you a peaceful International Yoga Day filled with movement, breath, and moments of calm.

XOXO,

Kathe and Mel

💦 April Showers & the Magic of Water 💦

April is a time of gentle change—rain taps on windows, puddles appear, and the earth begins to wake up. In yoga, the element of water represents flow, emotion, adaptability, and creativity. Just like rain nourishes the soil, water energy helps us soften, feel, and grow.

For children, this is a beautiful concept to explore. Kids naturally understand water—they splash in it, watch it move, and feel its calming rhythm. Water invites us to notice how we feel inside and to move with those feelings rather than against them. When children practice flowing movements, gentle breathing, and imaginative play, they learn that emotions, like rain, come and go, and that every feeling helps something new grow.

You can invite your child to think of themselves as part of nature: sometimes sunny, sometimes rainy, always changing. Yoga becomes a way to move like water—soft, steady, and free.

Before starting the story, try this simple Rain Breath together:

• Sit comfortably or stand tall
• Inhale, and round the arms overhead, lifting your hands up high like clouds in the sky, stretching your fingers wide
• Exhale, and slowly wiggle your fingers down like falling raindrops while making a gentle “shhhhhh” rain sound
• Let your hands fall all the way down to your hips like rain reaching the ground 

Repeat 3–5 times, inviting your child to imagine a light drizzle with a quiet, slow breath. 

This helps children connect breath with emotion and introduces the calming, flowing quality of the water element.

We hope you enjoy the following short yoga yoga story with your kids, please allow them to move through each pose as the adventure unfolds.

The Journey of a Little Raindrop

High up in the sky, a little raindrop rests in a big fluffy cloud, floating above the mountains.                                                            

(Mountain Pose - Stand tall, feet together, arms by sides)

The sun warms the cloud, and the raindrop stretches and gets ready to fall. 

(Upward Reach / Crescent Stretch -Reach arms up and gently stretch side to side)

Down, down, down the raindrop falls from the sky.

(Forward Fold Pose - hinge at the hips, fingers flutter to the ground like rain)

It lands softly in a puddle with other raindrops.

(Chair Pose - Bend knees, sit low, arms out in front)

The puddle begins to ripple and flow as more rain falls.

(Cat-Cow Pose - On hands and knees, flow between cat and cow, rounding and arching the back like water moving)

The rain soaks into the ground, helping a tiny seed wake up.

(Cobra Pose - lie on the belly and lift the chest like a sprouting plant)

The seed grows roots and reaches up into a beautiful flower.

(Low Lunge Pose -Step one foot forward, lift arms like a blossoming flower, repeat on the opposite side)

Soon, a whole garden of flowers grows, reaching toward the sky after the rain.

(Star Pose -Stand wide, arms open big like a field of blooming flowers)

The rain has passed, the sun is shining, and everything is calm and growing.

(Rest Pose / Savasana - lie on your back, arms and legs relaxed, eyes closed)

This playful sequence helps children embody the water element—learning that movement can be gentle, emotions can flow, and growth takes time. 

Remember, practicing yoga through storytelling not only builds strength, balance, and flexibility but also nurtures emotional awareness and imagination.

XOXO

Kathe and Mel 

Chumbala: A Halloween Yoga Storytelling Adventure

 

As the nights grow longer and the veil between seasons thins, Halloween invites us to pause and listen to the whispers of story and spirit. For children, this season often shines with playful costumes and sweet treats—but behind it lies something deeper: the magic of imagination, courage, and connection.

It’s that time of year again where I share the Latin-American folktale, Chumbala, at the Boys and Girls Club with kindergarten through second graders. Through story and yoga, we explore how light and shadow dance together, how breath can calm fear, and how the body can be a safe, strong home even when the world feels mysterious.

Each posture flows with the story—stretching tall like a spooky tree, folding forward and touching the floor, and breathing deep while reaching toward heaven. Together, we discover how yoga teaches us that every season, even the spooky ones, carries lessons of balance, trust, and joy.

Chumbala aka The Skeleton’s Ball is a lively folk-tale-in-song, where the skeletons gather as the clock strikes each number. It is so much fun!

With every chime, we move into a posture—matching each number to a yoga pose that rhymes with it. The nonsense chorus, Chumbala Ca, Chumbala Ca, Chum bum ba, repeats until the skeletons have danced their way through the hours.

This blend of rhyme, rhythm, and repetition offers children a way to celebrate Halloween in a way that is fun, mindful, and a little bit magical. Through story, song, and yoga, we discover how laughter and imagination can chase away fear, and how movement helps us feel grounded and free.

As the skeletons finish their dance and the clock rests at twelve, we are reminded of the passage of time and the way all things move in circles—day to night, seed to flower, beginning to end. Halloween helps us notice these changes with curiosity instead of fear.

Just like the seasons, our lives are always moving and transforming. By sharing story, song, and yoga, children learn that every moment is special, every breath is a gift, and that even endings are simply the start of something new. 

Happy Halloween!

xoxo

Kathe and Mel

p.s. If you'd like a copy of the story/song, contact us at movingtale@gmail.com

February Fun!

Happy Valentine’s Day!! From our hearts to yours, please enjoy this short story…

A Valentine’s Day Yoga Adventure 

Once upon a time, in an enchanted garden filled with love and laughter, two little friends, Bree and Ben, went on a Valentine’s yoga journey to deliver a special love letter to a magical heart tree.

“Perhaps we need to fly to there!” said Bree. Bree and Ben sat down and began flapping their knees like wings. 

Butterfly Pose 

Sit with a straight spine, knees bent and the soles of the feet together. Hold the feet or toes with the hands, relax the knees then gently flap them up and down for a for breaths. 

“I think we need to crawl under the rainbow bridge,” said Ben, “Let’s stretch first.” They folded forward, then walked their hands out in front, stretching their spines and legs. Flowers covered the ground, and they sniffed the sweet scent. “Look at all the heart-shaped roses!” he said.

Downward-Facing Dog 

Begin on all fours. Hands under shoulders, fingers spread wide, and knees under hips. Tuck your toes under lift your hips up until your body forms an upside down "V". Straighten your legs while pushing your heels toward the floor. Relax your head and look at your toes. 

On the other side of the rainbow bridge, they found a still pond covered with lovely water lilies. Jumping like frogs, they hopped from one heart-shaped lily pad to another. “Ribbit! Ribbit! Almost there!” they laughed. 

Frog Pose 

Stand with your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart and your toes turned out. Bend your knees and lower your hips toward the floor. Press your elbows into your thighs. Bring your palms together in front of your heart. Lengthen your spine and lift the crown of your head. 

Once they reached the garden, they stood tall and pretended to be big, beautiful trees with heart-shaped leaves swaying in the wind. 

Tree Pose 

Stand tall in Mountain pose. Bend one knee and turn it out to the side. Place the foot on calf. Bring your hands together at your heart then lift them above your head. Balance. Breathe. Repeat on the opposite side. 

“Oh no, we must not let our love letter blow away! We must protect it from the wind,” they cried. 

Warrior I 

Stand with your feet hip-width apart. Step back with one leg, turn the toes out at an angle. Square your hips toward the front leg. Bend your front knee until it's at a 90-degree angle, or as far as you can comfortably go. Inhale and raise your arms overhead, keeping them straight with your palms facing each other. Hold the pose for a few breaths. Repeat on the opposite side. 

Now, how were they going to find the magical heart tree? They reached their arms and feet out wide, becoming shining stars to light the way. “It’s over there!” they cheered.

Star Pose

Stand in mountain pose with your feet hip-width apart. Step your feet out wide, turning the toes out. Extend your arms out to your sides. Press down through your feet. Shine like a star!

Arriving at the magical tree, they lay on their bellies and slipped the love letter into the heart-shaped opening. 

Cobra Pose 

Lie on your belly. Feet hip-width apart and toes pointed back. Place your hands on the ground, just outside of your shoulders. Bend your elbows and keep them close to your sides. Inhale and lift your head and chest. Look forward, breathe, release. 

The magical heart tree began to sparkle and glow. Bree and Ben heard a whisper, “Thank you for your love.”  They rolled over onto their backs and imagined all the love spreading across the world like little sparkles.

“Namaste,” they said, smiling at each other. Their yoga adventure had filled their hearts with love and laughter. 

Rest Pose 

Lie on your back on a flat surface with your arms and legs spread out comfortably. Close your eyes. Rest. 

We hope you enjoyed this Valentine Yoga Storytelling Adventure as much as we did!

And...we’ve got NEWS!

We’re gearing up for the launch of our 6th book, The Wish Fish, and we want you to be part of it! As a launch team member, you get an opportunity to help shape our success. Here’s how it works;

🐟 Read an exclusive early copy of The Wish Fish.

🐟 Prepare an honest review

🐟 Buy the book for FREE on launch day (guarantees your review will show as a verified purchase)

🐟 Leave the review at Amazon on launch day

Easy peasy, right? We hope you’ll join; launch team members get a chance to win a signed paperback copy when the book goes LIVE!

Ready to join this exciting journey? Sign up today and be a part of something extraordinary! Click the link > https://bit.ly/3CXQCE8

XOXO,

Kathe and Mel

 

Thanksgiving: A time to celebrate abundance, generosity, and humility

 

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and as it nears, it encourages us to reflect on abundance, generosity, and humility!

It's a season of gathering with loved ones, sharing a feast, and expressing gratitude. Beyond the celebration, it offers a chance to embrace these timeless values.

Abundance: True abundance goes beyond material wealth. It’s about recognizing life’s richness—family, friendships, nature, and moments of joy. Thanksgiving reminds us to appreciate not just the food on the table, but the intangible blessings around us.

Generosity: Thanksgiving is also about sharing our blessings. Generosity, whether through a meal, kind words, or time, spreads goodness. Even small acts of kindness can have a big impact, creating a cycle of giving and receiving.

Humility: Humility grounds us in gratitude, reminding us that our blessings are not solely our own doing. Thanksgiving invites us to stay thankful for the people and experiences that have shaped us, fostering a deeper connection and joy.

As we celebrate, may we reflect on life’s abundance, practice generosity, and embrace humility. By doing so, we create a more compassionate and connected world!

Our title “The Magic Peach Tree” abounds with abundance, generosity, and humility! And we are overjoyed to share that it has been included in the Elite Books 4 Kids Gift Guide. Every year a team of 6 Junior Reviewers read and critique hundreds of books. These books, from self-published indie authors, are carefully screened and approved. We are so very grateful to have been included!

Check out the online catalog and please feel free to share the link with anyone you think may benefit > https://2ly.link/20WnF

In addition, The Magic Peach Tree eBook will be free Nov. 18, 19, 20, get it while you can. It just may be a great conversation starter!

Grab it here > mybook.to/themagicpeachtree

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