Now available at Ingram!

A Yoga Storytelling Adventure; Forever Friends, our second in the series of kid's yoga story books has successfully launched!

It can be found worldwide as it will be printed and distributed around the globe through these amazing countries; Brazil, Germany, Russia, S Korea, Poland, China, India, Italy, Australia, the European Union, Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, and the United States. 

May Forever Friends travel far and wide and may children everywhere learn about the power of friendship! 

You may ask, why story and yoga? Story and yoga together can enhance literacy skills. Stories develop language, listening, and critical thinking skills, and yoga increases mind-body awareness. These twin arts give rise to balance, strength, and flexibility in both body and mind. Children develop not only language but also emotional and physical literacy as well. As former librarians  passionate about promoting literacy and as yoga teachers passionate about sharing health and well-being we decided to bring these twin arts together.

Stories, especially wisdom tales, are extremely valuable in developing young listener's imagination, and yoga brings the story alive; it is both interactive and theatrical. Combining yoga and story unite the logical and creative sides of the brain, stimulating the imagination. By visually acting out the story with yoga postures children become a part of the story, and are able to recall the story in detail, aha, complete comprehension.

Last but certainly not least...its just plain FUN!

If you'd like to introduce a child to yoga through story, and we certainly hope you do, please purchase a copy! SEE THE LINK ON THE SIDEBAR →

Furthermore, we'd be ever so grateful if you'd leave an Amazon review.

Mahalo, we serve,
Kathe and Mel

Boost your confidence with practice...a yoga practice

Lack of self-confidence affects most of us, if not all of us, at some point in our lives. Self-confidence issues come in all shapes and sizes; we are unsure of many things, unsure of ourselves, unsure about where our life is going, and we often feel we are not enough. Without self-confidence we let fear take control and can end up in unpleasant situations. True confidence comes from an authentic connection to our true self. A yoga practice can provide a pathway towards this self-realization, improving well-being and boosting self-confidence. 

Yoga teaches us to self-soothe. In the quiet stillness of a posture the mind slowly relaxes. We concentrate on the breath and notice the effects on the body. The body then naturally follows the mind into relaxation. We come to realize we can breathe through tough situations and the quiet stillness that follows allows us to reassess. This ability to self-soothe restores our self-confidence. 

Yoga allows us to be at ease in our body and mind. As we practice we become aware of our limitations, as we as our potential and as we become aware of our potential we become aware of the limiting thoughts that get in our way. We learn to appreciate the amazing things we can do rather than focus on what we can't do. This helps to re-focus the mind and confidence grows. 

A lack of self-confidence often manifests as poor posture, our shoulders become rounded and our gaze shifts downward. Our body language governs how others perceive us. However, it also defines how we perceive our self, if you stand tall you send a message of confidence to your mind. BKS Iyengar once said, "Yoga does not change the way we see things, it changes the person who sees." A yoga practice can transform you, boosting your self-confidence. 

This month we practiced Camel Pose. Camel pose opens the shoulders and lifts the heart. It is an intermediate back-bend that stretches the front of the body, particularly the chest, abdomen, quadriceps, and hip flexors. It improves spinal flexibility and stimulates the kidneys. Take caution if you have a low back or neck injury otherwise give it a try, it's quite empowering!

Our story this month; I am confident. 

Camel prep; Kneel on the floor, knees hip width apart, toes curled under, thighs pressing forward, chest lifted, place the hands on the lower back, fingers pointing downward, lean back slightly letting the head fall gently back. 

Camel Pose; begin kneeling, knees slightly apart, tops of the feet flat on the floor or toes curled under, inhale as you lengthen the spine and circle the left arm overhead reaching for the left heel, exhale as the hand touches down, inhale and circle the right arm overhead reaching for the right heel, exhale as the hand touches down, press the thighs forward while lifting the chest and lift the chin. Release on arm at a time and sit back for a complete breath. Repeat the pose and lift the right arm first, then sit back and feel the powerful energy of confidence flowing through you. 

Option; Toes curled under makes it easier to reach the heels, you can also use two blocks alongside the feet to place the palms of the hands on. 

Be confident, 

Kathe

Forever Friends

A Yoga Storytelling Adventure

Forever Friends

by Melanie Moyer and Kathe Hudson

illustrated by Maïlys Pitcher

The second book in the Yoga Storytelling Adventure series is coming soon!

Here is a sneak peak at the cover illustration, Maïlys Pitcher is our talented young illustrator. She is from France and presently lives in Sweden. It was a pleasure to have her as a part of the team. 😊

This Yoga Storytelling Adventure takes us on a delightful journey to India, the birthplace of yoga. Although intended for ages 3-8, all ages will revel in this story where an unlikely friendship develops between a royal elephant and a homeless dog. In this timeless tale that illuminates kindness, honesty and friendship, kids will learn about the power of love. The authors include a Hindi word guide to help develop an appreciation of a different language. Best of all, both parents and kids can take advantage of the full description of yoga poses which encourages interaction within this adventurous tale. 

Many thanks and much gratitude to our prepublication reviewers, here's what they have to say:

Forever Friends is sure to become one of your child's favorite books with lessons that will follow into adulthood and beyond. The subtle integration of Sanskrit words honors the Indian origin of yoga, while expanding awareness of a different language and alphabet. The posture selection that accompanies the story adds a special dimension that children will enjoy. Instead of just listening to the story, the can become the story. My four-year-old grandchild loves it!

Lanier Cordell, Yoga Therapist Certified IAYT, 500 hour E-RYT, Certified Chair Yoga and Children's yoga teacher, writer and more...

As a yogi and a mother, I am always looking for better ways to keep my littles engaged in our practice. We love The Impossible Dream and were excited to read Forever Friends. The authors have the uncanny ability to reach children without dumbing down the text. The language drives my kids' curiosity while the story's relatability keeps them engaged and prevents distraction. The wholistic message keeps them talking about the lesson for days and asking to repeat the practice over and over. I couldn't ask for a more beautiful experience. 

Lori Lawson, Mother of 9

Forever Friends is an adaptation of an Indian folktale about love and friendship. This lovely tale features an unusual friendship between an elephant and a dog. As children experience the story through words, pictures, and yoga, they learn that friendships with those unlike ourselves are not only possible, but fulfilling. What a nice way to teach about friendship and diversity!

Peggy Thibodeaux, retired librarian

A delightful tale of an elephant and dog who form an unlikely friendship and become inseparable friends. The authors successfully combine storytelling and yoga to enhance children's language and mind awareness. Complete with glossary, Hindi pronunciation guide and yoga pose illustrations this book teaches children about kindness, honesty and trust. 

Kat Pigott, author of I See You, Green Dinosaur

The flow of yoga is matched by the beautiful words of this classic story. The bright pictures infuse a fresh Prana (breath) into this instructional, and delightful tale of friendship and loyalty. 

Alexis Braud, Children's Author and Illustrator

The concept of storytelling and yoga makes Forever Friends a unique reading experience not only for children but adults as well. After reading Forever Friends and The Impossible Dream, I have a great appreciation of the teaching tools the authors incorporate through languages, cultures, and folklore. Their books are such fun reads with charming illustrations. 

Patricia Maness, retired Instrumental Music Educator and author of Jerome Roams from Home and Jerome Roams Back Home.

What a wonderful story with many lessons learned introducing yoga to children. Forever Friends is a wonderful tale of friendship. The illustrations, definitions of Indian words, and the brief explanation of yoga are brought to life in the mind of a child. 

"Ms Cel" Boudreaux, Retired, Carencro Branch Library

I love the story which has the right amount of yoga for a child, and the introduction to the Hindi language is a plus. 

Kristen Knight, yoga instructor

For more information visit us at www.moving-tale.com 

Please "like" and "share"!

Mahalo, we serve. 

Risk and Commitment

"Life is a journey, not a destination." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I'm sure you've heard this quote before. It is often considered a misconception that encourages us to lack direction and wander about aimlessly, though perhaps we might consider it another way. 

Destinations motivate us, but it's the journey that expands our possibilities and potential. So...what if we see the experience we have along the way to be equally important as the goal - the destination we head towards?

We'd all like a guarantee before heading in a certain direction, making a decision or taking a risk, but the irony is that in taking a risk we are already committing to the outcome. Real commitment comes before knowing where anything is going. 

Most people come to yoga with some sort of goal; to reduce stress, gain strength and stamina, improve balance and stability, or to relieve chronic pain. We commit to the practice and soon realize there is much more to it. The practice is not about getting anywhere. It's about observing yourself and accepting the experience of the moment. 

In yoga we take a risk when we reach out in a pose not knowing where it will lead us, and then we commit to being where we are as we take a moment to pause. Accepting where we are, and that where we are is where we need to be leads us to realize that there is no destination, it's all about the journey! 

This month we practiced a walking meditation, perhaps you'd like to give it a try. Walk slowly around the room with eyes gazing downward and with each step feel the risk in the lifting and the commitment in the landing. Repeat silently, "There is no destination, it's all about the journey." 

Trust the journey, 
Kathe

A Universe of Stories

Summertime, summertime, sum, sum summertime! 

The Summer Reading Program theme this year was "A Universe of Stories," and we know there are a universe of stories out there just waiting to be told. Mel and I spent a delightful morning with the kids of Iberia Parish Library. These little library patrons sat enchanted as we took them on a yoga storytelling adventure. 

It's encouraging to see today's kids, who are often restless unless their eyes are glued to an electronic device, settle down and listen to a story. No visuals, just imagination at play! A renewed appreciation for the importance of honing kids' imaginative capacities has surfaced, and storytelling is an important part of this process. Creative and analytical abilities prepare kids for the future. 

Storytelling goes beyond merely reading a story though. Performance storytelling enhances language, listening, and critical thinking skills. Listeners imagine the characters and their adventures. Mel and I take it a step further by introducing kids to yoga postures. By acting out the story with yoga postures, children learn to transfer images into words, stimulating the logical and creative sides of the brain. We believe storytelling offers a new dimension to nurturing lifelong creativity and imagination. Are you're young ones ready for a yoga storytelling adventure?

Mahalo, we serve.

Kathe

Awaken the Greatness Within By Melanie Moyer

To awaken the greatness within we need to stop looking "out there" and begin to look within. We are raised, especially in this society, to look outside of ourselves for validation and self worth. We look "out there" for others to recognize us and make us feel praiseworthy. If others don't bestow recognition upon us or worse they criticize us we then fall apart. We look to others for acknowledgement, to tell us we are doing well, looking good or are worthy. We look "out there" for happiness and love. 

To awaken to the greatness within we need to begin to look within. Look within where your connection to God, the Source, the Light, the Divine, the Spirit, the Soul, or whatever you wish to label it resides. This is where we find that we don't need to be acknowledged by others to feel whole because we are already whole. How liberating it is to not need acknowledgement from "out there". How comforting and enlightening to awaken to the greatness within. 

One way to begin the process of awakening the greatness within is to look within through meditation. Meditation does not need to be long; it can be for as little as 3 minutes. It does not need to be complicated, simply close your eyes and start to pay attention to your breath. Watch the breath flowing in and out of your nose like it is the most fascinating thing ever...because it is...the breath is the source of life and without it nobody can live. As you watch your breath, inevitably thoughts will arise. Acknowledge the thought and then watch it float on by like a cloud in the sky and then come back to your breath. These 3 minutes can not only calm you and make your day seem to flow a little smoother, it can begin to awaken the greatness within. The time you spend is not nearly as important as practicing on a daily basis. It only takes a few moments to awaken the greatness within, but we want to give ourselves the thumbs up consistently least we fall back on relying on others to give us the thumbs up, looking "out there" rather than within. 

This passage from Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass suitably sums this up:

I exist as I am, that is enough.

If no other in the world be aware, I sit content,

And if each and all be aware, I sit content. 

Last but not least I invite you to ponder these words from Paramahamsa Yogananda:

Seek spiritual riches within.

What you are is much greater than

anyone or anything else you have ever yearned for. 

Love, Light and Laughter
Melanie Moyer

  

Yoga fun in Kenner, LA!

News from Walter Schneckenberger Elementary School:

The Impossible Dream: A Yoga Storytelling Adventure by Kathe Hudson and Melanie Moyer (from Breaux Bridge, Louisiana)

October 23, 2018

Our 2nd grade students were able to participate in this lively storytelling combining a Cajun retelling with yoga to help students become mindful and focused on Monday, October 22nd. Through literature and yoga to help students, the authors of The Impossible Dream encouraged kids to express themselves and inspire them to follow their dreams through self-discovery. In addition, students were able to develop their physical literacy skills while learning about Louisiana and Acadian history. 

http://schneckenburger.jpschools.org/the-impossible-dream-a-yoga-storytelling-adventure-by-kathe-hudson-and-melaine-moyer-from-breaux-bridge-louisiana/

Thanks to librarian, Julie Broussard for the outstanding post. We had an amazing time with the Scheneckenberger 2nd graders!