Mindful Conversations with KAY

Imagine a room full of preschoolers engaged in an activity. The teacher announces it's Circle Time. This shift from play to stillness takes a lot of effort and skill for these young children.

As parents and educators, it is our job to support children in developing these skills and helping them learn how to control both their physical and emotional responses. But how?

In this episode of Mindful Conversation with KAY, Kristi and Kelly dive deeper into the concept of opposites to teach self-control and self-regulation in children. They share a variety of games and techniques to implement at home and in the classroom as well as fun and engaging ways to introduce self-regulation tools to children of all ages.

Further reading & learning opportunities:

Let’s face it, mistakes don’t feel good, but they are a natural and important part of life. We often view mistakes negatively, however, they provide the opportunity to learn and grow, to try something new, or view something from a different perspective.

Learning to handle a mistake gracefully and using it to your advantage is a valuable life skill. So, what can we do to help our children and students embrace their mistakes and reframe failures as opportunities for growth? How can we help them discover there are benefits to making mistakes?

Join Kelly and Kristi in this week's episode of Mindful Conversation with KAY as they discuss how making mistakes can be a tool for growth. They dive deeper into the best ways to talk to our kids about making mistakes including:

Acknowledging that we don't expect perfection

Reminding them our love is unconditional

Pointing out growth in specific areas

Not 'rescuing' and allowing kids to 'screw up'

Acknowledging our own mistakes and sharing them with or kids.

And as Kelly points out, we are all a work in progress!

For further reading & learning opportunities:

Confidence and self-esteem are important concepts for kids to embody because they help them to feel good about themselves and give them the power to believe in their own abilities. When kids have a healthy sense of self-confidence and self-esteem, they are more likely to be successful in school and in their personal lives.

Raising kids who are confident in their own skin can be a challenge for any parent or educator. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help children feel good about themselves and boost their self-esteem.

In this episode of Mindful Conversation with KAY, Kelly and Kristi dive deeper into the meaning of self-esteem and self-confidence and share ways yoga and mindfulness can improve and strengthen these skills. Tune in and learn more about:

What self-esteem and self-confidence are and how they overlap

How yoga provides a space for non-competitive activity

Poses that instill self-confidence

Meditation and the power of positive self-talk

Opportunities for leadership in Kids Yoga classes

The benefit of self-acceptance and a growth mindset

How facing challenges can lead to greater confidence

For further reading & learning opportunities:

Imagine this: You planned to pick up a pizza for dinner, but when you pull up to the restaurant, you realize it's closed on Mondays. As an adult, you can think through a couple of solutions, but now imagine you're 5 years old and you had your heart set on pizza...

Bouncing back from disappointment. Going with the flow when plans change. Getting comfortable with change and managing uncertainty.

Flexible thinking, an essential life skill for both adults and children, helps us adapt to new or unexpected situations.

In this episode, Mindful Conversation with KAY podcast, Kelly and Kristi share their thoughts on flexible thinking including:

The importance of flexible thinking in self-regulation and handling big emotions

Ways parents can model this type of thinking

How affirming "I can be flexible" can be a helpful tool

Other playful ways to build flexible thinking skills in children

The best and most useful tool for teaching yoga to kids? A good set of physical yoga pose cards with images or drawings of kids doing yoga. Yoga cards are fun and accessible for all ages. In this episode, of Mindful Conversation with KAY podcast, Kelly and Kristi discuss the benefits of yoga cards and share some of their tried and true ways of incorporating yoga cards into a kids yoga class, the classroom, or in the home. Tune in and learn:

How yoga cards are ideal for learning, exploring, and playing

Both structured and unstructured game ideas

Fun and engaging game ideas such as Musical Mats, Creative Storytelling, a Yogified version of Headbandz

Incorporating yoga cards into a Calm Corner

How yoga cards can be used by parents in the home

How to make yoga cards an everyday practice with a pose of the day and affirmation

We show up to parenting without much formal training, however, our practice 'on the mat' can be applied to parenthood in many ways. Sarah Ezrin, author, world-renowned yoga educator, content creator, and mama based in the San Francisco Bay Area, joins Kristi and Kelly on this episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY. Kelly and Kristi's engaging interview with Sarah inspires us to bring the wisdom of yoga into the parenting journey.

Listen in as they discuss:

How Sarah discovered yoga during college 'by accident'

Her lifelong goal of writing a book and how her 'aha moment' in the shower lead to her writing The Yoga of Parenting

Yoga's role in developing our intuition and trust as parents

Sarah's favorite story from her book about Leah Kim, former Nike Global Ambassador

The importance of yoga and mindfulness in schools and how it can benefit the entire family system

Connect with Sarah:

Whether your inner voice is loud and clear or more of a whisper, listening to it can be a great source of guidance when you need it most. And in order to hear and trust that voice, adults and children alike need to be able to slow down, pause and notice the thoughts, feelings, and sensations that are coming up when making a choice or decision. In this episode of Mindful Conversation with KAY, Kelly and Kristi discuss intuition and 'turning up the volume' of our inner voice. Listen in as they discuss:

Why it's important for parents and children to tune into their intuition

How yoga and mindfulness can support children in developing their intuition

Asking helpful questions such as "What does it feel like in your body" and "Tell me more..." to encourage children to explore their feelings

How we may unknowingly pass on the message to children to not trust their feelings

Fun and engaging ways to teach children to pause, think, and develop confidence in the choices and decisions they make

For further reading:

Do you find yourself anxiously awaiting those final moments of yoga class when you get to rest in a sublime state of relaxation? Enter yoga nidra. Yoga Nidra, also known as “yogic sleep”, is a form of meditation usually practiced lying down with a teacher guiding the session. Yoga Nidra is perfect for anyone, including children of all ages. In this episode of Mindful Conversation with KAY podcast, Kelly and Kristi define and dissect Yoga Nidra, a powerful practice to incorporate into your and your child's routine. Listen in as they discuss:

What yoga nidra is

The many benefits of yoga nidra including calming the body and mind, releasing tension, soothing the nervous system and naturally producing melatonin

What yoga nidra looks like for children and why it's important for children to practice

Tips for practicing yoga nidra with children

For further reading:

Most of us lead busy lives with endless lists of things to do. It's easy to go into autopilot, especially for the more mundane tasks like doing the dishes and vacuuming. In this week's episode of Mindful Conversation with KAY, Kelly and Kristi offer ways to find more enjoyment in our day-to-day responsibilities through mindfulness and presence. Listen in as they discuss:

The importance of slowing down and tuning in to the moment

Ways to shift our mindset around chores

Successfully involving kids in household chores

How we can actually lessen chores by living more mindfully

For further reading:

"Every day is a gift and my question to you is how can you create a ripple in all that you do?" Jesse Bennet, yoga teacher, children's book author and illustrator, and mom, joins Kristi and Kelly on this episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY. Kelly and Kristi's inspiring interview with Jesse reminds all of us that we all have the power to create anything we put our minds to.

Listen in as they discuss:

What inspired Jesse to begin writing her children's books including her owl illustrations

How actions and words travel and that even the smallest acts of kindness can have a huge impact

Jesse's outreach to students and schools and her mission to empower children to make a difference

The power of affirmations including a favorite from Jesse's book: "I can set off a ripple."

Whether your inner voice is loud and clear or more of a whisper, listening to it can be a great source of guidance when you need it most. And in order to hear and trust that voice, adults and children alike need to be able to slow down, pause and notice the thoughts, feelings, and sensations that are coming up when making a choice or decision. In this episode of Mindful Conversation with KAY, Kelly and Kristi discuss intuition and 'turning up the volume' of our inner voice. Listen in as they discuss:

Why it's important for parents and children to tune into their intuition

How yoga and mindfulness can support children in developing their intuition

Asking helpful questions such as "What does it feel like in your body" and "Tell me more..." to encourage children to explore their feelings

How we may unknowingly pass on the message to children to not trust their feelings

Fun and engaging ways to teach children to pause, think, and develop confidence in the choices and decisions they make

For further reading:

How are you?

No really, how are you?

Actually taking a mindful moment to examine and name our feelings is rare in our busy lives. But acknowledging feelings, whether negative or positive, is key to mental health and full presence in our lives. We want our kiddos to be Feeling Detectives! Listen in to Kelly and Kristi's discussion in this episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY to learn about:

*Why kids might be hesitant to explore their feelings

*Riding the wave of feelings

*Talking to kids about emotions

*The power of saying, "Tell me more about that..."

*Name it to tame it

*Mindfulness tools to explore emotions

*The importance of emotion modeling for parents

Learn more!

There's SO much for kids to learn in such a short amount of time. It's best to just keep going, powering through lessons and homework, right? NO! Science shows that planned brain breaks are critical to effective instruction. Kelly and Kristi dissect brain breaks in the classroom and in the living room in this episode Mindful Conversation with KAY podcast. Listen in as they discuss:

For further reading:

Are you hitting the road for a family trip?

Prepping for travel takes more than packing your suitcase. Kelly and Kristi share their tips and tricks for family fun on the road:

*How to handle pre-trip anxiety

*Finding time along the way to physically move and mentally refresh

*Passing the time mindfully through music, coloring, games and guided meditations

*Settling down at your destination

Blog links:

Calm Corner, Safe Space, Meditation Station: Whatever you call it, creating an area in your home or classroom for children to balance their energy can be incredibly powerful. In this space, children practice developmentally-appropriate self-regulation techniques and are empowered to advocate for their mental and physical needs. In this episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY, Kelly and Kristi describe their successful Calm Corners including:

*recognizing body signals and utilizing tools to self-regulate

*setting rules for Calm Corners

*best tools and props to fill your Calm Corner

*prepping children to use tools effectively and appropriately

Links to further exploration:

Therapists have noticed there is an increased need for services for anxiety and OCD in our children. Natasha Daniels, a therapist for children and families specializing in treating anxiety and OCD, is our guest for this important Mindful Conversations with KAY podcast. Through heartfelt conversation and practical tools, Natasha, Kelly and Kristi discuss:

*What does anxiety look like in our children?

*Masking and people-pleasing as coping strategies

*Finding the language to talk with your children

*Building communication between parents and teachers

*Mindfulness as a self-care tool for parents

Links:

In a yoga-based context, Karma means selfless service and taking action. Every action we take in our daily lives and how we do those actions without expectations of recognition or thanks is our Karma. It's all about cause and effect: How do our actions (and reactions) ripple through the Universe? It's a big idea and our Mindful Conversation with KAY podcast this week explores how to explain and practice Karma Yoga with children.

Kelly and Kristi talk about:

Links for more information:

Reminisce with us!

Kelly and Kristi look back at the first year of the Mindful Conversations with KAY podcast, reflecting on their favorite episodes and guests, and why they love sharing their passion for mindfulness with children and families.

We invite you to listen to the excerpts included in this episode and then go back and explore the full episodes, connected links, and Facebook group discussions. And stay tuned! Another season of Mindful Conversations with Kay is coming up!

Past favorite episodes mentioned:

It's the most wonderful time of the year... or at least it can be, with a sprinkle of mindfulness and a dash of self-care. Listen in as Kelly and Kristi share stories and tips for getting the most of this magical season in this episode of the Mindful Conversations with KAY podcast!

*How holiday traditions are special opportunities to practice mindfulness

*Letting go of how circumstances "should" be, and celebrate the moments as they are

*Cooking as a full-sensory mindfulness experience

*The magic of presence (more than presents)

*Self-care is vital for a peaceful holiday season

*Comparison is enemy of mindfulness

Blog posts:

During this episode, Kristi and Kelly discuss mindfulness.  What does mindfulness mean and what does it look like? We talk about what exactly mindfulness is and give simple ways that you can incorporate some mindfulness practices into your life and the lives of your children, either at home or in your classrooms.  Mindfulness can encompass many different strategies.  We go through several different strategies for both children and adults and give you tips on how to get started with a new mindfulness practice or expand the one you have.  

Laura Petix, a pediatric occupational therapist, known on social media as "The OT Butterfly" is the special guest on this episode of the Mindful Conversations with KAY podcast. Kelly and Kristi's interview with Laura is filled with practical techniques and deep knowledge about children's behavior as it relates to regulation. Listen as they discuss:

*working with a child's brain (rather than trying to "fix" it)

*why it is important for children to be in touch with their physical body, building their brain-body connection

*how to decode behaviors (hint: behavior is communication)

*Laura's favorite body-based self-regulation tools

*tips for classroom teachers to incorporate pro-active regulating activities

Blog:

It's true! A kids yoga class doesn't look or sound like an adult yoga class (and it shouldn't)! Straight from a question on our Mindful Conversations with KAY Facebook page, Kelly and Kristi explain why kids yoga classes may seem loud and unfocused. But there's a method to the madness and as Kelly says, "Sometimes we gotta get loud before we can get quiet". Listen in as the conversation covers:

*The importance of proper pacing in a kids class

*Finding stillness amidst the busy-ness and chaos around us

*Mimicking a stress-response to practice self-regulation

*Naming sensations and experiencing your body and mind during active moments and during quiet moments

*Building mind-body awareness through physical movements, sensory experiencees, and playful experimentation

*Being inclusive and making your classes accessible to all children

*Flexibility with lesson plans depending the children's moods and needs

Virtual Mini Workshop:

As we enter November we are reminded of giving thanks.  In this episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY, Kristi and Kelly share the gratitude practices they use in their homes and classrooms to help children recognize all they have to be grateful for daily.

Social Awareness is the 4th pillar of the CASEL framework and the topic of this episode of Mindful Conversations With KAY. Now that we've built some SEL skills in personal awareness and exploration, we are ready to grow our circle of awareness beyond ourselves through compassion and empathy. Listen in as Kelly and Kristi discuss:

*How to move from self-awareness to social-awareness

*The importance of modeling and sharing your internal dialog

*Starting with simple ways to demonstrate and practice social awareness in everyday situations

*Poses, games, and meditation practices to promote empathy and compassion

*Suggestions for children's literature and yogic philosophy discussions around social-awareness

Blogs for further exploration:

Today's episode continues the CASEL conversation with an exploration of responsible decision making. Kelly and Kristi discuss the hugely important ability to make caring and constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions across diverse situations. Their insights include:

*Encouraging curiosity and open-mindedness through yoga postures, music and meditation.

*The interaction between regulation and decision making

*Yoga-based games to practice analysis and decision making skills

*The role of mindfulness in responsible decision making

*Exploring the consequences of your choices in healthy, safe ways

*How gratitude and empathy build responible decision making skills

*The benefits and challenges of risk-taking

Pertinent blogs:

Spending time in nature, whether it's on your trampoline in the backyard or along a rocky shoreline, may be the ultimate mindfulness practice. The slower pace, the open space, the feeling of connection all encourage creative and simple opportunities to practice mindfulness with the whole family. In this week's episode, Kelly and Kristi explore nature's effects on our physical and mental health:

*Environmental awareness and activism as a mindfulness practice

*Nature's restoration power in the digital age

*How open vistas connect to open minds and healthy vision

*Using our senses on nature walks

*Exploring how experiences in nature effect your mood

*Creating a nature mandala

Link of pertinent blogs:

In this highly relatable episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY, Kelly and Kristi dive into the pros and cons of technology. The past couple years have really challenged caregivers to find ways to mindfully use technology, screens, and social media. Kelly and Kristi talk about:

*How screen time effects our posture, eyesight, self-image, and attention span

*The social experiences of technology (both positive and negative)

*Methods to mindfully, intentionally utilize and manage technology as a family

Blog links:

Compassion builds emotional resilience, a trait we want for our children and ourselves (and for the world, as a whole). But how do we encourage compassionate behaviors and mindsets? Mindfulness practices, of course! This episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY explores the critical importance of compassion and empathy in our children's growth. Kelly and Kristi explore compassion by discussing:

*How mindfulness practices counteract the destructive results of feeling shame and guilt

*Modeling self-compassion for your children's benefit

*Using the Heart Hold gesture to physically stimulate self-compassion

*Making partner poses and group activities a practice in empathy and compassion

*Literature that reinforces compassion

Links to products/people mentioned in the podcast:

The CASEL conversation continues with today's episode exploring Self-Management: the ability to manage your feelings and thoughts in healthy, helpful ways. Kelly and Kristi share their experiences as yoga teachers and moms as they discuss:

*The power of yoga and mindfulness practices in building a Self-Management Toolbox

*Why motivation and discipline are crucial Self-Management skills

*Building the courage to try hard things and being okay with failing

*The importance of self-talk in Self-Management.

Links:

Affirmations are like little magic spells we cast on ourselves to be more confident, more at peace, and more joyful. But how do they work? How do we craft a personal affirmation? And when do we use them? Join Kelly and Kristi in this episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY and learn how to build and use powerful affirmations with the whole family. Join the conversation to discover:

*What, exactly, is an affirmation?

*How your brain's natural negative bias influences your mind chatter

*The power of replacing negative self-talk with affirmations

*The process of creating personal affirmations

*Crafting the most beneficial affirmations

*When to use affirmations

*Pairing yoga postures with affirmations

*How to naturally incorporate affirmations into your family's daily routine

Blog posts:

This episode is the first of five exploring CASEL. The CASEL framework is used as a data-based foundation for Social Emotional instruction. Kelly and Kristi start the CASEL conversation by exploring Self-Awareness:

*What it is, why it is important, and how yoga and mindfulness practices help children develop self-awareness

*Real life examples of self-awareness in action

*Why yoga is the ultimate practice in self-awareness

*Games to practice self-awareness

*Building mental self-awareness through meditation

*Modeling emotional self-awareness

Links:

We have all experienced episodes of our fight-flight-freeze response... and sometimes we might even get stuck in that stress loop. This is why the practice of somatic experiencing is critical to our mental and physical wellness. In this episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY, Kelly and Kristi dig into this fascinating topic by exploring questions like:

*What, exactly, is somatic experiencing?

*How can we use physical movements to get mentally/emotionally "unstuck"?

*Why is discharging stress crucial to healing?

*How can we instill mindful awareness of physical cues?

*How do we become Body Detectives?

Blogs:

Ready to feel empowered (and a little nerdy)?

Kelly and Kristy get into the science of the Vagus Nerve in this immediately applicable episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY. Listen to learn how to turn on your body and mind's "off" switch through postures, breathing, play, and more.

Blog Links:

Show notes and summary:

We are rerelaeasing this episode as a bonus episode this week!  

Everyone can meditate. Yes, everyone! From toddlers to teens, from busy parents to anxious seniors, there's a meditation practice for everyone. Skeptical? In this episode, Kristi and Kelly debunk common myths about meditation and convince you to start small and give it a try.

Join the conversation as we discuss:

differences between meditation and mindfulness

why meditation is so powerful

common myths and misconceptions about meditation

finding opportunities to meditate during the day

how meditation can look, sound, and feel different for everyone

meditating with children in age-appropriate ways

Free Workshop:  Relaxtion and Mediation for Kids:

We are so excited to share this very special episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY -  an interview with Bari Koral, a beloved children's recording artist and internationally recognized kids yogi. Their wide-ranging dialogue explores a variety of topics including:

Pertinent links:

Times of change can be challenging, regardless of our age! Transitions often cause discomfort and anxiety, so how can we help ease those feelings within our children? Kelly and Kristi are back with the debut episode of season 2 of Mindful Conversations with KAY with a great discussion about helping children navigate the big changes that inevitably come with growing up. Listen in as they talk about:

*Your body and mind crave routine and knowing what to expect

*Learning to recognize the physical discomfort of transitions

*Preparing for big transitions by exploring smaller changes

*The importance of consistency

*Using songs to soothe, ground, and prepare children

*Breathing before and during transitions

*Movement practices to help with transitions

*Best meditation practices to support successful changes

Blog articles:

In this episode, we talk about our nervous system and how we can create a toolbox of strategies for both our children and ourselves to help us regulate that system. Self-regulation is the ability to manage emotions, thoughts, and responses. Understanding how the nervous system works helps us to more fully understand self-regulation. We introduce tools such as deep breathing, meditation, and yoga poses that can be used to turn off the stress response of the sympathetic nervous system and turn on the rest and digest response of the parasympathetic nervous system.  Shape breathing, bumblebee breath, and guided meditations are a few of the techniques we share as fun and engaging ways to get your child to practice the skill of calming down. Are you looking for ways to help your kids feel less stressed? Tune in. We've got you covered!

Thank you to all of our listeners who have joined us on this journey for season 1.  We so appreciate your support.  We are taking a short break from releasing new episodes to spend time with our families.  Today we are re-releasing one of our top listened to episodes "A Mindful Approach to Behavior Management"

In this episode, Kristi and Kelly talk about behavior and how we can use mindfulness to approach it.  They discuss that the root of all behavior is to communicate an unmet need.  Often times behavior is looked at as the problem and can cause the adults to feel frustrated or stressed in the situation.  However, if you can learn to look at behavior differently and find the emotions or cause of dysregulation you can often meet the need and the behavior will naturally end.  This is a practice in mindfulness for the adults to be able to stay calm and get curious about why this behavior is happening.  When the adults remain calm they can then help children to label their emotions or feelings.  Listen to get tips on how to model and practice labeling emotions, recognizing body signals, and notice the mind body connection.

Blog posts you may like:

Today's teens and tweens are under more pressure, exposed to more constant stimuli, and navigating social media unlike any other generation. In today's Mindful Conversations with KAY episode, Kelly and Kristi discuss the importance empowering our young adults with mindfulness tools. Listen to their conversation as they explore:

*Effects of mounting expectations on our teens and tweens

*Exploring identities

*Mindfulness practices to build self-awareness and emotional intelligence

*Brain development

*Learning to recognize your inner knowing through body cues

*Introducing and practicing mindfulness with teens and tweens

Blog posts:

This week's episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY is the perfect discussion in time for summer vacation. Kelly and Kristi talk about their struggles and successes in finding ways for their families to stay mindful and active over the long break. Take a listen to hear more about:

Pertinent blog posts:

You're never too young to start practicing mindfulness and yoga! Before a child is even born, they are able to benefit from the sounds and rhythms of a yoga practice - and as they grow, the benefits do, too! As moms, preschool teachers, and yoga instructors, Kelly and Kristi share their unique insights and experiences with our youngest yogis. Their conversations explores:

*What we miss when our brain asks, "What's next?"

*The effect of practicing mindfulness while pregnant on baby before and after birth

*Building connections through co-regulation

*Little yogis' ability to associate feeling calm with meditation and mindfulness

*The importance of consistency and repetition

*Young children's natural tendency to be fully present

*Increasing physical literacy

Blog links:

In this inspiring episode of Mindful Conversations of KAY, Kelly and Kristi talk with Erin Williamsen, Special Education teacher and Kids Yoga teacher from Durango, Colorado. Her vast experience with children of all ages and needs have given her a unique perspective on the power of making yoga and mindfulness part of a child's daily school routine:

*How yoga helps level the playing field for students with special needs

*Empowering children to recognize how they learn and what they need, and then advocating for themselves

*Making modifications and accommodations normalized

*How regulating the nervous system sets students up for academic and social success

*Implementing yoga practices within a school setting appropriate for all learners

Links:

More and more school districts are embracing Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and for good reason! As Kelly and Kristi say, "A stressed brain is not a learning brain!"

Today's episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY is a deep dive into the intersection of yoga and SEL. Listen in to explore:

*What SEL is and why it is critical to healthy development

Who doesn't love wandering through a good bookstore? The enticing titles, the brightly colored covers, the endless adventures that good literature takes us on - the act of reading is a self-care dream!

Kelly and Kristi share some ways to make literature (both reading and writing) part of a mindfulness practice. In this week's episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY, listen in to learn more about:

*Reading as an act of mindfulness

*Using read-aloud (with physical movement) to improve focus, memory, and engagement

In this week's episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY, Kelly and Kristi spend time discussing the fascinating connection between art and mindfulness with Dr. Bhoodram, an educator and art therapist from South Africa. Dr Bhoodram is an avid artist having painted in oils, water colours, and acrylics. He is presently using mandala art as therapy, conducts art therapy workshops and spends some of his time doing angel readings. His facebook and Instagram (DrPravi) profiles depict some of his work. He is also a life coach and mentor to EAP’s. Dr. Bhoodram retired after having been a pioneer in the EAP (Employee Assistance Programs) field in the Public Service in South Africa having assisted 23 National Departments in implementing EAP

Listen in as they explore:

*In art, like in yoga and life, it is the journey, not the destination that matters

*Art as an experiential mindfulness practice

*How creating art is similar to creating yoga postures

*Art as a way to build concentration muscles while also encouraging free-form expression

*Mandalas as a visual representation o being centered and balanced

*The importance of reflecting on your artistic experience once a piece is completed

*How different forms of art encourage different forms of thinking

*Zooming in and zooming out to change perspectives

*Embracing the idea that imperfectly perfect is better than perfectly perfect

Links:

Dr. Bhoodram's profile:

Goodnight! Sleep well!

Easier said than done for many of our children, and some of us grown-ups, too. In this episode, Kelly and Kristi share mindfulness-based tools and strategies for sending your little ones off to dreamland (fuss-free!).

Tune in to:

connect with the family through a mindful sleep routine

use mindfulness to tame nighttime anxiety

practice guided meditations for sleep (and for literacy skills)

grow your own Peaceful Garden

breathe mindfully to fall asleep

explore the science and physiology of mindful bedtime practices

scan your body to encourage relaxation

use sensory props to settle into sleep

create a personalized Relaxation Station

For more ways to make bedtime more peaceful, check out the following articles:

In this episode Kristi and Kelly talk about behavior and how we can use mindfulness to approach it.  They discuss that the root of all behavior is to communicate an unmet need.  Often times behavior is looked at as the problem and can cause the adults to feel frustrated or stressed in the situation.  However, if you can learn to look at behavior differently and find the emotions or cause of dysregulation you can often meet the need and the behavior will naturally end.  This is a practice in minfulness for the adults to be able to stay calm and get curious about why this behavior is happening.  When the adults remain calm they can then help children to lable the emotions or feelings.  Listen to get tips on how to model and practice labeling emotions, recognizing body signals, and notice the mind body connection.  

Blog posts you may like:

In this episode we chat all about our host Kristi's story.  We talk about how she made her way from being a personal trainer/fitness instructor to a yoga and mindfulness teacher, for kids and adults. Kristi graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Pacific Lutheran University. After working with adults for years in the fitness industry, she shifted her focus to working with children after having two of her own. She ran fitness classes for kids in her community, and also worked as a preschool teacher. During her time as a preschool teacher, she used music, movement and yoga in her class. She attended her first Kidding Around Yoga teacher training and was able to incorporate much of what she learned into her classroom as well. She believes yoga can help with body awareness and developing physical literacy skills. Having had her own yoga practice for years, she decided to go back for her 200 hr yoga teacher training and she became a trainer for KAY. Her passion for sharing yoga with children and adults led her to continue her studies and obtain an additional 300 hr certification, as well as her advanced children's yoga teacher training. Her goal is to help people of all ages understand the benefits of yoga and mindfulness. She enjoys leading trainings for KAY and professional development workshops for educators to help them implement yoga, meditation and mindfulness into their classrooms. 

In this episode we chat all about our host Kelly's story.  Who she is, how she found her way to Kidding Around Yoga, and her passion of sharing tools of self-regulation and mindfulness.  Kelly received a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State University. She has an extensive background working with children.  She started her career as a child life specialist  in the hospital setting.  She then obtained her elementary teacher certification and has taught children ranging in age preschool through fifth grade.  She is also a mother of four children.  Kelly began her journey with yoga 16 years ago when she was pregnant with her first child.  However, it wasn’t until 2017 that she began to find a strong pull toward a consistent yoga practice.  Her inspiration came from watching her preteen daughter fall in love with yoga and use it as a tool to deal with anxiety.  As a former educator and child life specialist Kelly became inspired to bring yoga to children.  Over the years the environment in which she worked with children changed, however, one thing remained constant, her belief that the most important things she could bring a child were self-confidence, strength, and the power to create their own inner peace.  This led her to become a certified yoga instructor.   Her goal has become to help as many people as she can find the benefit in the practice of yoga and mindfulness.  Kelly got her children's yoga certification through Kidding Around Yoga and now has gone on to also become a Kidding Around Yoga Trainer.  She gives professional development for educators to incorporate mindfulness and yoga into their classroom and strives to educate and engage children and their families in these practices.

Check out the blog about easing anxiety with yoga

In episode 1 we have the honor of interviewing the founder of Kidding Around Yoga, Haris Lender.  Haris tells us about her journey to finding yoga and how she began to bring yoga to children.  We talk about how beneficial yoga can be for people of all ages.  Haris is a certified Integral Yoga teacher at the 500 level. She has also been certified in Prenatal, Raja, Children’s and Stress Management.  Haris lives in St. Pete, FL with her husband, Evan.  Since she began spreading the love of Kids Yoga KAY has trained more than 10,000 people across the globe and as a result KAY teachers have delivered classes to more than 1 million children worldwide.  The unique program combines the principles of ancient yoga practices with a fun and engaging twist, which is coupled with a series of original music written and performed by Haris and many members of the KAY family.

For more information about KAY and what we offer visit our website.