Opening – How I explain the rules of yoga storytime: stay on your mat, and keep your hands to yourself.
(Skip to my Lou – from Jim Gill)
Clapping hands, one and two
Clapping hands, one and two
But if my hands were covered in glue
I’d stick to the glue, my darling
(hands in Anjali mudra, or prayer position)
Extend and Stretch
Frere Jacques
Extend and stretch (sit in sukasana – easy seated pose, or crisscross applesauce- and do seated side bends)
Extend and stretch
Twist and turn (seated twists)
Twist and turn
This is yoga, (hands overhead on “this,” then bring to prayer position on “yoga”)
This is yoga
Om sweet om, (hands in prayer, bow forward)
Om sweet om
Source: I got this from Kids Yoga Guide teacher training, but here is another from Be Grace Yoga
Open the Book – Arms, legs, both
Close the book. Open the book. Turn the page.Start seated with arms stretched out in front of you, palms touching. To “open the book,” stretch the arms wide. To close it, bring them back together. To “turn the page,” open just the right arm and close it, then the left arm and close it. Repeat “turning pages” until the kids giggle. Repeat the whole sequence using legs instead of arms. Then try arms and legs together.
The Moon Shines
The moon (bring arms over head) is shining all around.
It shines on land (standing side bend) and sea (standing side bend other side).
It shines on cars (dandasana/staff pose, pretend to drive car).
It shines on boats (navasana/ boat pose.)
It shines on you and me. (hands at heart)
Crown, Heart, Tail. I saw this when I observed a Kids Crave Yoga class. Ask the kids where their head or crown is. Then where is their heart. Then tail (or where their tail would be). Repeat. Shake up the order: Heart, tail, crown. Tail, tail, crown, heart. Go faster and faster, and then slow it down. I love that these movements correspond to the 1st, 4th, and 7th chakras.
Thank You, Farmer Gratitude Game
Hold up a raisin. Ask the kids where it came from. “Grape!” Say, “thank you, Grape.” Where did the grape come from? “A vine or a tree!” Say, “thank you, tree.” Who planted the tree? “A farmer!” Say, “thank you, farmer.” Who got the grape from the farm to the store? “A truck driver!” Say, “thank you, truck driver.” You can play this game with any food or any other item. Just trace it back to its source, and say thank you to all the players involved.
Book – Thanks from the Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
giraffe – upward salute/urdhva hastasana
tree – tree pose/vrksasana
tiger – lion’s breath/simhasana
butterfly – baddha konasana/bound angle
dog – downward dog/adhomukha svanasana
star – five pointed star
Song: “Fly Like a Butterfly” – Bari Koral
Animals Yawning
butterfly – baddha konasana
owl – seated twists, saying “hoo” like an owl on each side
cat/cow
puppy – anahatasana
Savasana
Song: Kira Willey’s “When You Sleep”
Peace begins with me
Hold both hands overhead. On the word “peace,” touch the thumbs and pinky fingers together. On the word “begins,” touch the thumbs and ring fingers. On the word “with,” touch the thumbs and middle fingers. On the word “me,” touch the thumbs and pointers. Repeat this four times, the first time loudly and hands overhead. The second time, bring the hands down a little and speak a little softer. The third time, bring hands lower and whisper. The last time, bring hands to knees and speak words silently to self.
Source: Kids Yoga Guide Teacher Training
Namaste!
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