“The Whole Wide World and Me!” yoga storytime

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)
Stomping feet, one and two
Stomping feet, one and two
But if my feet were covered in glue
I’d stick to the glue, my darling.

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)

Are you Ready for Yoga? 
Are you ready for yoga?
If you’re ready, then stomp your feet
Stomp your feet and make some noise.
Let’s stomp our feet and make some noise
And do it really fast
Then stop. Stretch your feet up, up, up
And down.
Repeat with arms then both. 
Source: Next Generation Yoga at the National Kids Yoga Conference

Sun Salutations

I used these sun salutations from Yoga Games for Children as posted by Breathe. Flow. Grow. 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. 

Book – The Whole Wide World and Me! by Toni Yuly
flower – flower pose
field – butterfly/bound angle/baddha konasana
fish – fish/matsyasana
pond (swan) – king pigeon/eka pada rajakapotasana
cloud – tree/vrksasana with arms overhead
sky – eagle/garudasana
so am I – anjali mudra 
wave (whale) – locust/salabhasana and swim
like me – eka pada tadasana
pebble – rock n roll (pebble rolling) to mountain/tadasana
leaf – side bends, swaying like a leaf falling
small part – savasana/final resting pose

Song: “Dancing Bear” – Bari Koral

Hoberman Sphere Breathing Ball

Savasana

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

 

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“Penguins in Space!” little ones event

Every April in Colorado, we celebrate One Book Colorado, a state wide campaign to get a free picture book into the hands of every 4 year old. This year’s giveaway title is Penguinaut! by Marcie Colleen so we held a very silly event called Penguins in Space. This event was for ages 2-5 (not just 4 yr olds), and we held it on Tuesday and Saturday at the library.

We made rocket ship names like this post from The Inspired Home.

We drew in the “snow” with penguins like this post from Frugal Fun 4 Boys.

And yes, friend, that is salt.

We tried to walk like penguin dads carrying eggs using a balloon in between our legs. I also put out the river stones and balance beams just for fun.

We played in a penguin sensory bin with glass beads, frozen ice bergs, penguins, and a turkey baster (everyone’s favorite water toy).

We made rocket ships like this post from Buggy and Buddy.

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“Goodnight Moon” bedtime yoga storytime

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 

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.

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. 

Book – Goodnight Moon  by Margaret Wise Brown
red balloon –balloon breath
cows/kittens – cat/cows
chairs – utkatasana/chair
mouse – balasana/child’s pose
table – table pose
quiet old lady – rock n roll pose like in a rocking chair
socks-seated forward fold/paschimottonasana
stars – make a snow angel/ star shape on ground

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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