What you will need: Sometimes some relaxing music is helpful. Otherwise one child or a class full of kids is all you need

What you say: Everyone find a spot by themselves and make your bodies into the smallest smallest shape you can manage. We are going to pretend that we are tiny tiny little seeds tucked safely and snugly down into the earth where it is warm and comforting.
If you are a very still seed you might feel some rain fall on your back. When you feel this rain I want you to slowly begin to grow
out of your seed form, putting up first one shoot and then another shoot, slowly standing all the way up and growling into a big, strong, steady tree.

Remember that trees only have one trunk so in order to be a tree we have to stand nice and still on one leg. You can do
anything you like with your arms once you are a tree; there are many different types of trees in the world and many many different types of trees in a yoga class. Some trees like to put their arms in prayer position over their heart centre; others like to have them in prayer position over their head. You can swing your arms from side to side swaying in the wind or you can use a mudra placing your pointer finger on your thumb and imagining that you are an apple tree and your fingers make the apples.

What to do: You may need to show the children how you wish them to grow into a tree and the different types of trees that they can grow into before you start especially if this is the first time you have run this exercise with them. It also helps to do this so they get an idea of how fast or slowly you want them to grow.
When the children are in a tiny ball on the floor you can walk around the room choosing the quietest kids and tapping on their back to imitate rain drops falling on them, then go to other quiet kids and do the same.
Sometimes I find it helpful to say that the rain is only going to come to quiet, still small seeds.
To finish this exercise you can ether get them to….

• Slowly grow backwards into seeds once more
• Focus on tree pose and improving their balance and focus
• Pretend you are a big gust of wind and blow them over
• I have even heard some people pretend to be a wood chopper and chop the trees down!

It is up to you, I would suggest whatever works best with the theme of the class and the mood of the children.

at:

159 Darebin Rd Thornbury 3071

on:
Monday
6:30pm – 7:45pm – Beginners Adult yoga
Tuesday
6:00pm - 7:15pm – Beginners Adult yoga
Wednesday
7:00am – 8am – General Adult yoga **
Thursday
10:00am – 11:15am – Beginners/General yoga

COST:
$14 per class (casual)
$12 per class for concession (casual)
$60 5-class pass ($12 per class)
5 class passes are valid for any class in the 3 month period
Gift Certificates for a Term of classes are also available!

** This class is held at The Alphington Community Centre
2 Kelvin Rd Alphington

www.resonateyoga.com.au

★ bonnie@resonateyoga.com.au ★ 0404064589 ★ 94994425

Resonate Yoga is opening a studio in the Thornbury/Northcote area. The studio has yoga for children and adults, prenatal and postnatal women and mothers and babies.

You are invited to come and have a look at our new place on the 14th of October when we will be having our official opening. Classes start on the 9th of October (see timetable).

The new yoga studio is at 159 Darebin Rd, Thornbury Vic 3071, which is right near the corner of Darebin Rd and Victoria Street.

The day starts at 10:00am and there will be yoga games, movement activities and yoga crafts to try. All ages are welcome and the day will be heaps of fun for both children and adults.

Programme for the day:

10:00am Yoga games
11:00am Space blessing by Perri
12:00pm Making of Tibetan prayer flags
1:00pm Creative dance class
2:00pm Yoga games
2:30pm Yoga story time
3:00pm Make your own yoga book
4:00pm Learn to hoola hoop
Other activities include :
Raffle for free yoga classes
Fresh fruit and chai

Hi,

My name is Bonnie, I am an accredited Yoga teacher who is currently teaching classes in and around Melbourne. In my yoga I have have developed a specialty in children’s yoga, with a focus on younger children. I have been teaching children in a number of capacities for over 8 years, having previously taught dance, and seeking out active involvement in the local primary schools.

Yoga is a practice that encourages both a healthy body and mind. When children practice Yoga, it helps them to build an awareness of their developing bodies, promoting a better body image whilst improving co-ordination and confidence.

Having fun is central to all the methods I use to teach Yoga and I encourage the children to join in, and let their imaginations guide them. Yoga assists children’s young minds by providing them with tasks on which to focus, sharpening their concentration and extending their attention span. The alternative outlet for creativity that Yoga provides presents many opportunities for self expression and helps to alleviate stress. In this way, practicing Yoga can lead to better learning in a classroom environment.

To give you an indication of what a typical children’s Yoga class might consist of, I have included the following class plan. The length of each activity would depend solely on the mix of children and their interest in the activity on the day so I have not included any timing.

Warm Up:

To get the children interested and let their minds settle as well as preventing injuries to the body.

Poses:

A series of “themed” poses. Such a theme may be “going to the zoo”; in this case, I would get the children to suggest animal poses to preform.

Games:

A game that focuses on co-ordination or concentration, possibly based on poses that they have previously learnt.

Relaxation:

A body awareness style relaxation, allowing the mind to settle after the poses and activities.

Breath Awareness:

Concentration on the breath and breathing. This may be incorporated into the relaxation or held as a separate activity.

It is my personal belief that the physical and mental benefits that a child gains from participating in Yoga classes helps to prepare them for life. There are more benefits to performing the poses than the obvious ones of increased flexibility and strength. Yoga can provide the self esteem that some of the more unsure children may require as part of their development.

As a physical activity that does not require any additional team members, once a child has began to learn, Yoga can be preformed safely at home, providing similar benefits to those experienced in a class.

I got an e-mail that said this…..
“I am wondering if you have any contacts that may be useful for us. My daughter is seven and a half and she is interested in doing yoga. She is a quiet child and lacks self confidence in the classroom. I am hoping that yoga may assist her with building her confidence and inner strength. We live out of lilydale and don’t know of anywhere that runs kids classes. Can you help at all?”

If any one can help answer this question could you please e-mail me at bonnie@resonateyoga.com.au. Thank you.

It is not easy for a new mothers to get to a yoga class each week, mothers find themselves tired and stressed, with the extra burden of not only organizing themselves but also the baby, pram, blanket, and everything else they might need. To put in the extra effort and find the discipline to come each week pays off in the long run, stretching out aches and pains, finding some space to relax and taking some time out to connect with your baby at each point in their development is very important (Babies after all, don’t stay babies for long). For all of these reasons mothers are encouraged to come every week and get the maximum benefit out of the yoga classes However, we don’t mandate this as it would only add pressure on the mothers and has the opposite effect of what we are trying to achieve.

(more…)

Dear Parents and Children,

The following is a newsletter to keep you up to date with what is going on with your child’s yoga.

(more…)

Prenatal Yoga Classes will begin at the Jika Jika Community Centre in term 3

As well as playing with zoo animals , pet poses and poses from the garden we have experimented with poses from the alphabet, here is the list so far:

• A Aeroplane Pose
• B Butterfly Pose
• C Cobra Pose
• (more…)

Yoga is a practice that encourages both a healthy body and mind. When children practice Yoga, it helps them to build an awareness of their developing bodies, promoting a better body image whilst improving co-ordination and confidence.

(more…)