Story Yoga

A few years back, I did a program where we put yoga moves to a story. I am going to bring that back and try to improve upon it a little bit. Think Cosmic Kids Yoga but a DIY version.

Here's what I've got planned:

• Introduction/Benefits of yoga for kids (check out this link!)

• Yoga helps children manage their anxiety through breathing and exercise.​

• Helps to regulate emptions by helping them be in the moment.​

• Boosts self-esteem by perfecting a pose and improving balance and flexibility.​

• Yoga increases body awareness, learning how the body moves​

• Improves concentration and memory by learning and memorizing.​

• Develops strength and flexibility, which can reduce chance of injury.​

• Yoga teaches discipline. ​

• Demonstrating Simple Yoga Moves:

• Mountain Pose​

• Tree Pose​

• Warrior I​

• Standing Forward Bend​

• Table Top​

• Cat/Cow​

• Plank​

• Cobra​

• Downward Dog​

• Boat Pose

• Read the story we are going to put to movement:

• We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen & Helen Oxenbury

• Adding Movements to our story:

• Slowly we are going to tell the story with movement. Here's a sample of the movements I included with my story. You can add any movements you want.

We're going on a bear hunt​ --BEAR CLAWS

We're going to catch a big one.​ --ARMS WIDE

What a beautiful day!​ --HANDS ON HIPS/SHAKE HEAD

We're not scared.​

​Oh-oh! Grass!​ --HANDS UP TOGETHER

Long, wavy grass. ​--SWAY SIDE TO SIDE

We can't go over it.​ --DOWNWARD DOG

We can't go under it. ​ --COBRA

Oh, no! ​

We've got to go through it! ​--STAND

​Swishy swashy! Swishy swashy! Swishy swashy!​ -- LIFT ONE LEG SWING SIDE TO SIDE, THEN OTHER​

Something like this works best with stories that have repetition, especially stories with a lot of action verbs. This is a great way to incorporate exercise into your routine OR to incorporate books and reading to reluctant readers, in a way that is fun.

I'm trying this virtually, so we will see how it goes!

How'd it go:

Everything ran a lot smoother than I anticipated. I probably could have slowed down just a little but everyone seemed to follow along and besides, it’s more of a workout that way 😜. All in all, a success!

That's all for now!

-M-