BE PRESENT, HAVE COURAGE, BE YOURSELF, HAVE FUN, BREATHE
1. Down by the Cool of the Pool is the perfect book to read during the hot, muggy weather of midsummer. Tony Mitton has authored this amusing, lively book in rhyme and repetition, making it fun to read and listen to. The story focuses on dancing animals that are cute, very expressive and colorfully illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees. There are lots of wiggles, stomps, wheees, flaps, bumps and whoops. Toddlers and preschoolers love to imitate the animals in the book, including all the noises. Fun for all ages, and a great way to introduce animal yoga poses.
I read this book to my older toddler, preschool and preK yoga classes, then we do all the animal yoga poses, including all the antics from the book. I end these classes with a relaxation called “Ducks in the Pond” (Childlight Yoga, LLC, Dover, NH, 2007)
Guide children to rest on their backs on their mats and become very, very still. Have them imagine that their body is a pond full of water. A very quiet, still pond of water. The only part of their body that is moving is their tummy as they take nice deep breaths, creating little ripples in the water. If they lie very still, enough to make the water nice and calm, a duck may come and land on their pond. Since ducks only like still, quiet water, the ducks will fly away if you move. I then place a very small rubber ducky on each child’s tummy, starting with the quietest. If a child wriggles, I will take the duck and place it on another child, let him settle down and place another duck on his tummy.
I love this relaxation, and so do the children. So peaceful.
2. Only One You by Linda Kranz is a unique, brilliantly colored book for all ages, with simple and powerful words of wisdom. Kranz’s brightly colored, painted rockfish fill the vivid blue pages. Positive messages and affirmations fill the insides of the front and back covers in different colors and fonts.
I have used this book to stimulate discussions on self-awareness in my elementary and preteen yoga classes.
Rock painting often follows the reading of this book, so have your supplies ready!
3. “STOMP! STOMP! STOMP!” Give Up, Gecko! A Folktale from Uganda, retold by Margaret Read MacDonald and illustrated by Deborah Melmon, is another story involving animal antics and rhythmic chanting that young children love. The animals are cute and very expressive.
Gecko teaches his community of animals about courage and perseverance.
Reading this book in my K-3 yoga classes, then acting it out with the animal yoga poses, and discussing what happened, prompts much laughter, chanting and stomping.
4. “I share the air with all the living things!” The Breathing Bridge by Annie Buckley is a beautifully written and illustrated book for all ages, which helps to remind us all about the interconnectivity of breath, movement, people and the planet.
Children love the colors, artwork and ribbon of beautiful words that flow across each page. This is a fun way to teach kids yoga. There are clear depictions of each pose at the end of the book for children to practice on their own.
5. I AM PEACE, A Book of Mindfulness is another beautiful, simple book with an important lesson, written by Susan Verde, the author of I AmYoga (see my previous blog post). This book is a wonderful gateway to teaching young children how to be mindful; to be aware of breath, smell, taste, touch – be present in the moment. Peter H. Reynolds’ watercolor images are soothing and simple; yet precisely depict the emotions of the child. PreK, and all ages, enjoy moments of peace.
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