I love this pose as it aligns the entire spine. Sam Dworkis expounds on the healing value of this pose in his book, Restorative Yoga. We often find children slowly spinning with arms swinging about their body and it reminds me of when I would rock a baby on my hip to calm myself as well as the baby.
What I discovered after many years of using this pose is that it is an excellent precursor to tree pose. As you slowly spin side to side you are shifting your weight from one foot to the other. This allows each foot and leg to take on the majority of your weight while continuing to have the other foot planted for stability. As you practice this pose notice how it requires both sides of the body to be responsible for stability and allows a child with hemiparesis, one sided weakness, to strengthen the weaker side of the body. Soon the child will be able to stand on one leg for tree pose with just the toe tip of the other foot for varied amounts of stability.
While in puppy pose, ask the child to pant like a puppy. This will look and sound like short quick breaths, much like fire breath. This helps them to refocus on their breath.
Pause, in the pose, in the breathe and experience the moment where everything seems more clear, more precious. I sometimes forget to observe the children because I am so busy working through the protocol. This photo reminds me of why I do this work.
Butterfly pose is a favorite for children. Once they motor plan the task of scooping legs into their arms, they establish balance. You can take it one step further by asking the child to clap their feet together and bark like a seal.
A simple illustration of ringing ting-shaw bells, and yet so much is happening for this little yogi. Attention and focus is obtained as is evident in his gaze. Arm strength is shown as he holds the bells upward. Although he has not mastered pincer grasp, he is holding the bells with equal length and has a good hold on them.
Now the challenge; can he ring them with soft graded movement? If he can he has mastered a graded movement toward midline.
Tiny bodies require tiny props. I often use my stuffed eyebags as a cushion to imrove neck alignment or pelvic tip in supine. Fabric belts make perfect yoga straps for tiny hands. Soft lap blankets are perfect for Savasana and even cover the tiny toes up to their nose.
One of my favorite tracks for yoga music is "Drum Medicine" by David & Steve Gordon. This CD lends itself well to any form of vivid drum beat, such as first chakra work.
Add a flute for oral-motor/breath work and you have continued the theme.
Another beautiful CD is Carlos Nakai's new work with William Eaton and Will Clipman titled "Dancing into Silence". This track is soft and flowing.
How about teepee pose to finish the theme?
Everyone loves baby bunnies and animal poses are always a hit with children. And how do they sound? Try little kissing sounds or pucker your lower lip against your upper teeth to make a repetitive sucking sound. You can help your students decide what the rabbit is eating!
Ofcourse, mommy bunny, pictured below, is never far behind.
True integration of childhood learning may sound like uno, dos, tres.....
Recently, I asked two sisters to count with me as we held arch pose. We would normally discuss what is crawling, slithering, or hopping underneath us in an effort to hold this pose. Instead, we counted as high as we possiboy could in Spanish. Why?, because the girls were excited about their new Spanish class at school.
I take everything that is brought to me and integrate it into the yoga practice. Yoga is the union of all, the integration of the many facets we experience in life. If at any time a child is bringing information to yoga, I choose to embrace it by incorporating this life aspect into our yoga flow.
Try it! Yo quiero yoga!!!!!!!!!
Wouldn't it be glorious if we could fly? Well we can, just close your eyes and imagine yourself the most beautiful butterfly you have ever imagined you could be. Begin your adventure by flying to the top of a swing set and looking over the yard to watch the children playing. Swoop above each child being sure to flicker your wings in their vision. As they follow your colorful swirling you take them to the edge of a gulley where a rope swing awaits them. Each child takes a turn pushing a friend out over the gulley as they laugh with excitement.
Soon the children are following the quick flap of colorful wings over to the best climbing tree in town. Each child climbs to a low branch where they sit and watch the butterfly do a colorful dance through the air. From here the butterfly guides you through a field of wild flowers with colors of pink, purple, blue, orange and yellow. Each place the butterefly leads you becomes an experience that feels as if it is real.
Encourage each child to describe their wings and let them add the next place the butterfly will lead you.
