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.
 
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Because I have been a pediatric Speech Pathologist for 37 years I meld language and yoga with every class I teach.  Yesterday while teaching a group of four children I teased them by asking them to sit "criss-cross cranberry sauce."  Thinking this was funny, we launched into a laughter filled activity of fill in the sauce.  To enhance the activity we chanted and created a complimentary mudra.  We slapped our hands to our knees while chanting "criss", crossed our arms and slapped the knees to "cross" and repeated this with "cranberry" and "sauce".  This is what we created;
                                           

Spaghetti Sauce
Chocolate Sauce
Raspberry Sauce
Alfredo Sauce
Marinara Sauce
Pesto Sauce
Blueberry Sauce
Mango Sauce
Caramel Sauce
Peanut Sauce
Pineapple Sauce
Pie Sauce ????
Cheese Sauce
Zucchini Sauce



 
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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.
 
The joy of working with children has been my lifelong career.  Have you ever noticed that children are honest about what they notice about another child?  It's great, because they are equally authentic noticing what is the same.
I love to ask a child to tell me what is the same, alike or even better yet "what makes you feel that _________ could be your sister/brother?
Their answers will fill you with laughter and I hope you will share a few with me.
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On March 2nd I spent a beautiful morning at Myers Ganoung Elementary School.  Thanks to Naomi Katz, occupational therapist, I joined a most uplifting yoga class with her students.
Beginning with Namaste and working step by step through the protocol, Naomi had each child participating at their optimal level and it was wonderful.  Each child became calmer, more open and relaxed.  Participation was all inclusive and teachers and aids complemented the flow of the class.  
Congratulations, Naomi, for teaching a wonderful group of children and making what would be difficult to some appear so easy.  Taking children with varied symptoms and diagnosis and creating the oneness.
Namaste,
Nancy
 
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.
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It is such fun to free yourself in the simplicity and purity of a child.  I consider myself the luckiest person on the planet to be able to play with children as my career.
These friends were having fun at the Burlington Vermont street fair last summer.    I am reminded that yoga means union and in relationship this is the compassion of seeing yourself in another's eyes.

 
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.
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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.