If you’re a parent with an iPhone or an iPad, you’ve most likely discovered that there’s an application out there for everything. Lucky for you and your favorite yoginis, that includes I AM LOVE: Kids Yoga Journey, by Rachel Glowacki and her team of mothers, writers and artists.
I AM LOVE was written by Glowacki and illustrated by co-creator Danielle Cather-Cohen. The app leads a child, parent or other caregiver through a series of poses in the form of a beautiful story, which follows a yogi on a seaside adventure. With several practice and play options, the whimsicle illustrations and instructional photographs offer visual cues, while the audio feature and peaceful music allows the child to follow along with or without watching the screen.
In addition to thirteen yoga postures, breathing cues, explanations and fun facts are woven throughout the application as well. The “why we practice” piece of each pose card may be slightly over the heads of young children, but for older kids and adults, it’s like having a yoga instructor in the room guiding your practice. Everyone can appreciate the “guess what!” tidbits, which relate to the animals and objects in each pose and in the story.
A pair of kindergarteners and I gave I AM LOVE a try recently, and while the iPhone is a bit difficult to share, we managed to take turns peeking at the screen to learn each pose (the larger iPad is likely easier to display for all to view at once). After following the story through once, the girls and I were familiar with each pose, and were able to set the iPhone on a speaker dock and listen to the story and pose prompts for the second time. The girls visualized the story, mimicked the models on the app, and completed each pose, including thirsty lizard, sea turtle and crab. With some deep breathing and a final relaxation, everyone felt relaxed and happy after their practice.
I AM LOVE is a beautifully presented, engaging introduction to yoga for children. Children 6 and up can use the app by themselves. Kids younger than that will happily follow along but will likely look to a parent, caregiver or older kids for pose demonstration assistance.
If you are looking for a quick and effective yoga practice for your family, and don’t mind giving up your prized iPhone or iPad for a few minutes, I AM LOVE is the perfect answer. We highly recommend it!
I AM LOVE: Kids Yoga Journey
A children’s yoga application based on an original yoga lesson plan written by Rachel Glowacki (M-HYI). Available on iTunes, Android and Nook, or online at kidsyogajourney.com.