If you are looking for a comprehensive guide to sharing yoga with children, it has arrived. Once Upon a Pose: A Guide to Yoga Adventure Stories for Children by Donna Freeman is sure to become a favorite addition to your library of teaching resources for ages 3-12.
At ChildLight Yoga, we are firm believers in the value of yoga in schools. As the creator of Yoga4Classrooms™, a yoga program designed specifically for the classroom environment, we know the challenges faced by students on a daily basis. Kids are over-stimulated and over-scheduled, and an inability to reflect and connect with their own true selves wreaks havoc on their behavior, immune system, digestion, circulation, sleep patterns and overall ability to concentrate, pay attention and learn in school.
Once Upon a Pose not only provides a valuable and comprehensive resource to teachers who wish to share yoga with children in a classroom environment, but it brings a creative and fun approach in story format. We know first-hand the value of storytelling in yoga class, as it is particularly engaging for young children, provides visual imagery to assist them in performing the pose, and brings the students together in community, especially when including each child in the story-telling process. Freeman does a beautiful job of illustrating in both words and photographs each pose included in the yoga adventure story, and she provides detailed instruction on a separate and referred page elsewhere in the book.
This book will be especially useful where gym or activity space is available, but perhaps not as much in space-constrained classrooms. Some of the activities involve being on the floor, which requires towels or yoga mats, not always available in school environments. However, modifications can always be made with minimal compromise to the integity of the story and teaching.
Freeman’s wealth of knowledge about yoga philosophy, various styles, practices and history comes together in one complete resource. Although the title speaks to the storytelling aspect of yoga in the classroom, she provides so much more guidance to teachers, parents, or anyone interested in learning about yoga. It’s clear Freeman is passionate about yoga and children, and has valuable knowledge and creative ideas about how to bring yoga and fun together for the benefit of children’s wellness.
Color photography is missed, but the black-and-white format also makes the book more affordable, which is a plus for parents, schools and children's yoga teachers struggling to work within a limited budget. An excellent feature of the book is that the storytelling section of the book, as well as the pose names themselves, are all printed in both english and french, which makes this a unique reference for Freeman's Canadian neighbors or for those wishing to incorporate a french lesson into their English-speaking class.
Once Upon a Pose proves fairy tales do come true, especially when you wish upon a star for a clear, detailed and illustrative guide to yoga for children. — Amy Bevan
ENTER THE CONTEST! Subscribe to The Kids Yoga Resource (lower left of this page) and answer the following question to be entered to win a FREE COPY of Once Upon a Pose! Drawing will be held on Friday.
"In what ways have you helped a child deal with stress, shyness, excess energy, etc. in the school or pre-school environment?"
Yoga and children — resources like this are invaluable. Teachers need this as funding continually is cut for movement and P.E. classes in the schools. Thanks for the information on what looks to be a great book!
Candace
This sounds like an absolute essential book for my library!!
I find it hard to express in words how I may help the children I teach, so I asked a mom from the homeschool group that I teach to write a couple of words. This mom watches the class and has this to say:
“After several minutes of yoga, I have noticed my son displaying a willingness to tune into his body, a dramatic improvement in balance, and a sense of being grounded that is not often seen throughout his day. Thank you for these classes.
–Mother of 7 y/o boy with Sensory Integration Dysfunction”
By teaching children yoga poses and taking the time to help them meet their breath I believe that this helps them in all kinds of ways in daily life.
Thank you for the opportunity to win Donna’s book.
When a child’s yoga circle is created, children recognize it to be a place and time specifically for love and kindness, focus and awareness. They learn to feel the difference between high energy and calm energy, and learn valuable techniques to identify these states of being in their bodies. They become familiar with, and understand words and phrases such as “tuning in”, “feel and follow the breath” and “awareness”. Through games and story, yoga becomes a more inviting way to release energy. It is a beautiful gift to be able to give yoga to children, the response is always pure acceptance.
I am so happy at the thought of this great book! Namaste.
I’ve not taught a childrens yoga class, but in my own experience with my child, I’ve created a fun time and lots of energy with the yoga postures.
yogawithgaileee at gmail dot com
p.s. I forgot to mention, I’m already a subscriber!
gaileee
yogawithgaileee at gmail dot com
Thanks for entering the contest to win Once Upon a Pose, by Donna Freeman! Geraldine Fowler of Vermont is the lucky winner. Congrats to Geraldine!
Since 9/11 I’ve been teaching children’s yoga in Chicago to K-12 children in both public and private schools. My students are my teachers, reminding me everyday that I reflect into the world is what it will return to me. I currently have an 8th grade student who witnessed her father murder her mother while she called 911. She had been cutting and threatening suicide as she felt responsible for his imprisonment. I offer a compulsory class at her school, and she has been sharing her poetry with me for the last two months. She no longer writes about killing herself. Her prose is more curious and hopeful now. And she closes her eyes in savasana now. Those of you who teach, know just what yoga has done for her… and for me.
Adenia, What a touching and personal story to share – thank you. It does go to show the incredible power of yoga to truly transform lives in a positive way. Like you say, the children with whom we are blessed to work are always our teachers as well. Thank you.