Please
follow these simple guidelines before you begin your yoga practice.
Preparation:
When
you are ready to begin, spread out your yoga mat in a clean, spacious
area. Please wear comfortable clothing
in which you can move easily. It is best
to do yoga on a relatively empty stomach and barefoot. We tune-in to our body’s rhythm
by listening to the breath. We sing the
letter “O” three times to create a body memory to begin our practice and help
keep focus. We also sing our Yoga Sprouts Namo Song to promote community and to get a little loud before we quiet down. We then follow a sequence of
exercises in order, and all may feel free to relax in between poses.
Length
of Posture:
Beginner's will vary their length of postures. Some poses are more
advanced and will be done for shorter periods of time; also modifications will be explained. Some postures require assistance or a
partner.
This is a good opportunity to connect with your child or to let your
child explore new friendships with other children in class. Try to always breathe through the nose unless otherwise instructed. Try to relax the muscles as you stretch for
five or more counts. Movement exercises
may be done for 1 – 3 minutes, but you are always welcome to shorten the time,
starting with 30 seconds and adding 30 seconds more when ready.
Relax
Between Poses:
It is always fine to take a short 30
seconds to 1 minute rest in between the exercises. Either sit in Flower Pose or lie on your
back. Close your eyes and listen to your
breath during these short periods of rest.
When you are ready to continue, take a deep breath then exhale as you
slowly open your eyes or Rock n’ Roll to sit back up.
Conclusion:
To
end a set, we lay down and rest for 4 or more minutes. Lay on your back with your arms at your
sides, palms up. We may
listen to soothing music or cover up with a blanket. Our sets call this Worm Pose or Mummy Pose
and it is important to relax and let go for a few moments at the end of each
set. Some may doze a little during this
rest time. When we are ready to finish,
we wiggle the fingers and toes, stretch, and come back to a seated position. We close our sets by singing the “ahhhh” sound of
the letter A, three times. Again this
creates a body memory to conclude the yoga set. When you finish your yoga practice, it is good
to drink a big glass of water. Smile and
thank your body for working so hard!
Names:
You may recognize some yoga poses and
notice it has a different name. For
instance Horse Ride is the same as Camel Ride and Downward Dog is the same as
Pyramid Pose. Feel free to draw these
parallels to your child's attention when you notice them.
Repetition helps us remember the postures both physically and
mentally.
Positive Mindset:
It is important to keep your practice
light-hearted and fun. Always try to
embody a positive attitude when you practice yoga. Caregivers and children should try not to
push themselves too hard too fast or worry if they are using a modification to
the exercise. We can only do our best
and our best will change at any moment.
Our feelings and emotions are important and deserve attention. How we act on our feelings is what determines
our character. We should notice when we
feel upset and we should explore the origin of that feeling. However, we should try to think nice things
about ourselves and say nice things to those practicing with us during yoga
practice. Remember it is yoga practice
not yoga perfect!
