Natural Elements: Connect, Move & Relax
This activity, inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh’s pebble meditation, connects students to aspects of nature, and the different kinds of strength that make up the whole. In this Little Flower Yoga version of a pebble meditation practice, we incorporate movement, drawing and journaling, along with the a mindfulness practice, to create a complete experience for [...]
Fall Conferences in NY & CA
Mindfulness: A Foundation for Teaching and Learning Menlo Park CA: October 14-16, 2011 Advancing the Science and Practice of Contemplative Teaching & Learning The Garrison Institute NY: November 4-6, 2011 Sharing ideas, getting new inspiration, connecting with a community and learning about new research in the field are just a few of the very good [...]
Teacher Reflections: Back to School
Teacher Reflections: Salvador Martinez Blog Posts from our Little Flower Family Oh, yes! It’s time to store the bathing suit, shorts, tank tops, and flip-flops, and bring forward the layers. Time to switch the summer beverage of lemonade to perhaps to maybe a hot chocolate. It’s fall and the kids are back in school! That [...]
Falling Leaves: A Relax Activity
This is a great relaxation exercise to try any time you feel tired, stressed, angry or frustrated. It is also very helpful if you can’t fall asleep. Begin with a gentle warm up, and then start your relaxation with tree pose. Stand tall, find a still point to focus on, and imagine your feet rooting [...]
Back to Back Breathing: A Partner Breathe Activity
This is a simple activity that many students (adults and kids alike!) get into and don’t want to get out of. It is a safe and comfortable way of offering loving contact and invites partners to expand their awareness outside of their own bodies. Children often say they feel calmer and more comfortable in this [...]
The Elements of a Little Flower Yoga Class
Often we are asked what our children’s yoga classes actually look like. What are we teaching? Are we just practicing movement? Where does the mindfulness come in? Do kids actually calm down? Below is an overview of the five elements that we consider essential aspects of any child’s yoga experience. These five elements are our [...]
Teacher Reflections: On Gratitude and Teen Girls
Teacher Reflections: Mary Gillen Blog posts from our Little Flower Family I’ve been teaching yoga to pregnant teens at a youth correctional facility in the NY since May. Each week I drive white-knuckled, fighting 18-wheelers for a lane, to what seems like the farthest corner of the city. I pass small houses and corporate compounds, [...]
Crossing the Line: A Connecting Activity
Crossing the Line is a group activity that has a very strong impact on both children and adults. It is a quiet, meaningful experience of recognizing our similarities, and is a great way to reinforce a sense of community within your class. We use it most often with teens. Stress and anxiety are often caused [...]
Loving Guidelines for Showing a Child All That is Possible: An Elephant Journal Article
As we come to the end of Autism awareness month, I am very aware of all the information and advice that has been swirling around the children’s yoga world talking about how to support students on the spectrum. There has been some really wonderful sharing happening, but I want to take a moment to remind [...]
Shining a Light on Domestic Violence: LFY Founder on WFUV Radio’s Cityscape Program
Domestic violence knows no boundaries. It can happen to anyone – regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, orientation or socio-economic status. This week on Cityscape the subject is explored in a wide variety of communities. Little Flower Yoga Founder Jennifer Cohen Harper participates in the conversation, discussing the use of yoga in women and children survivors. [...]
