Monday, July 13, 2015

Chill Skills Camp--Week One, Day One, Balance Feels BEST!


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Friday, July 10, 2015

zipaDee-STRENGTHEN your spirit while challenging your body

Affirmation of Faith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL3gvk3jvCEl-bJ4hq6JSVpz6Fy0IpIWeT&v=xm6bGX6ON9o

Glad to Gate, Proud to Plank
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=15&v=bibF8tejKJI

Glorify
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRDlBMqIGi0&feature=em-upload_owner

Majesty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr2xrcHcN8o&feature=em-upload_owner
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Monday, June 29, 2015

"Me" Books

Wow!  This month’s topic is one of my absolute favorites.  Each of us can make the world a better place like no one else can git ‘er done!  Celebrate the individual!  Here’s some reads to build self confidence and develop a culture of appreciation for everyone’s ability to contribute to our world in a unique way.
Wild About Us by Karen Beaumont
You gotta be you, and be proud about it!  In Wild About Us!, each animal sports his or her defining characteristic with pride.  You can go back and try to be some of these critters in your yoga class.  Have fun making up some moves for the ones that don’t obviously lend themselves to a yoga posture or breathing technique.  Celebrate individuality and the varied gifts each yogi brings to the mat!
Loudmouse by Richard Wilbur
YAY!  YAY!  YAY!  This book was originally published in 1968, and it’s BACK!  A paperback edition will be released in October 2015.  Loudmouse is a loud mouse.  He doesn’t fit in with the other mice but his volume saves the day!  It’s the quality that others want to change about us or we want to change about ourselves that is often most enviable or valued.  It might be a little long for one class sitting, but it’s a great story to know.
Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester
Tacky is another LOUD book character who also saves the day.  “Tacky is an odd bird but a good bird to have around.”  All of the other penguin friends,  Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly and Perfect, are flawless.  Again, it is his “flaws” that make Tacky a winner!
Only One You by Linda Kranz, You Be You by Linda Kranz
Adri’s mama and papa have words of wisdom for their son as he swims through life.  The end papers in this book are just as great as the story in between them!  Linda Kranz followed up five years later with a second book, You Be You.  The second title celebrates all the fish of the sea:  “big and tiny, smooth and spiny, colorful and plain, different and the same.”  These are great gift choices for fish of all ages!
Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell
Molly Lou’s grandma also was a wise one.  She taught Molly to sing, laugh, and stack pennies on her buck teeth.  Ronald Durkin feels very foolish when he meets up with Molly Lou’s confidence.  You don’t have to be a tall to be a “giant” among your peers.  Molly Lou’s strength and comfortableness in her own skin is inspiring!
Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
A classmate tells Grace she can’t be Peter Pan in the school play because she is a girl.  Another tells Grace she can’t be Peter Pan in the school play because she is black.  
Grace’s Nana tells her, “You can be anything you want, Grace, if you put your mind to it.”  And she does!
Woolbur by Leslie Helakoski
In Woolbur, “Grandpaa” has the wisdom.  He encourages “Maa” and “Paa” sheep not to worry about young Woolbur, but they “pull on their wool all night long,” night after night.   Woolbur thinks “it’s great” to be marching to the beat of a different drum.  While Maa and Paa want to change Woolbur, Woolbur changes his world so he’s no longer a one-of-kind, kinda sheep.  Look for Grandpaa practicing yoga in the illustrations!  This book is so BAAAd, it’s good.  
Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld
Molly Lou and Cloudette both know smallness is not a weakness!  Cloudette cannot hang with the BIG clouds .  .  . but that’s a GOOD thing!  There are small jobs that the BIG guys are not the right fit to get done.  How can you make the world a better place?  Don’t forget what a BIG difference a small act of kindness makes:  a smile, a kind word, or helping out someone in need can change the world in a BIG way!
Exclamation Mark by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld
How will you make your mark?  This book is a quick read.  The punctuation puns may be lost on your youngest yogis but the idea of being who you are designed to be will not.  Every time this creative team puts their heads together, they produce a winner!
Incredible Me! by Kathi Appelt
This book reads like a poem!  It would be a great introduction or wrap up story for your yoga practice.  The rhyme tickles your ears and the words empower.  You ARE marvelous, spectacular, adorable, INCREDIBLE!
I Like Me! by Nancy Carlson
Another short read, this book is great for remembering how to celebrate and keep on keeping on being you.  My favorite page is Louanne the pig in the morning, looking in the bathroom mirror saying, “Hi, good looking!”  I have kiddos use handheld mirrors to practice the self-affirmation.  When you fall down, you DO pick yourself up and try and try again!  A lot of good is stuffed into the few pages of this book.    
Ruby the Copycat by Peggy Rathmann
Ruby tries to be like others.  Everyone is annoyed by her copycatting.  Ruby’s copycatting is true admiration for what everyone else does well.  Yay for the teacher who recognizes Ruby’s gift for hopping and sets Ruby free to be herself!    
Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall
Red crayon only colors blue .  .  .  no matter how folks try to correct him or change him or encourage him.  It’s not until “Berry” crayon asks him to draw a blue ocean that he meets an expectation with succes!  The story is scratched out and shared by a pencil.  It’s clever and meaningful.  Labels are dangerous.  Being open minded to all possibilities is key.  You have a job to do in this world that only you can do!  Sometimes it’s a struggle to find that right fit, but you’ll know when you are there when it’s EASY, your heart is happy, and you have a big smile on your face!
Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld


Exclamation Mark by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
I Like Me! by Nancy Carlson
Incredible Me! by Kathi Appelt
Loudmouse by Richard Wilbur
The One and Only You by Linda Kranz
Red:  A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall
Ruby the Copycat by Peggy Rathmann
Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell
Tacky the Penguin
You Be You by Linda Kranz
Wild About Us by Karen Beaumont


Woolbur by Leslie Helakoski

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Sunday, June 7, 2015

Grow the Family Tree of God

When you wash dishes, help with dinner, walk the dog or clean up your room, you help your family!  When you pray for the sick, feed the hungry, give clothing or shelter, you help the family of God.  My corny joke of the morning:  "when you LEAF church today, how will you GROW the family tree of God?" People might not remember what you say or do, but they'll remember how you made them feel .  .  . Make 'em feel loved!
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Sunday, May 31, 2015

Treasure Chest

Today we had an adventure with Samputa Mudra or "Treasure Chest."  Mira taught this way of holding your hands in her pirate lesson.  We began the lesson with the thought of "what is in your treasure chest?"  When preparing for today's children sermon, "The Gospel in a Nutshell," I thought of how the "treasure chest" could be the "nutshell" and hold the love of God, represented by a foam heart.  With 66 books in the Holy Bible containing 1,189 chapters and 31,173 verses, it's kinda cool than John 3:16 can zero in on what is essential.  This verse is often referred to as the "Gospel in a Nutsell"--For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  Know it and show it!  Let God's love shine in the choices you make this week.  This is a treasure indeed.


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Monday, May 25, 2015

Be WILD about READING this summer!

Going to the Zoo by Tom Paxton
“We’re goin’ to the zoo, zoo, zoo!  How about you, you, you?  You can come too, too, too!”
When I think about a zoo trip, this song starts a singin’ in my head!  Tom Paxton’s book includes playful illustrations that convey how you wear a body out having so much fun .  .  . but after resting up, you’re ready to go to the zoo again, again, and again!
Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann
Speaking of a good night’s rest, the zoo animals in this whimsical Peggy Rathmann creation follow the zookeeper home at night from the zoo.  The zookeeper never has a clue, but his wife does!  She escorts the critters back to the zoo, mostly.  Look for the mouse’s balloon on pages of the story.  This book is entertaining and provides an invitation to be sneaky, quiet during yoga class.  “Can you be as quiet as the animals when they are following the zookeeper home?”
The One and Only, Ivan by Katherine Applegate (chapter book) and
Ivan:  The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla by Katherine Applegate (picture book)

From one primate story to the next:  Introducing . . .  The One and Only, Ivan.   This award winning chapter book is a work of fiction but it is inspired by the true story of a gorilla captured as a baby who became the star attraction for a shopping mall in Tacoma Washington for 27 years.  It is a powerful read.  I am inspired about what we CAN do, even when we are limited or “caged.”  The picture book about Ivan shares the true story and includes photos with more info in the back matter.  I shared The One and Only, Ivan with my family.  It’s great for all ages.  The short chapters hook you and keep you turning pages.  Our family enjoyed the privilege of visiting Ivan in Zoo Atlanta a month before he died in August 2012, http://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2012/08/21/159542065/famous-gorilla-ivan-dies-at-age-50-an-animal-obituary.  The docent we talked with at Zoo Atlanta had read The One and Only, Ivan and felt the author really captured “the voice” of Ivan.  With older yogis you can engage in some deep thinking and meaningful conversations about animal welfare, discussing the pros and cons of zoo experiences.
My Heart is Like a Zoo by Michael Hall
I’ve reviewed this book for GFY before but just wanted to mention again.  When digging into the zoo topic, it’s a good fit for thinking of caring and loving the animals.  It’s a great springboard for a fun art project of creating animals out of heart shapes.  
A Children’s Zoo by Tana Hoban
Each animal is described with three words.  Readers have to guess what the animal is!  This book is an oldie, but goodie.  You can create your own zoo book with white chalk on black construction paper.  Love, love, love Tana Hoban’s work.

Life-Size Zoo by Teruyuki Komiya
Awesome, life-size photos, for making a trip to the zoo possible even when the sun isn’t shining .  .  .


 My Side of the Car by Kate Feiffer
Soooo this really happened .  .  .  Jules and his daughter created the story based on the memory of trying to get to the zoo on a rainy day.  What a beautiful book for perspective, point-of-view.  It’s a lesson in how your motivation really shapes what you see!  You can twist this theme around to zero in on intentions and where we put our focus or energy.    
Wild About Us! by Karen Beaumont
My FAVORITE book right now is not a zoo book but it’s about animals, I Don’t Want to Be a Frog! by Dev Petty.  Wild About Us! is a zoo book that shares the same, home-runnin’ theme with I Don’t Want to Be a Frog!.  You gotta be you, and be proud about it!  In Wild About Us!, each animal sports his or her defining characteristic with pride.  You can go back and try to be some of these critters in your yoga class.  Have fun making up some moves for the ones that don’t obviously lend themselves to a yoga posture or breathing technique.  Celebrate individuality and the varied gifts each yogi brings to the mat!

Wild About Books by Judy Sierra
In this Dr. Seuss tribute, Judy Sierra and Marc Brown team up to create a story sharing a bookmobile driving librarian who lends library books to zoo animals.  There’s a GGGGRRRReat book for every reader:  tall books for giraffes, tiny ones for crickets. “She even found waterproof books for the otter, who never went swimming without Harry Potter.”

Be WILD about reading this summer!


Amazon Links:
Going to the Zoo by Tom Paxton
Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann


Life-Size Zoo by Teruyuki Komiya


My Heart is Like a Zoo by Michael Hall
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Sunday, May 3, 2015

Let's PLAY with a Good Book

Toys Go Out:  Being the Adventure of a Knowledgeable Stingray, a Toughy Little Buffalo, and Someone Called Plastic by Emily Jenkins

Toys Dance Party:  Being the Further Adventures of a Bossyboots Stingray, a Courageous Buffalo, and a Hopeful Round Someone Called Plastic by Emily Jenkins

Toys Come Home:  Being the Early Experiences of an Intelligent Stingray, a Brave Buffalo, and a Brand New Someone Called Plastic by Emily Jenkins
These are chapter book ideas for your older yogis or your younger, advanced readers!  These are age appropriate in content (and it can be a challenge to find age appropriate content for an advanced young reader)!  Reminiscent of The Velveteen Rabbit and Corduroy,
the toys talk and share adventures.  What ARE your toys doing when you aren’t playing with them?

Press Here by Hervé Tullet
Here is a book you can PLAY!  This interactive book is enjoyable for all ages.  You can involve the whole class!  Take turns following the directions and “making” fun things happen on each page! I often make a connection to the benefits of listening and paying attention and how sometimes we miss out on a good time when we don’t.  

Hand Rhymes by Marc Brown
Another interactive book choice!  For me, Hand Rhymes and Finger Rhymes connect with mudras.  Finger Rhymes by Marc Brown was not available at Amazon but may be at your public library.  It is available at my local branch!  Marc Tolon Brown is the author of the Arthur the Aardvark series.  He shares step-by-step directions for movement with hands/fingers for a variety of poems and songs.  These fingerplays are fun to establish routines in your class.  Try one to pull everybody’s attention back, so together you can do what’s next in your practice.  

A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech
WOW!  This is my go to book for when we try to do more, more, more to improve!  “Less is more.” Play is so necessary for “improvement” and healthy growth.  Extending the school day or the school week, doing more, is not the answer.  It’s on the playground that kiddos solve problems and practice how to be safe, responsible and respectful to others.  A lot of learning happens during recess and unstructured play, if children are afforded the opportunity.  This one is a fine, fine choice for the folks who make decisions on school scheduling!

Mr. President Goes to School by Rick Walton
This book illustrates how even “BIG people" need play to help solve problems and get along better with friends.   Play invites balance.  I love when Mr. President applies some kindergarten tactics with the quarreling dignitaries.  Robert Fulghum had it right when he wrote the poem, “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.”

(1) Not a Box and (2) Not a Stick by Antoinette Portis
Imagination is key in unstructured play!  When my children were little, we bought toys and they played with the boxes for the toys .  .  .  Not a Box and Not a Stick capture how much fun you can have playing and using your imagination.  The simple illustrations capture the box/stick as it is in the book character’s creative mind.  

The Quiet Place by Sarah Stewart
Another great “box” story!  Set in the 1950’s, this story describes a little girl’s move from Mexico to the US.  This book is formatted uniquely.  The letters Isabel writes to her Auntie Lupita, describing her new life and how she is learning to speak English, relate the story.  She creates a “quiet place” with several boxes to write her letters.  Creating a quiet place is a great connection to slowing down,  experiencing mindfulness, settling all the events of a good or not so good day.  This book describes quiet play and how healthful and helpful it is during transitions, growing up times, and always.  

Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems
Snake wants to play with Elephant and Piggie, but there’s some problem solving to do to involve Snake in their game.  Unlike red-nosed Rudolph’s Reindeer Games, Elephant and Piggie figure how to adapt the fun so everyone can play.  I love me some Elephant and Piggie!  If you don’t know these books and you work with young yogis, check ‘em out at the public library ASAP.  Simple, great fun and kids absolutely LOVE them.

How do YOU play?  Play with a good book everyday!  Storytime builds relationships, strengthens your thinking and is just plain fun.  :-)

Happy Reading in May!

Amazon Links:
Toys Go Out:  Being the Adventure of a Knowledgeable Stingray, a Toughy Little Buffalo, and Someone Called Plastic by Emily Jenkins
http://www.amazon.com/Toys-Go-Out-Adventures-Knowledgeable/dp/0385736614/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1430235479&sr=1-1&keywords=toys+go+out+series

Toys Dance Party:  Being the Further Adventures of a Bossyboots Stingray, a Courageous Buffalo, and a Hopeful Round Someone Called Plastic by Emily Jenkins
http://www.amazon.com/Toy-Dance-Party-Adventures-Bossyboots/dp/0375855254/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1430235638&sr=1-1&keywords=toy+dance+party

Toys Come Home:  Being the Early Experiences of an Intelligent Stingray, a Brave Buffalo, and a Brand New Someone Called Plastic by Emily Jenkins
http://www.amazon.com/Toys-Come-Home-Experiences-Intelligent/dp/0375862005/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_z

Press Here by Hervé Tullet
http://www.amazon.com/Press-Here-Herve-Tullet/dp/0811879542/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1430235431&sr=1-1&keywords=press+here

Hand Rhymes by Marc Brown
http://www.amazon.com/Hand-Rhymes-Picture-Puffins-Brown/dp/0140549390/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1430234980&sr=8-1&keywords=finger+rhymes

A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech
http://www.amazon.com/Fine-School-Sharon-Creech/dp/0060007281/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1430235333&sr=1-1&keywords=fine%2C+fine+school

Mr. President Goes to School by Rick Walton
http://www.amazon.com/President-Goes-School-Rick-Walton/dp/1561455385/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1430235384&sr=1-1&keywords=president+goes+to+school

(1) Not a Box and (2) Not a Stick by Antoinette Portis
http://www.amazon.com/Not-Box-Antoinette-Portis/dp/0061123226/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1430235227&sr=8-1&keywords=not+a+box

http://www.amazon.com/Not-Stick-Antoinette-Portis/dp/0061123250/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1430235289&sr=8-1&keywords=not+a+stick

The Quiet Place by Sarah Stewart
http://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Place-Sarah-Stewart/dp/0374325650/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1430235189&sr=8-2&keywords=the+quiet+place

Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems
http://www.amazon.com/Can-Play-Elephant-Piggie-Book/dp/1423119916/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1430692462&sr=1-1&keywords=can+i+play+too
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