Happy New Year!

Ask a child what a New Year's resolution means to them...

"a promise you make to yourself"..."a goal you want to reach"..."something you want to do in the new year to make a better you"..."something you see in front of you that isn't really there...no, no. That's hallucination, not resolution!" (From the mouth of a 7 yr old...I'm not kidding.)
The Alluem Kid's New Year's Workshop was wonderful and packed with fun - the way yoga should be done for kids! We had many new faces in the studio ranging from ages 5-12 yrs! A new and improved Obstacle Course to work on balance, focus, flexibility, and obtaining a goal. A game of Crab Tag to build strength. A New Year's resolution art project to introduce the setting of intentions. And of course Savasana for restoration.
Each child was given a Happy New Year 2010 worksheet. Along the bottom was a poem (from http://www.freekidscrafts.com/):
"The New Year is a time for thought, about the things that we've been taught. So take your hands and make a vow, of things to do starting now!"
The kids traced their hands and wrote or drew their resolutions on their construction paper palms, gluing them to their worksheets. For some kids, thinking of what to write was easy, for others it was a challenge....just as it can be for adults. When setting a New Year's resolution, or what I'd rather prefer to call it, an intention...it's best to make it realistic. Start small. For kids....
-Spending more time with the family.
-Helping out around the house.
-Being kind to others, including siblings.
-Doing your best at school.
-Getting plenty of rest.
-Taking care of yourself.
Having your kids write down their intentions for the New Year is also very helpful. This way they can have something to refer back to and something to work towards. Kids like accomplishing goals just as much as adults! Making it fun is the key!
Happy 2010!!!!

Candle Meditation

I subbed for the Alluem Teen Class tonight and I thought I would share the closing Candle Meditation that I used in class...

"Come to sit in a circle. Everyone take a candle. I want to take a moment to again focus on your intention you set in the beginning of class. The actions you take day today and the intentions you set directly affect the people in your life, which in turn affect the people in their lives. As a result, the actions you take in life can really impact many people – more than you will essentially ever know. Imagine the candle you hold is your intention. As your candle is lit, turn to your neighbor to light theirs. An intention starts with one light, one flame. No matter how big or how small, no matter how personal or how global the intention is…it all starts with one light. With one light you can truly reach the edges of the world. When your candle is lit place it in front of you. Place your hands face up on your knees, open to receive. Focus on your intention and gaze at the light of the candle in front of you. The light in front of you is your intention. It is your light just for you. Inhale deeply to the count of three. Exhale fully to the count of three. Now gently lift your eyes to the candle in the center of the circle. Know that the light from each of your candles lit the candle that has become a light for all of us. Know that the intentions you each set now affect everyone in this room and everyone you come in contact with in this coming New Year. Gaze at the flame and know this the powerful light lies within each one of you. You are all strong and bright individuals who have the ability to do great things in this world. Carry that knowledge in your heart and keep the light shining forever bright inside of you. Close your eyes. Inhale deeply to the count of three. And exhale fully to the count of three."

GAP meets Kid's Yoga

If I could squeeze myself into a 5T, I would totally wear these shirts!

GAP Body carries some of the most comfy yoga gear for women, but how sweet is this tee shirt for little girls at GAP Kids?!

Very cool, GAP!

Oh, and I'll let you in on a little secret...coming soon...

ALLUEM KIDS Tee Shirts!!!

Spiderman Does Yoga

The day after Christmas, my friend's 4 year old son wanted to show me his new toys. He's becoming a true little boy playing with his trucks, trains, dinosaurs, and super heroes. Trucks that scoop dirt and dinosaurs that chew on his sister's doll house. My friend and I were trying to discourage the super heroes from fighting. He understands the difference between "good guys" and "bad guys" and we failed to convince him that all his toys were "good guys". So what do you do when your little boy wants the good guys to fight the bad guys? You promote peace and make them all do yoga!!!

Spiderman was a real sport...

Palms flat, Spiderman...and breathe...

Santa Clause is coming to town...

...and he's taken up meditation!!

Your old mat would make a nice gift.

This is the season of giving.

Working in the city, one sees MANY homeless people. It breaks my heart to have to walk by them everyday and not be able to constantly give. I usually say a prayer for each one of them as I pass. Today on my way out of East West Books on 5th Ave., I saw shopping cart by the street owned by a homeless man not too far away collecting bottles and cans from the garbage. His cart was securely covered with a yoga mat. Maybe he found the mat in the trash, or maybe a good-hearted yogi gave it to him. Either way, I think it's a great find. Something soft to sit or lie on, or a good protective covering.
I know for me, my yoga mat is sacred. I feel like no wrong can happen when I'm on it - whether I'm practicing asana, relaxing in savasana, or sitting in meditation. I have my mat, my space, and my yoga. I wish more people could find that.
So, what can you do? In the spirit of giving...DONATE! There are a plethora of places that will accept donatations of used yoga mats. One being your local Homeless Shelter. They will be more then happy to accept them. Click here to find a shelter local to you: homelessshelterdirectory.org
There are also organizations that bring yoga to people in need who can't afford it. Little Flower Yoga for one, currently brings yoga to battered women and children through the Sanctuary for Families. To donate your mat to someone in need or to make a monetary donation, email info@littlefloweryoga.com.
Off the Mat is another great organization bringing yoga to people in need in the US and abroad. Check out the forum to find the most up to date places in need - shelters, hospitals, prisons, schools.
For other ways on how to recycle your yoga mat, visit: http://www.recycleyourmat.com/
Think about what your yoga mat has done for you. Now think about what your yoga mat can do for others. Do what you can when you can. Namaste.

Gingerbread Yogis!

All snowed in! The studio is closed! It's a fine day to make some Gingerbread Yogis!!!!

Lotus, Tree, Wheel, Downdog, and Warrior 3 - all cut out by hand! Love it!

A Happy 10 Year Old!

Make your child’s next birthday party truly unique with Alluem Yoga!

Located on the beautiful Rahway River in the historic Droescher’s Mill, the peaceful atmosphere sets the stage for a birthday party your child will never forget.

We celebrated Alex's 10th Birthday today and had a blast!!!!

No two snowflakes are alike!

There is scientific proof that states no 2 snowflakes are alike....this holds true for people as well. This weekend in my Alluem Kids 8-12 class we talked about the many differences between people....different shapes and sizes, different color hair and eyes, different skin tones, different voices, different likes and dislikes, different personalities...the list is endless. The kids know that these difference are what makes us unique - we each are different in our own special ways and we can embrace the beauty in that!

I had the kids think about what makes them different from other people, what makes them unique. I wanted them to go deeper just the surface differences and to really look at what makes themspecial, what makes them who they are. I had them narrow it down to one word. One word to describe what makes them special. After they meditated on this, I laid out foam snowflakes all over the room. I was sure to make them all different...yes, I made adjustments to 25 little foam snowflakes so they would ALL be different! Each child picked one and wrote their word on the snowflake - Unique, Charitable, Enthusiastic, Friendly, Loving, Miracle, etc. When all the snowflakes were hung, they chose a pose that best related to the word they picked - Candlestick for Miracle, Tree for Charitable, Frog Jumps for Enthusiastic....I love watching them think so carefully about what they can do to best represent who they were. It really said a lot about their personalities. A great lesson for all!

Your Children

From "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran

"Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you.

And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,

For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies, but not their souls,

For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,

Which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you,

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,

and He bends you with His might that His arrows might go swift and far.

Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;

For even as He loves the arrow that flies,

so He loves also the bow that is stable."

New Year's Workshop

The Alluem Kid's New Year's Workshop is now open for registration!

Ring in the New Year (slightly early) at Alluem Yoga!

Wednesday, December 30th

10:45am-11:45am

ages 7-12

Sign up in person or online by clicking Schedules & Events at AlluemYoga.com (page over to December 30th and look for Kid's Yoga). Space is limited, so sign up today!

Meditation Owl

I believe it's never too early to start teaching kids about Meditation. In the Alluem Kids 4-7 year olds class today, I had the kids do an arts and crafts project to help them learn about what Meditation is all about. I started by having them tell me what Meditation means to them. One told me, "It means you clear your head.". Another told me, "It's just like praying." Kids get it. They may not be able to sit still for too long with their thoughts, but they don't have to! They don't need a dark room with a candle and quiet music. A meditative state is natural for a young child. They are naturally more imaginative and creative. For instance, they get what it means to relate a color to a feeling. As adults we sometimes forget to activate this imaginative part of our brain, and over time it becomes harder and harder to do so. Which is why I am a strong believer of keeping an active imagination and always staying young at heart!

So, why Owls? Owls are wise animals. It just seemed right to pick an Owl. Using the construction paper, I cut out the shapes for the kids to glue together. They then traced their hands to use as the wings. On each of the fingers we wrote a common Mantra, "Sa, Ta, Ma, Na" (See Bog Post: Yoga Mudras). On the belly of the owl, I wrote a little poem for them:

(To the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star)

Sit up tall. Close your eyes.

Hands on knees. Heart to the sky.

Deep breath out. Deep breath in.

Just relax and look with in.

(then incorporate the mantra)

Sa, Ta, Ma, Na,

Sa, Ta, Ma, Na

Hearing them sing this was just adorable. Knowing they took home a skill that may help them throughout their lives, is even more beautiful.

Sing Your Own Song

I found a great reading for tomorrow's class by Ashley Rice. She has some great inspirational books for kids that are definitely worth checking out. Her positive messages are full of encouragement!

This one is called "Sing Your Own Song":

Wherever you are is the place you're in.

It's the way things are. It's where you're standing right now.

You're learning to follow your own bright star.

And even if things seems a little strange to you now,

you'll work your way through it somehow.

Just take a little step, reach out further,

get a little closer to the place you belong.

In your own skin, in your own way...

you're singing your own song.

To see more of Ashley's work, visit her website: http://www.ashleyrice.com

You can also purchase her product designs that she has created for Blue Mountain Arts: http://www.sps.com/p+ashley/authors/show.html