Finding Stillness

Happy New Year! Hoping you all had a great holiday season! My back surgery went really well...I'm slowly making my way back to the mat! I have a follow up appointment coming up to see how the fusion is going, so I am still taking it easy with limited mobility. It is quiet humbling to be in a body that is so limited after being so able for so long. It is a lesson indeed to slow down and notice the ease so many of us have in doing the things we so often take for granted. Meditation has played a huge roll in my recovery in dealing with the pain as well as helping me fall asleep. Meditation has been my yoga...after all, it is so much more then just the poses.
I'm looking forward to integrating more of the meditation piece into the kid's classes! As I slowly learn to move again in PT, I'll be holding a 3 Week Mindfulness & Meditation Series for the kids starting next week!

Through practices of mindfulness and meditation children build inner and outer awareness, compassion and kindness towards others, social and emotional skills, as well as relaxation techniques. There will be very little asana (yoga poses) in this class as it is a class designed to move into a place of stillness and calm...of course in a kid friendly way!

The regular 8 week Kid's Yoga Session will begin the week of February 22nd.
For my kiddies that recently turned 13 (holy moly!!) or my 12 year olds that want to move up, the new Teen Session starts TOMORROW - every Wednesday from 4:45-5:45pm.

You can register for any or all of these classes right online:
https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/admhome?studioid=7159

Calling all Superheroes!!!!!!!!!!!

Peace, Love & Lemonade!

Calling all Alluem Kids ages 8 & up! We need your help at the Peace, Love & Lemonade Stand this Saturday, June 14th! Email the studio (alluemyoga@verizon.net) if you're interested in helping any time between the hours of 9:30am-2:30pm.  Miss Karen is heading back to Haiti with Go Give Yoga to bring a children's yoga training to Haitian teachers to use in their classrooms. 100% of the proceeds will go towards this trip!

Sending Out Love

This Valentine's Day after a classroom visit to Mrs. Frayne's 5th graders at Orange Ave. School, my heart could not be fuller. For many of the kids, it was their first time stepping on a yoga mat, let alone taking in concepts of slowing down, opening their hearts and listening to their breath. Pushing all the desks to the edges of the room, we made space to move, laugh, and have fun with the practice. We talked about love, gratitude, and being aware of ourselves and those around us. In the crowded little classroom of kids, teachers, parents and the Valentine's Day party treats that were to follow, what I didn't realize was happening, is how much they were taking in. They took in so much, their hearts prepared themselves to give back.


Each child was encouraged to go home and buy a yoga mat that they could donate to the studio's mission - Yoga Mat: Journey to Haiti. On each mat they donated, they wrote a letter to the person at Project Zen (Haiti's only yoga studio) who would receive their mat...letters that were so well written I had to stop my day and read every single word. My heart smiled big that day. How could it not?!
THANK YOU to my new little friends! Keep opening your heart to small acts that make a big difference!

Little Flower Yoga in New Jersey!

In 2008, I walked into a yoga studio in NYC to attend a kid's yoga teacher training with Jennifer Cohen Harper and Kate Reil. Little did I know when I walked out, my life would be changed. As a yoga practitioner, I never saw myself as a yoga teacher. After the Level One training with Little Flower Yoga, I was absolutely sure I was on the right path...the one that would not only shape my life, but the lives of all the children that would one day cross that path. 

Bringing yoga to children has been nothing but a joy in my life. Every child that rolls out his or her mat in our studio, every child who sits down on the linoleum floors of the schools I visit, every child that curls up on their mom's lap at storytime has filled my heart.

I am happy to announce that Little Flower is coming to New Jersey February 1-2!!! I wholeheartedly recommend this training for anyone looking to share the gift of yoga with the children in their lives - parents, school teachers, yoga teachers, coaches, therapists, PTs, OTs - anyone who has an influence on the life of a child in any way. Fulfill their physical, emotional and social needs. Learn to incorporate yoga and mindfulness activities into a child's every day life so they can connect to themselves and those around them. So they can build body awareness and breathe deeper. So they can grow stronger through focus, concentration, and balance. So they can begin to fill their tool box with ways to regulate their own emotions and find an unbelievable confidence in themselves. 

Check out the site for more information on this Level One Intensive at 

the Princeton Center for Yoga and Health:

http://littlefloweryoga.com/events/level-one-intensive-nj-2-1-2-2014

Be the Revolution

Winter Family Yoga

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Never Give Up.

I've never seen a 5 year old try so hard to get herself into pose. Peacock is not a pose I've ever taught to anyone under 10, but while waiting for class to start, she began trying to make herself float! You go!!

"Fall down 7 times, get up 8." - Japanese Proverb

Registration is open for the Fall Session!

Hoop Yoga!

Hula Hooping is a great tool for connecting with your body, which is what we strive to do in yoga! Grounding your feet into the earth for stability, being mindful of your surroundings, utilizing core strength, and feeling the hoop rotate the circumference of your body - all aids in achieving body awareness. And what better way to teach a child about body awareness then through play! The Alluem Kids had a great time hooping it up at this year's Hoop Yoga Workshop!

Sea Shell Yoga

What better way to celebrate the summer with than with Sea Shell Yoga! 

It was a fun filled hour and a half of under the sea themed yoga inspired by Eric Carle's book, "A House for a Hermit Crab" - exploring the challenges of growing up, facing change and the practice of non-attachment...just like hermit crabs! Throw in some Crab Tag, a Sea Glass Meditation and some shell painting and you've got Sea Shell Yoga!

Down Doll Yoga

Grab your favorite doll and decorate a mini yoga mat for her! Prepare to practice side by side with her! Learn partner yoga poses that you can practice at home as well as bitty balances, tiny twists and mini meditations to do with your doll! Top it off with a Tea Party and Down Doll Yoga is complete! 

Off the Mat Kids Camp

Another amazing week of camp at Alluem Yoga!

This camp for 10-12 year olds is based on the Yoga in Action program through Off the Mat into the World (www.offthematintotheworld.org) - using yoga to inspire change and growth through awareness of the world around us, consciousness of what's going on inside of us, support of community - locally and globally. We take an inspirational look into how the little things in life - a smile, a kind word, a simple deed - can help change the world in a big way...encouraging the Alluem Kids to be strong in body, mind and heart!
I must say...this group of girls was absolutely AMAZING! The theme of the camp was being brave...brave in recognizing our strengths and our limits, brave in offering to support and positive communication to friends and family, brave in finding a sense of community and brave in opening our eyes to what is going on in the world.
The girls were even brave enough to show what they've got - their favorite yoga poses, best dance moves and shining personalities! Enjoy our music video (Sara Bareilles would be so proud)!!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all those awesome moms out there!!!
 

 
The Alluem Kids had a nice restorative class today (in hopes they would return home to their moms a little calmer...did it work?!? I try...)). While the little kids hand printed their way into their moms heart, the tweens prepared lavendar eye pillows for their moms...don't worry we tested them out to make sure they were good. And they were. Awesome.

Be Strong

When someone tells you to be strong, what do you think of?

Do you think of a strong body...exercising, eating healthy, drinking water, getting plenty of sleep?

Do you think of a strong mind...thinking positively, honoring your feelings, having confidence?

Do you think of a strong heart...being compassionate and kind, doing the things you love, standing up for what you believe in?

Being strong is all of these things, but most of all I think being strong is knowing yourself - body, mind and heart. And when you know yourself, you know your strengths, you know your limits. Part of being strong is knowing when to ask for help. It's good to recognize when things may be too big so you can ask for help from a family member, teacher, coach or someone you trust...someone you can draw strength from. 

Introducing the Tree of Strength:

Trees draw strength from the sun, the land, the water - all things that help them grow and stand strong. Think of yourself as a tree - your body is the trunk encasing your heart and holding your head up, your legs are the roots, your arms are the branches reaching up. 

What are the things you do to keep yourself strong? Is it doing yoga, playing sports, dancing, running, bike riding? Is it eating healthy foods and drinking plenty of water? Is it getting enough sleep or taking time to just sit and relax? Is it doing things you love like writing, drawing, reading, being creative?  Is it doing things that make you smile - being with friends, laughing, playing, singing, or just being silly? There are lots of ways to keep your body, mind, and heart strong! And often times it is the people in our lives who help keep us strong - mom, dad, grandparents, coaches, teachers, mentors. After all, we are all here to help each other!

Keep your tree handy. Hang it up! Often times we forget that we are capable of doing all sorts of things to stay strong or that we have so many people in our lives who are there for us. Knowing that  you are never alone, no matter what happens in life, will always make your heart smile! :)

And by request...

The Alluem Tween "Be Strong" Playlist:

- Stand Together - Hayley Reardon

- This is Me - Demi Lovato

-Stand By Me - Majors & Minors

- Brave - Sara Bereilles

- Sunshine & City Lights - Greyson Chance

- Shooting Stars - Owl City

- Live Like a Warrior - Matisyahu

- Living in the Moment - Jason Mraz

- Better Together - Jack Johnson

-The Climb - Hannah Montana

- Tribe - Hayley Reardon

Easter Yoga

I know what you're thinking...I want to be in THAT class! Easter Yoga! 

There is still space in the Spring Kids Session! 

Drop-ins welcome! ($15)
 

Sunday, March 24th

10am- Little Kids (ages 4-6)
11:15am- Tweens (ages 10-12)
12:30pm- Kids (ages 7-9)

Fall Registration is Open!!

Circus Yoga!

Only a couple spots left! Register today!!! 

www.alluemyoga.com - workshops tab

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Off the Mat Kids!

 Let your child's yoga practice be the path for discovering their passions, their purpose, and their strengths! Join us for this unique experience next week!

To learn more about Off the Mat Into the World for adults, visit:

www.offthematintotheworld.org

CIRCUS YOGA!

Here's a little behind the scenes action from the Alluem Kids...  

Run away and join the circus this summer!

CircusYoga, created by Erin Maile O'Keefe and Kevin O'Keefe, blends the consciousness of yoga with the communal celebration of circus. It is the human art of play that builds connection & community through playful practice. Practicing circus and yoga proves to be a powerfully transformative experience, developing learning skills, self-confidence and communication skills! Here is your chance to go on TWO Circus Yoga adventures at Alluem Yoga!

Mark your calendars... 

Family Circus Yoga with Sam & Toni 

 Saturday, July 28th - 12:45-2:15pm 

(Open to kids ages 7-87 yrs with parent/s.)

Register online - class tab 

and 

Circus Yoga with Sam & Karen

Wednesday, August 8th - 3:00-4:30pm

(Open to kids ages 7-12 yrs)

Register online - workshop tab 

To learn more about CircusYoga visit:  

 http://www.circusyoga.com/site/about.html