Create Peace Project

It started in a Sunday morning Alluem Kids class with a talk about how we can spread peace in the world. One of my 9 year old students said to the class, "Wouldn't it be cool if we could tell kids in other countries how we are peaceful and then they could be peaceful, too...after all it starts with one person, right Miss Karen? Why not us?" So right. I started researching online for a program that could make this possible...and I found the Create Peace Project.

So last November the Alluem Kids participated in the India 2011 Peace Exchange. The Peace Exchange is an international exchange of art and messages of peace between students of the world. The Peace Exchange uses peace cards (6 x8 inch postcards) to foster connect and spread peace. By first engaging students in the practices of peace and then asking them to share themselves, their creativity, their wisdom, and their heart, this project connects students to each other, their classrooms, their schools, and across continents as we bridge cultural, religious, and racial boundaries to inspire and enrich the lives of all participants.

In late February a team of three departed for a 3 month trip to India to complete the second half of the 2010/2011 Peace Exchange. Ross Holzman, along with Tara Shorey and Heather Wakefield travelled to India delivering Peace Exchange workshops and delivering peace postcards from approximately 8,000 students in the U.S. and Uganda. This is the second year of this international art for peace project that has brought them on an amazing journey through North and South India to work with a diverse cross-section of the cultural, religious, and socio-economic Indian population.

Today I am happy to announce, the Peace Cards from India have arrived at Alluem Yoga!!! The cards came from an all girl private school in Delhi, India - each with a message of peace, hope, and love. I love that this program is made possible thanks to the good heart of Ross Holzman. Thank you, Ross. Namaste.

To find out how you or your school can participate in the 2012 Peace Exchange, visit: http://www.createpeaceproject.org/current-projects/the-peace-exchange/

"What I Am"

I'm LOVING this!!!

Go Brookstriders!

Congratulations to the participants of the Brookstriders 5K/Fun Run!

The Brookstriders race that took place this past weekend, was a kid friendly 5K promoted to encourage healthy lifestyles in our children. Alluem Yoga was proud to be their Platinum sponsor!

There is nothing we want more then to see our children grow up healthy, happy, and aware of their bodies and their minds. Letting them find a fun way to do this is probably most important! THIS was a fun event and we were happy to be a part of it!

Thank you, Brookside Place Elementary!

Thank you also for your support of our Global Wristband sale! 100% of the proceeds go to Off the Mat Into the World - Global Seva Challenge - Haiti.

Thank you, Troop 40334!

To the Girls of Troop 40334:

Thank you for a wonderful evening of peaceful yoga and Prayer Flag making. The yoga you do on your mat not only strengthens your bodies, but it also strengthens your minds and your hearts so that you can take your yoga off the mat and into the world. Your donation to the Off the Mat into the World Seva Challenge was so generous, but it was your hearts that proved to be twice as big. As your smiles and free spirits lit up the yoga studio, your thoughts and well wishes shine bright for the people of Haiti. You are making the difference in this world.

I am proud to know each and every one of you. You make my heart smile. Namaste.

Therapeutic Yoga for the Special Needs Child

Please welcome Patty Cean Saltzer, MSPT to our Alluem Kids Kula!
As a pediatric therapist and certified special needs children’s yoga instructor, Patty uses techniques from both disciplines to optimize the therapeutic benefits of yoga to special needs children. She holds a certification from The Sonia Sumar Method of Yoga for the Special Child. Sonia Sumar's innovated teaching methods have been improving the lives of children with special needs for 40 years. Patty will work with children in small groups or on a one on one basis on each individual child’s needs.
This class is designed specifically for children with: ADD/ADHD, Autism, Anxiety Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Cancer, Down Syndrome, Dyspraxia, Developmental Delays, Learning Disabilities and much more.
Pre-screening is required for this class and will be held on May 18th 3:30-5:30pm. If you cannot make it to the studio during this time slot, please call to make an appointment. (Patty is also available for Private Sessions.)

This class will run in a 6 week session on Wednesdays starting May 25th from 3:30-4:15pm.

Mother's Day Yoga

Please note - you must be a registered Alluem Little Kid student in the Sunday 10-11am class to attend.

We All Have a Story

We all have a story...and believe it or not, so do our children. Our stories start from the moment we are born and are forever developing as we move down this path called life. The article below is from one of my teachers, Jennifer Cohen Harper - founder of Little Flower Yoga, who so eloquently reminds us to embrace the child you are teaching no matter what story the child comes with and how doing so can make a world of a difference to that child.

"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 us as a community of how important it is to embrace every child as an individual. See the soul and not the story, as Seane Corn often says.

In my work with many different children, I have seen how easy it can be to start thinking “this kid has such and such disorder so I’m going to do this with him” or “I can’t do that with this child since she has a developmental delay”. We do, of course, have to be aware of the challenges our students face, and adjust our plans and our expectations accordingly, but often I think we can fall into a trap of habitually teaching to the disorder. This limits our creativity and our ability to show the child all that is possible.

In my teaching I always try to remember that all children have special needs, not just the one’s whose needs are most visible. Children’s challenges, whether they are physical, mental or emotional, are part of what make them who they are, but they are not the only part..."

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