Namaskar - Oct 2006

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Namaskar • A Voice for Yoga in Asia and contentment. Anyone who has practiced yoga for some time has probably experienced this loosening of attachment to something more or something better, and has found a deep sense of ease in simply being. Sharing yoga with children goes a long way towards cultivating a culture of peace. These children feel good about who they are, know how to relax, think clearly and have fostered healthy habits. These qualities are carried into adulthood, as they become heads of business, political leaders, teachers and parents. That leaves us just one generation from a culture of peace if we begin now. Only five years ago when asking kids if they had tried yoga, one or two would raise a hand. Now, Kids Yoga in Hong Kong Mondays 10:45 - 11:35 YogaKids (6 - 12 months) at Yoga Central 3 - 4 pm YogaKids (4 - 6 years) at Medi Yoga 4:15 - 5:15 pm YogaKids (7 - 12 years) at Medi Yoga Wednesdays 9:30 - 10:15 am YogaKids (0 - 5 months) at YWCA 10:30 - 11:15 am YogaKids (6 - 12 months) at YWCA 11:30 - 12:30 pm YogaKids (13 - 36 months) at YWCA 4 - 6 pm YogaKids (4 - 6 years) at Yoga Central Thursdays 3 - 4 pm YogaKids (4 - 6 years) at Yoga Central 4:15 - 5:15 pm YogaKids (7 - 9 years) at Yoga Central Fridays 4:30 - 5:30 pm Pure Yoga Causeway Bay Saturdays 10:30 - 11:30 am Pure Yoga Causeway Bay 12:45 - 1:45 am Pure Yoga Central 1:15 - 2:15 pm YogaKids (7 - 12 years) at Yoga Central 3:10 - 4 pm YogaKids (13 - 36 months) at Medi Yoga 4:10 - 5 pm YogaKids (6 - 12 months) at Medi Yoga For or more e information about YogaKids con ontact Amelie on (852) 6079 1861 / amelie.philibert@yogakids.com For or Kids yoga at Pure e Yoga visit puree-yoga. oga.com om 32
October 2006 • Namaskar virtually every child shoots a hand into the air. A parent does yoga at home with her daughter. A teacher shares some yoga poses with his students. Some of these adults have formal training in children’s yoga while others just try out what they have learned in their adult classes. Although benefits are similar for children and adults, the methods can be very different. Here are some ideas to get you started if you know a child who would enjoy the practice you have come to love. Important elements to include when sharing yoga with children: Noise Although you may relish the silence of your own practice, chatter, animal sounds and laughter are all a part of children’s yoga. Toys and games Asanas and philosophy of yoga can be engagingly presented to kids through games and the use of stuffed animals and cards. Stuffed animals can be placed on the belly for deep abdominal breathing. Animal or yoga pose cards can teach the poses and play card games. Children’s games can be turned into yoga games by taking out the competitive element and leaving in the fun. Lots of activity Children love to move, shake, hop and dance. Hold Garudasana (eagle pose) and then fly around the room with eagle wings outstretched coming back to land in the nest (the yoga mat). Jump feet together and apart again between each wide leg standing pose. Create a Continued here balance of stillness and movement. Rest This is the most important part of the practice and the most appreciated. Children may squirm and make silly noises to start but eventually they will come to cherish the experience. Something they all love is “Noodle Legs.” While a child is lying on his back, gently pick up his legs and wiggle them. Encourage him to let his legs be relaxed and soft, like cooked noodles. Namaste This greeting roughly translates as “the light in me sees the light in you.” When we relate to children with this greeting in mind, they feel it and really begin to shine. Yoga and children go together naturally. The organic movements along with interesting animals and nature features make the practice engaging for children when presented in a dynamic way. There is no need to be too serious at first. Children will learn to quiet and become still over time. Be present with each child and be who you are. This will ensure a fun and beneficial experience of yoga for the children in your life. Mira a is a cer ertif tified ied yoga teacher acher, , yoga therapis apist t and co- founder of Global al Family Yoga, a teacher training programme based in Chicago, focusing on children and familie amilies. . Trainings in Singapore e are e offer ered ed 17-19 19 and 24 -26 November ember. . www.glob globalf alfamilyyy amilyyyoga. oga.or org Teacher’s Voice from page 15 level of my left. Tadasana is always humbling for me, especially since I have been a yoga practitioner for many years and have not yet mastered it. What have you learned from this asana? I have learned that seemingly simple things may not be so simple after all, and the basics are very important. It may be that I can go deeply into forward bends, back bends and twists, yet the imbalance of tadasana still affects me in all of these postures. Sirsasana (headstand) is really just tadasana upside down, so of course the imbalance of tadasana affects my alignment is sirsasana too. I know how to compensate to create the other yoga poses, but these would be better if my alignment in tadasana was better. Guruji, B.K.S.Iyengar has said a lot about tadasana. He has said if we knew how to do tadasana well, then the other poses would not be necessary. My practice of various asanas is definitely necessary as it helps me to come closer to the median line. The median line of the body is a concept that Iyengar yoga students are familiar with. It is the centre from which we move and balance. It is a continues on page 34 33
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