I am in awe at how my tween girls really embrace the 'mind' part of yoga. They beg to spend time journaling and working with affirmations.
Letting Go and Setting Intentions Begin class with a discussion of what it means to “Let It Go”. The children will have some intriguing examples. Make sure they understand the we can let go on material, physical, mental and emotional things. Once the students understand the idea, they will journal a list of things that they would like to “Let Go”. Journal - letting go • make a list of all of the things that you do not serve your greatest good • breathing in positive energy and breath out while letting go as you read each one to yourself • let them have as much time as needed (I let my students draw/write about other things in their journal if they were done with their list before others). • once everyone has completed their list, guide them through a brief meditation to help them release what is on their list: “Take a deep breath in, raising your shoulders to your ears. Drop your shoulders down as you slowly breathe out. Let’s repeat this a few times...breathe in, shoulders up...breathe out shoulders down. Now, imagine you are walking along the beach, the waves crashing lightly and rolling in and out. The sky is bright blue with fluffy clouds floating above. Stop for a moment and sit on the warm sand, watching the clouds as they float by. You notice that a big, fluffy cloud is floating closer and closer to you. It gets close enough that you can touch it. Now, place each of the things on your list upon that cloud. You may open your eyes to read through the list if needed and close your eyes again once you are sure you have everything on the cloud. Once you have placed a cloud and place the things you don’t want on the cloud give the cloud a big push...watch as it begins to float away, with all of the things you “let go” of...say goodbye...watch as the cloud gets farther and farther away...it’s getting smaller and smaller until you can barely see it. Now stand up and continue your walk. Watch the waves and listen to the birds. Turn back to where you last saw the cloud and notice that it is no longer there. It is gone...taking with it all the things that you not longer want. Again, take a deep breath in, raising your shoulders to your ears. Drop your shoulders down as you slowly breathe out. Let’s repeat this a few times...breathe in, shoulders up...breathe out shoulders down....slowly open your eyes.” Now have the students tear their lists it into tiny pieces...focusing on the feeling that with each tear, they are getting rid of what no longer serves their greatest good. Dispose of pieces once everyone is done (I bagged theirs up and promised to add theirs to the bonfire I was going to use to do the same activity with my friends later that week)...recycling is a good option. ***if time permits do a gentle flow...a few relaxing asanas** Journal - intentions • discuss what an intention is and what manifestation means...how we are energy and that we control what happens or comes into our life by focusing that energy on what we really want instead of what doesn’t serve us well. • write about what you want to see in your life beginning with “I intend...” • make statements in the present tense • guide them through a brief visualization: “Imagine you are walking through the woods...there are large pine trees all around and warm breeze. You hear a bubbly stream nearby and walk toward it. As you approach, you notice a raft floating toward you, on the raft is all of the things you want to manifest...breath in as you read and visualize taking each thing on your list off the raft. Each thing is now yours...you...a positive part of your life.” • have them share out loud if they want to • end with saying this aloud together: “With gratitude I intend these things for the greatest good of all! I align with the greatest good! So be it and so it is!” |