Yoga Minded

What to Do with Old Yoga Magazines

admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 20:52:38 +0000

I’ve been looking at a stack of old yoga magazines in my house for months… no, years. While I considered the benefit of filing them in the circular bin and freeing myself of the clutter, I never followed through with getting rid of them. The truth is that I love the pictures and find some collective value in the magazines. So, my decision to hold onto them was finally redeemed this summer.

I held a week-long yoga camp for teenage girls and those magazines provided a great creative outlet. I introduced the concept of vision boards; basically, to create a poster of images that help motivate and amuse us to achieve personal goals. I presented them with questions for their inspiration piece: What healthy activities do you enjoy doing? Who can you surround yourself with that will be uplifting? What nutritional habits would you like to make? How can you serve others?

Each girl decorated her poster board with images from my old magazines. The room was always completely quiet as all seven girls thoroughly engaged in choosing and cutting out pictures. I was intrigued with their choices and amazed by their unique collages. They had something cool to take home and I was satisfied with the new life my old yoga magazines had in their creations.

How to Turn Teens On or Off Yoga-Part 2

admin — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:16:32 +0000

Still interested in learning how to give a successful intro class? Read on….

Keeping in mind the goal of turning teens “on” to yoga, I’ve put together some tips to giving a successful introductory class.

As this article is the second entry of a two-part article, the points from Part 1 are summarized:
1. Design the class sequence for them, not you.
2. Provide a pace that matches their attention.
3. Engage them with balancing poses.

Read the full article of Part 1 here.

The continuation of tips to give a successful intro class follows:

4. Teach according to their ability.
An introductory class for teens should be taught according to their ability. Ways to do that include:

Adapt classical poses with easier arm positioning. For instance, if you teach Warriror III (Virabhadrasana III), begin with an easy version such as airplane arms or arms back. Warrior I variation (Viminasana) is a better place to begin, rather than classical Warrior I (Virabhadrasana I). Similarly, Locust pose (Shalabhasana) with the variation of arms out to the sides is much more achievable.

Provide alternatives to classic poses, especially when you see the limitations of students. Bow pose (Dhanurasana) is a great pose for teens but certain teens (as with adults) cannot reach their feet and ankles from behind. Provide an alternative pose like lying on one side and holding one foot from behind.

With this tip, keep in mind that the classical poses or more difficult variations should be offered as a challenge to students, rather than as the normal, expected pose.

5. Include a variety of poses.
To get a perspective on what yoga asana really offers, include a variety of poses from different orientations (standing, balancing, upside down, sitting up, prone, supine). If the introductory class contains only standing poses, for instance, the impression is limited to the demanding work of the legs and the flexibility they require in the hips. The stiffer the student is, the less good they feel doing those types of poses. However, if the class has a couple of standing poses, a few backbends, and a twist followed by plough pose (Halasana) and Savasana, the standing poses are now in the context of a range of body positions. This will communicate a more holistic approach that integrates awareness and coordination throughout the body.

Helpful inversions for teens to work on include:

Half Handstand (Ardha Adho Mukha Vrksasana)

Tripod Headstand (Sirsana II variation) Teens love to call this Inverted Frog Stand.

Teenager in Tripod Headstand (Sirsasana II variation)

See blog about teaching this pose.

Half Shoulderstand

6. Allow time for deep relaxation. True relaxation takes time so it’s important to give an adequate amount of time to experience relaxation. It’s a gift to provide a teenager those moments of complete release in a comfortable position, without judgment or demands. Two classic relaxation poses are shown below.

Supported Child’s Pose (Adho Mukha Virasana) Without the support of a bolster or folded blankets, this pose lacks the depth of relaxation. Consider it restorative only when teens are comfortable and propped up with enough support under their chest.

Final Relaxation Pose, Savasana This is the ultimate relaxation pose, not to be skipped.

Teenager in Savasana

7. Make it fun.
An overly serious tone with teens is off-putting. Lighten up the attitude with smiles, connection, and good-natured coaching.

8. Make it relevant.
Address issues they may be facing such as stress with school or family pressures. Teach them how yoga helps them deal with difficulty in their lives.

It is a huge service to introduce teens to yoga and hopefully this article has encouraged you to consider providing one. These tips are meant to help you make meaningful connections with the teenagers in your introductory class. Please let me know if they work. Send pictures for YogaMinded gallery!

How to Turn Teens On or Off Yoga-Part 1

admin — Sun, 23 May 2010 19:44:46 +0000

Ask teenagers whether they have done yoga before, and you’ll get a mixed reply. Ask them whether they have heard of it, and the answer is often “yes”, along with their specific feedback. While these inquiries are interesting banter, it doesn’t really get at the heart of the matter. When yoga teachers ask this question, often it is a starting point to encourage teens to try yoga. This is a wonderful intention! However, I want to suggest another approach: offer a class for young people (teenagers) so they can have their own first-hand experience of the abundant benefits.

The best way to plant a seed of yoga is to provide an experience of yoga. Experiencing the benefits of yoga is the key to getting teens (and anyone) interested in doing yoga for themselves. Benefits are of little persuasion when talked about, but are convincing when experienced.

Keeping in mind the goal of turning teens “on” to yoga, I’ve put together some tips to giving a successful introductory class. Included here are a few points with more to come in a second posting.

Design the class sequence for them, not you.
The mistake many teachers make is to offer a class that works for them, a class made up of poses that they enjoy doing. Immersed in their own long-term practice, teachers may lose sight of who is in front of them: teenagers whose growing bodies are tight and awkward. At best, a student or two may be able to relate and enjoy the class. More likely, though, the majority of the class experiences difficulty, not joy, and thinks yoga is not something for them. Teenagers are quick to dismiss what they cannot do.

Provide a pace that matches their attention.
A yoga class can lose the interest of teens because it moves too slow for their attention span. An observant teacher can see when teens are not fully participating. An upbeat tempo that engages students with actions invites them to focus in a way that is fun. So, for instance, a side stretch to each side can be led with a rhythm like a clock with the sounds “tick” and “tock”. Or, asking for simple arm movements while holding a standing pose can create more interest. Recognize whether they are connecting with the movement and your instructions. The following video shows what I’m trying to describe.

You may need to upgrade your flash player

Engage them with balancing poses.
Teens cannot resist the challenge of balancing on one leg. I start with these poses when there is a lot of resistance to participating. It works like a charm every time to motivate the teen or teens who say they don’t want to do yoga. Tree Pose (Vrksasana) is the quintessential basic balancing pose to teach. And, there are so many more!
Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose (Utthita hasta pdangustasana) and King Dancer Pose (Natajarasana) are great, especially when you teach their easier variations.

It is a huge service to introduce teens to yoga. Hopefully, these tips will give you more confidence to provide a class. Please let me know if you see more meaningful connections with the teenagers in your introductory class. (Stay posted for more tips in Part II.) E-mail pictures for the YogaMinded gallery!

Every Teen Can Get a Thrill

admin — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 04:15:25 +0000

My grandfather used to stand on his head at his company’s annual Christmas party. Everyone would gather around to marvel at the accomplishment, which was impressive on several fronts: his age (he performed this stunt up until he retired at age 65), his ability (pooching belly perfectly balanced on straight-as-an-arrow legs), and his jovial manner – he would alternately smile and laugh while topsy-turvy. Later, he would tell us, with a sparkle in his eye, that standing on his head is what made him bald.

There is something primordially intriguing about going upside down. That’s how I explain to myself the very natural way children drape themselves backwards over a couch or hang their head off the edge of a bed. It’s also the reason teenagers become thoroughly engaged when I introduce them to tripod head balance.

Introduce this pose to adults and they will attempt it once or twice with little fanfare. Adults dismiss it casually and perhaps that explains why the pose is not available to them. Or, if they are successful, they typically seem unaffected and expressionless afterwards. But introduce this pose to teenagers and the game is on! They want to see if they can be the one that pulls it off. The feat of becoming airborne, knees perched onto arm ledges, balanced on the tripod of head and hands becomes an immediate goal. I have seen teenagers make repeated attempts with success sometimes delayed until the ninth or tenth try. Although their delighted expressions are transparent when they come down, I often hear about their experience first. “Look, I’m doing it!”, or “This is so cool!”

This pose is a great preparation to learn Sirsasana II, or headstand variation with tripod support of head and hands. Acquiring the skill to accomplish fully extending the legs into headstand (Sirsasana II) takes time; it requires an integration of core strength, neck and shoulder action, and coordination of the legs. However, this balancing pre-cursor to headstand is readily more achievable, making it ideal to introduce to teens to get them hooked on the challenge, satisfaction, and fun of yoga practice. It also comes with the added bonus of immediate benefits: the pituitary gland is stimulated, circulation to the brain is improved, and depression or lethargy is alleviated. Not to mention, it builds shoulder and core strength and improves balance.

Before delivering instructions of the pose, preparing the room for safety is essential. Falling out of this pose can happen by rolling out like a somersault or by arching the back and landing on the feet. Each person setting up to do the pose should be sure that no objects or people would be in that potential landing spot. It is also helpful for students to see a demonstration of the pose first. If the teacher is not able to demonstrate, then the teacher can talk an accomplished student through it so that other students can observe the methodology. Here are some basic instructions:

Do this pose on a padded surface to provide cushion for the crown of the head. Folding a yoga mat works fine; it’s only the head that needs cushion.
Kneel on the mat and place the crown of the head on the ground.
Place hands on the ground about 8-10 inches in front of the face. Hands should be shoulder-width distance apart and placed so they are directly below the elbows.
Place the right knee onto the right upper arm. If the balance holds, place the left knee onto the left upper arm.
Stay in the pose 5-10 breaths balancing. Come down and rest in Child’s Pose (Adho Mukha Virasana).

Preparation for Tripod Head Balance

Balance on One Knee, Tripod Head Balance

Tripod Head Balance (Sirsasana II prep)

When I teach teenagers, I see some common mistakes in the foundation of the pose that I try to avert by the following points:

I explain exactly where the crown of the head can be found by having the class put the palm of their hands onto their foreheads and wrapping their extended fingers onto thetop of their head. The middle finger will land at the approximate place of the crown of the head which is the point of contact for the head on the ground.

I point out that the head and hands should form an equilateral triangle, hence the “tripod of support”. You should be able to see your own hands when doing this pose. Also, the fact that the elbows are directly on top of the hands matters; with splaying elbows the knees will not have a place to perch.

For students who have trouble climbing up onto the arms, I explain how bearing weight onto the head without balancing is still beneficial! They can balance with just one knee placed on the upper arm, a challenge by itself.
Teens get hooked on yoga when they experience its’ pleasure. Be sure to engage them with the playful sensation of being upside down that Tripod Head Balance offers. Rest assured it does not cause baldness, regardless of my Grandfather’s claim.

Happy 14 year-old Katie upside down

Teaching Savasana to Suicidal Teens

admin — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:20:36 +0000

Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves.
James Barrie

I teach yoga each week to a group of suicidal teens who reside at a local youth shelter. The opportunity always leaves me with a sense of satisfaction and happiness; I feel an absolute glow afterwards. My job is to facilitate an experience for these tender youth to know that they have their very own inner reservoir of peace. I do this by teaching an hour long yoga class, inviting them to move and breathe and coordinate their bodies into healthy shapes. We end in Savasana, the quintessential yoga pose for relaxation. What joy it is to observe them have this experience:

Savasana with eyebags and heart sandbags

Six teenagers are lying at rest on their back. Savasana is the pose…. legs slightly apart, feet spilling outwards, arms spaced out from their sides with palms of their hands revealed and empty. Their faces are perfectly still, pointing skyward. Eyebags cover their eyes and offer release, a retreat from visual stimulation. Heart -shaped sand bags rest on their bellies. I observe them breathe: gentle, sublime movements come and go to their diaphragms. They are poised for surrender, and surrender they do. Their soft breaths show me they are letting go. As the minutes go by, I imagine that all their emotional disturbances and bodily agitations dissipate. Tranquility becomes almost palpable to the afternoon air. I am comforted from the sense of space and peace in this moment.

These are distraught and endangered teenagers (most have been hospitalized for attempted suicide) who come to find safe, secure respite and rehabilitate from their fragile environments. Yoga is a twice-weekly activity for these youths and is part of a comprehensive program that supports positive life changes and reunification with family. The shelter provides a highly structured routine encompassing many aspects of healthy living.

The program and staff support our yoga time together– they have the furniture cleared for yoga practice, set the mats up, and, with encouragement, require the residents to participate. Oftentimes an intern or staff member will participate with the residents in the yoga class. These facts are important because the structured context and supportive staff set up the foundation for holding a meaningful yoga class every week.

Six years ago, I began offering classes once a week in the early afternoon. So powerful were the after-effects of yoga in the teens that staff members remarked on the calm that followed into the late afternoon, evening, and bedtime. Yoga was referred to as a great anger management tool. Residents who initially resisted yoga would tell the therapists how much they liked it. The staff responded and scheduled a second class per week along with an occasional Saturday class. When their time at the shelter ends (after four to six weeks), many teens make a plan for integrating yoga into their lives.

While I teach a different sequence of poses each week, ending in Savasana is a ritual. Savasana is the all-important pose of letting go, the culmination for release that defines true relaxation. If relaxation is the antidote to stress, then Savasana is a pose everyone should do on a regular basis. These teens seem particularly attuned to its benefits and literally beg for getting into it every week. My experience is that teenagers in any environment crave its offering: a chance to rest without being judged, a reprieve from daily pressures, and an escape from self-comparison.

Sometimes I wonder why I am so touched by this time in Savasana of our weekly yoga class at the shelter. Gandhi put it this way: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” My own yoga practice connects me to immense grace and I’m always restored to gratitude and contentment. Inviting others, particularly young people with a history of self-destruction, to know such grace leaves me supremely satisfied. Perhaps they are receiving peace, tranquility is touching their souls, and their sorrows are fading. Perhaps they are receiving a burning flame of hope for life and the potential it holds.

How to Make Your Class Appeal to Teens: A Loving Presence

admin — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:10:19 +0000

It’s not what is poured into a student that counts, but what is planted.
Linda Conway

It is awe-inspiring to watch how a sequence of poses can infuse students with energy, or calm them down, or engage their full attention, or invoke a deep relaxation response. The way we teach asana (postures) is important and I love to discover what works with teenagers and share it with you. However, many teachers are encountering road blocks in making their classes appealing and wondering why their classes are not retaining students.The answer is complex but there is a fundamental principal to teaching yoga to teens worth discussing and well-timed with the approach of Valentine’s Day. Simply put, it’s love.

I believe that a genuine loving and caring attitude toward each and every student and holding an available and loving presence while teaching is the foundation for teaching yoga to teenagers. With this foundation, our classes can be infused with a depth of experience, an ease of mind, and a revelation of spirit. This intangible and yet highly-perceived quality of a teacher will be the magnet that keeps them coming back and enjoying your class. Not only that, but if you teach your teen class with a caring attitude and loving responses, you will never need to explain that yoga is “not just another exercise class”.

In my early years of teaching teenagers, I recall being very concerned with how I was going to incorporate yoga philosophy into class. After doing an asana-packed class, we sat down together while I explained some things about yoga principles on living (the yamas and niyamas). When I asked if there were any comments or questions, one middle-school boy raised his hand determinedly and waited for me to call on him. When I did, he blurted out that it was his birthday! He could hardly contain his excitement.

In my thinking, I did a backward somersault as I absorbed his exclamation. “Why, how wonderful,” I said. “How old are you today? Thirteen! I’m so glad you told us. Let’s sing the birthday song for you.” That moment was profound for me because it alerted me to my student’s basic need: to be recognized and heard.

It also led me to prioritize the here and now with my students. For instance, what are they dealing with today? Exam week, a coming vacation, lack of sleep? Checking in with their day has become more important as I see that I can steer the class based on their needs and more importantly, simply hear from them and get to know them. It’s simple to do: just ask questions to the group or individually before class officially starts.

There’s a wonderful way about teenagers that prompts you to deal with what’s on their mind. Usually it comes in the form of a statement or question from someone in the group. Once, while teaching a group of 50 new-to-yoga teenagers in a high school P.E. class, I was interrupted by one student asking me to clarify my instructions. “You want us to put our foot where and how? What do you mean?” I then articulated my instructions in a more straightforward manner. I now think back on that student, Bless her for pointing out the fact that I was losing their attention and interest.

We can treat their prompts as ways to be more present and loving with them. Instead of reacting quickly to random student comments, search for the grounds of relating to them with the most loving response. Ask yourself: Have I made myself clear? Am I providing loving attention to the students?

Just recently, I was teaching yoga to six teenage girls and they were so curious about my current pregnancy. At six months pregnant, I have some obvious physical changes and they wanted to voice their own concerns on the matter. One young lady expressed how scared she was of that happening in her body, while another’s mother was expecting next month, making her an older sister for the first time. It provided us some time to talk about what was happening in the here and now which teenagers love to do. As the class went on, I referenced their body, “Place your hands on your lower belly, where the baby would be if you were pregnant,” tying things back to our earlier conversation. These seemingly minor conversations can create that bridge of compassion and relationship that is essential to good teaching.

There are lots of ways to convey a loving presence while teaching. It will come out naturally for you once you have set a purposeful intention to be loving and kind (best done before class begins.) During class, be aware of what you acknowledge and how you respond to each of your precious students. In addition, cultivate love, compassion, and patience within yourself. Teenagers are an extremely perceptive group that can and will pick up on your vibes!

Fun Partner Yoga for Teens

admin — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:00:39 +0000

I discovered this partnering exercise spontaneously while teaching teenagers. When I witnessed their giggles, smiles, and triumphant looks of accomplishment each time they successfully completed the pose, I knew they absolutely loved it. I call it the “Rock n Roll to Squat” and hope other teen classes can have as much fun as we did.

Typically, a “Rock ‘n Roll” in yoga class refers to sitting on the floor and rocking backwards and forwards with a rounded spine. The tailbone is tucked and the chin is held down to the chest so that rocking is smooth on the spine. Often, we teach with a blanket covering the length of the sticky mat to pad the floor with more cushion.

The idea with Rock ‘n Roll to Squat is to rock backwards from a tucked position and then rock forward up into a squat (malasana). This exercise is fairly challenging to do by oneself and undoubtedly more fun with a partner assisting the action.
The assisting partner (“assister”) sits on the floor about two feet away from the doing partner (“doer”). A relaxed cobbler’s pose (baddha konasana) works well for the assister or also simple crossed legs (sukhasana). The doer also begins by sitting on the floor, knees bent, feet flat on the floor, at least one foot apart. When the doer is ready, the doer rocks back in a tucked position and rocks forward while reaching their arms out for the assister to catch. The doer reaches their arms between the knees; in other words, the knees are apart and the arms reach straight out with the knees positioned outside of the arms. The assister also reaches their arms to catch the doer‘s arms. (Picture trapeze artists grabbing each others’ forearms.) As the doer rocks forward, the two of them lock forearms and the doer rocks onto flat feet into a squat.

The doer brings their spine forward as they sit deeper into the squat while the assister provides the necessary counter force by leaning into their own weight backwards. Once the doer is in the squat with the assister providing counterbalance, it is best to stay in this position 15-30 seconds to absorb the benefits. Repeat at least three times before changing partners. Not only is it fun for teens to do this a few times in a row, but their bodies adapt and they improve quickly. With our group, many of the doers could do it on their own after they had done it with partners several times because they developed the kinesthetic requirements (in such a short time!)

Have students attempt this pose on their own before introducing the partnering. Most teenagers are excited by the challenge and are motivated to accomplish it with a partner.

Boy, did my students want to get it! Mastering the momentum backwards and forwards and landing in a squat looks, and in fact is, very satisfying. They were tantalized and puzzled as to what was preventing them from completing it on their own. I could see that with an assist, it would be possible for each of them to be successful.

The Rock ‘n Roll to Squat is now in my permanent tool box for working with teenagers. Of course, it is also a really good time with adults! If you try the Rock ‘n Roll to Squat with your class, I’m willing to bet it will be a part of your tool box too.

Keep the Interest of 13-Year-Old Girls

admin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:59:37 +0000

I have been teaching yoga to a soccer team of 13-year-old girls every other week for one hour. The coach’s goal is to build their core strength, prevent injury, and introduce healthy lifestyle to his budding athletes. The girls have been great fun as we explore poses of yoga and their effects together.

I want to pass on one simple teaching technique that builds a strong class bond, gets the students 100% engaged, and ensures that each student’s yoga experience will have lasting effect. Invite individual students to lead the class on their own.

Here’s how I orchestrated it in my class. After asking them what poses they have been practicing, I learned that a few of them were practicing poses they had learned. That was a good sign that they were interested in yoga. I then taught Sun Salutation with the premise that they could learn ten poses all at once if they learned Sun Salutation. The sequence I taught along with the easy names I called each pose was:

Mountain Pose

Mountain Pose with Upward Arms

Chair Pose

Standing Forward Bend

Lunge

Warrior I

Downward Dog

Plank Pose

Low Plank Pose

Upward Dog

Lunge

Warrior I

Standing Forward Bend

Chair Pose

Mountain Pose with Upward Arms

Mountain Pose

We did it three times and then I asked if they could remember the sequence for themselves. A few of them nodded emphatically (while giggling, of course). That’s when it occurred to me to invite one of them to lead.

I had one girl who agreed to lead, after my encouragement, take the position at the front of the room where she called out the poses for everyone. They did a Sun Salute round together while I observed, filled in the blanks, and commented on their success. We had three different girls lead which means the class did three additional rounds of Sun Salutations, twice the amount we would have accomplished if it were me leading!

The best part is that they now can practice these 10 poses at home and on their own. They piped in and said that they could even practice it before their soccer games as a warm-up. “Brilliant!”, I commended.

At the end of class, I emphasized how they should congratulate themselves for dedicating this time to yoga and for learning a skill that can help them as they grow up. The coach supported this and followed up with how important it is to take care of yourself as an athlete.

Whenever we can put our students in the spotlight and have them enjoy leadership and friendship with their peers, we do them a service where real learning can occur.

30 Minutes to Teach- How to Make it Effective

admin — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:31:04 +0000

This season, I am teaching yoga to a high school girls cross country track team. The coach has hired me to come in twice a week for 4 months. When I first received the request to teach, I accepted without hesitation. Teaching teenagers is fun and rewarding for me. What I’ve gained teaching in this unique environment is greater adaptability in my teaching.

The relevant context:

Yoga is secondary to the students’ interest (cross country track)

There is no designated room to have the class nor are there any props (no mats!)

The girls finish their running at different times… some may come in 5-10 minutes late

Often times, girls say they need to leave 5-10 minutes early

The number of girls has varied from 15 – 35 partly due to the summer/fall transition

While these factors may not be ideal for teaching, I’ve managed to adapt to what this situation is and actually enjoy it very much. The fact that I’m an aficionado of yoga for teenagers probably helps!

Here’s what I’ve learned worthy of passing on to other teen yoga teachers:

Be adaptable to the environment– When we practice in a hot stuffy room, I realize it has a lovely cushioned floor so we do prone backbends and log rolls to keep it fun. When we practice on the track, I have the girls switch positions with me so they are not facing the blazing sun. One day, I notice a long narrow hallway that’s available to so we have class using the wall for standing poses, half-handstand, and seated poses.

Ask questions-- I’m not their designated leader and I don’t know what’s going on with their track experience. I inquire how things are going and what they like and don’t like about yoga. I plan on attending their meet next week but I wouldn’t have known about it unless I had asked.

Stick to timing-- I make it a point to get them out of the class on time. This seems to allay their anticipation about when their rides are coming. If I don’t have a watch, I borrow one and tell them that I promise to finish promptly and do. In this way, I build trust so they can commit to the yoga time.

Be creative with props– Part of the joy in yoga is experiencing the release and opening of the poses. Props make otherwise inaccessible poses accessible. Using a wall is great, but with 25-30 girls I rarely have that chance (except the hallway I mentioned). I bring men’s ties with me that were $.20/each at a rummage sale at my church. Among other poses, the ties make Supta Padangustasana (Reclined Leg Stretch) a favorite.

Learn names– I’m doing my best to learn names and even knowing some of the class helps me feel more connected to do my job. When they have a question or I have something to tell them individually, I always ask their name. Also, I requested the roster from the coach.

Create class structure– Even with 30 minutes, there is time for an introductory opening and a final relaxation closing. I offer a bit of yoga philosophy and create a sequence of poses mixed with ones they know and introduce something new, too.

Respect their space– These girls have track 5X a week together and yoga is only a portion of their practice 2X. I respect the fact that running is their primary goal and that yoga can enhance that experience. I’m there to plant a seed of what yoga is about and to help them stretch their legs and hips.

A Word About the Poses-- Having only 30-40 minutes means it is necessary to boil down to basic poses. I omit working with partners or much demonstration because it takes too much time. I have them engaged in doing poses the whole time. If we talk and laugh, we are in a pose. I do, however, always include final relaxation of at least 3-4 minutes.

Yoga Pose Tidbit– One pose that they were just dying about… they were both bewildered and intrigued and giggly…. was Half Happy Baby. It took me back to the moment that you discover a pose for the first time. It truly can me an experience of marvel. I just took in their reaction and allowed them to giggle through it.

A Handy Teaching Aid

admin — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 03:18:39 +0000

Sharon attended the YogaMinded Yoga 4 Teens training, August 2009. When we began sharing and exploring yoga philosophy for teens, she brought out her index cards which were hole-punched and bound together by key rings. While incorporating philosophy and good inquiries in class is essential, it is often difficult to stay on track without notes. Notes are usually cumbersome, but Sharon had addressed that. We were all amazed at the handiness of her idea and motivated to do the same for ourselves. Thanks, Sharon!

Sharon Spiers

Sharon displays her index cards, which are hole-punched with a metal key ring

Sharon Spiers is the yoga teacher at San Juan Hills High School in San Juan Capistrano, CA.