Breathing through the day keeps kids, parents grounded

Often times, those who spend their days nurturing others do well with reminders to care for themselves.  Yoga offers a path to peaceful family transitions from morning, noon, to night.  Little ones can be guided to transition smoothly, allowing newness to arrive more welcomed, rather than with resistance.  It is hard to stop doing something when you are enjoying it, especially when you are young and experiencing much in life for the first time.  Let these little transition tamers be a first step in taking care of you.  When you take good care of yourself you are better able to enjoy the process of giving.

Upon awakening look forward to a family Sun Salutation to start your day with positive vibes even if it's cloudy!

Say "Good morning sun,"  and put arms out, up, over head with palms together.

Say "I bow to you,"  and bring palms down through mid-body, through heart center, to floor, for forward fold.

Say "And rise," and prepare to walk one foot at a time or hop feet back to plank pose, stick tongue out for lizard pose.

Exhale any yucky stuff, inhale good, healthy stuff.

Say "And shine," and move tail bone back and up for down dog or Down-Diggety-Doggy Down, as we say at YogaKids!

Say, "and give thanks to you," and walk or hop feet up towards hands, arms out, up and above head, palms together, end with palms at heart.

• Dragon Breath - Place hands on belly while sitting comfortably.  Release an exhale out through your nose 3 – 6 times like a dragon snort.  No need to think about the inhale, your nose will naturally breathe in between exhales.  Return to regular breath.  You just helped clean the walls of your intestines!
• Rocking Horse – Rest on your belly.  Bend knees and one by one take a hold of ankles with hands.  Look forward, open your heart center, and move your feet toward the sky.  As you inhale and exhale you may begin to feel yourself rocking.  Your digestive organs appreciate that massage!