Press PLAY to listen to this post.
October 10 is World Mental Health Day. The overall objective is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts to support it. Here are some facts:
- According to World Health Organization (WHO), one in eight people around the globe live with mental health conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a 25% increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide.
- Young people are particularly affected by mental health issues. The WHO says almost one in seven adolescents aged 10 to 19 live with some form of mental health condition. Suicide is the fifth most prevalent cause of death in this age group - 45,800 die each year, one every 11 minutes.
- Almost one in five 15-24-year-olds in a global survey for the WHO reported that they often felt depressed and had little interest in doing things. According to the UK Mental Health Foundation, half of mental health conditions are established by age 14 and 75% by age 24.
What we do at It’s Yoga Kids matters more than ever. Give your child what they need most to feel healthier and happier so they can be their best. We teach skills children do NOT learn anywhere else. Our fun and scientific system supports every age with the High 5 Habits built into every class, training and certification for anyone who lives or works with children. You are the adult who can make a difference. We are the organization that can help you.
Press PLAY to listen to this post.
With shorter days and crispy air, it’s Fall. All month long, we’ll have some Halloween fun! Here’s how we transform our yoga classes for kids into spooky fun at every age.
Come in costume! Be sure to select a costume you can move in. Minimize accessories and avoid pokey objects. Visibility is also important for safety. Close fitting clothing is best for yoga. I’m often a black cat for Halloween. MEOW!!!
Co-create some new moves with me. Instead of downward dog, let’s be a werewolf and howl at the moon. You’ll also learn spooky lantern pose, pumpkin pose, leaf breath and vampire pose.
Play our original Halloween yoga game called Witches, Ghosts and Zombies, Oh My! Fill your basket with your favorite treats and watch out for the troll under the bridge! We can’t wait to see you at It’s Yoga Kids®.
Our special HighVibe Halloween Family Yoga Event with yoga and a craft benefits our local community partner, Mo Magic. Join us on Sunday, October 30, at 10:30am.
Press PLAY to listen to this post.
First, what is it? The term “equi-nox,” or equal night represents one of two days each year when the hours of the night equal the hours of the day. Everywhere in the world, the Fall Equinox is on September 22nd.
It marks the change of seasons. In the Northern Hemisphere, it’s the beginning of autumn — a time of harvest and transition. The days will grow darker from now until March. The leaves will turn red, orange and gold and fall to the earth. The air will feel crisp, and crops will have to last until the next growing season.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the opposite is true. At this point in the year, life has rooted to the earth, marking the beginning of spring. A symbol of rebirth, the soil thaws, seedlings surge, and blossoms open.
Wherever you are in the world, the Equinox enters in a new season. Here are a few rituals that to help you align with the seasonal shift.
1. Be in nature. Take a moment to enjoy your personal harvest. Take note of whatever you’ve been gathering or bringing to fruition this year. Celebrate your progress and how far you’ve come.
2. Restore balance in your home. Clear closets and spaces. Give away or sell anything that is no longer needed.
3. With equal hours of light and dark, this Equinox brings an opportunity to recalibrate inside and out. Meditate, or do yoga to restore balance.
If you need some ideas, we have an abundance at It’s Yoga Kids® starting with the Fall Equinox Family Yoga Event on Sunday, September 25.
Press PLAY to listen to this post.
I’ve thrown over 200 kids yoga birthday parties over 17 years and I’ve learned a few things along the way. Here’s how to make your child’s birthday a unique and fulfilling event for everyone!
It can be FANCY!
For some, there is a lot of interest to present an event in a certain way. When we opened the studio, a yoga party was a super unique and a cool differentiator from other kids’ parties. We had special themes, party planners, catering, and some very fancy party favors. The kids had a great time and parents did too!
It can be simple.
For others, keeping it simple is where it’s at. I’ve hosted yoga parties at the park, or on the driveway, where kids are pinning the tail on the donkey or swinging at a piñata. And that was equally fun! Celebrating a birthday at home or outdoors can be easier and festive.
It’s all about the energy!
In either set up, or something in between, kids are excited (and often overwhelmed) and parents can be stressed. The key to a successful event is relaxed parents and burning through the excitement of celebrating - methodically. That’s what I figured out. There is an arc of energy and I know how to take that rainbow ride from one side to the other. Families leave with calm or completely exhausted kids at our customized events. The best compliment is - kids had a blast and it was easy for parents to host. YAY!
P.S. It’s my birthday on September 13 and I celebrated with my own yoga party including friends, champagne and chocolate. YUM!