May 2nd, 2012

Girl Power Kids Yoga

I had partially prepared for a little girl’s birthday party that I was supposed to be doing this Saturday when plans changed and the party had to be cancelled.  I had a few ideas that I didn’t want to get lost, so I thought I would share them on the blog.

To me, girl power is about steering our little girls towards strength, self-esteem, self reliance, love…all of that and more! We need to let them know that they don’t have to fall into antiquated gender roles and that any path they choose to take is OK.  They can be “girly”, they can like sports, they can want to be a veterinarian, and/or they can want to be a Mommy.  It is such a big responsibility!  Through yoga we can teach these lessons in a fun and empowering way.

This is not a full lesson plan. But here are some of my ideas.  I welcome comments/ideas from others as well…maybe together we can pull together one FABULOUS girl power birthday party!

To start with, I wanted to find a book that has a great message for little girls and that would be really fun to act out with yoga poses.  I did a google search and found this really great list of empowering books for girls.  So many to choose from, but I chose The Paper Bag Princess, an old favorite of my daughter’s and mine

        

        

The Princess Elizabeth is supposed to marry Prince Ronald when a dragon attacks the castle and carries off the prince.  Princess Elizabeth outsmarts the dragon and SAVES the PRINCE!! The ungrateful, superficial prince scoffs at her attire when she shows up to rescue him…so she changes her mind and doesn’t marry him after all.

 

POSES

Elizabeth ~ Goddess or Warrior 1

Ronald ~ Warrior 2

Dragon ~ Dragon pose (lunge with knee down)

Dragon Breath while in Dragon Pose ~ found this video on YouTube that demonstrates Dragon Breath

 

Forest of burnt trees ~ group tree pose

Cave (Dragon’s Lair) ~ Could do tunnel of down dogs or wide leg forward folds or use a parachute for the cave

Flying Dragon Pose ~ Bird/Airplane pose

Crocodile pose ~ on the belly when the dragon collapses in exhaustion

 

OTHER ACTIVITIES

~ YogaKids’ Reach for the Sun Breath paired with empowering affirmations like “I am strong” or “I am powerful.”

~ Goddess Tag ~ a version of ChildLight’s Triangle Tag, but you would freeze into Goddess pose instead of Triangle

~ I was also thinking of making our own paper bag princesses (an idea I got from this blog post )

~ I was working on a parachute game where each girl takes turns under the parachute with a cape on…a sort of yoga SuperGirl…but I haven’t worked it all out yet.  I’ll keep you posted!

 

I can’t wait to actually use this lesson plan and expand on it!  Maybe soon?!  Comments, additions, suggestions are welcome!

 

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April 11th, 2012

Earth Day Parachute Game for Kids Yoga

I wanted a very specific parachute game to play with the kids at my Earth Day yoga class this coming Saturday, so I pulled inspiration from a few different sources and came up with this.  I have not used it yet, but I thought I would share anyway.  To any other kids yoga teachers…I would love to hear from anyone who uses it to see what worked for them and what didn’t and/or how they tweaked it to fit their class.

 

Going on a Nature Hike…

Going on a nature hike to see what we can see.

Up, up, up the hill…we see lots of trees.      

(Lifting the parachute up, up, up and then coming into tree)

 

Going on a nature hike through the soggy bog.

Hop, hop, hopping high with our friend the frog. 

(Waving parachute and hopping into frog pose.)

 

Going on a nature hike to spy what we can spy.

Down, down, down the hill…we find butterflies.

(Bringing parachute down. Butterfly pose)

 

Going on a nature hike across the flowing water.

Row, row, row the boat and we will get much farther.

(Wave parachute like water. Boat pose)

 

Going on a nature hike to hear what we can hear.

Turn, turn, turn around…a singing bird is near.

(Walking around in a circle. Bird pose)

 

Going on a nature hike past a creepy cave.

Tip, tip, tippy toe so the bear in there behaves.

(Walking around the circle on tiptoes. Balancing Bear under the chute/in the cave)

 

We went on a nature hike and we need a place to rest.

Slow, slow, slowing down…on that big rock seems best.

(Walking and slowing down. Child’s pose.)

 

So far I have tested it with my daughter and she seemed to think it was OK and that’s pretty good!

 

* I do want to give a shout out to the people and books that I pulled the inspiration from…always loved reading the book We’re Going on a Bear Huntwith my daughter!  Lisa Flynn (of ChildLight Yoga), Donna Freeman (Yoga in My School), and Sydney Solis (Storytime Yoga) all guided me whether they know it or not. Thanks for sharing all of your amazing resources for bringing yoga to kids!

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January 25th, 2012

My Intention for 2012

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This post is long overdue! Almost the end of January and this is the first opportunity I have had to organize my intent for this coming year. Check out the reason for my delay.  I was working on this… www.yogawithalissia.com.  I’m super proud because I did it myself!  Now, on with it…  2012. It already has quite a reputation! Will it be as monumental as they say? Who knows? We create our own reality, right? If we intend to create catastrophe, that is what we will create. If, on the other hand, we focus on our own personal growth and service to others, we can’t help but evoke that in our fellow humans. I, for one, intend to enter this new year with an open mind and an open heart. I welcome change. Change is good!

Since I am prone to being a perfectionist and that is sort of anti-yoga. I also need to say that while I will wholeheartedly work toward each of these goals, I will also allow myself some wiggle room. After all, the only thing certain in life is change. Circumstances often sneak up on you. That being said, in 2012 I intend to…

1. Write one blog post per week. I’m already slacking on this one…it’s still what I’m aiming for.

2. Develop better communication with my daughter. Now I know what people mean when they say “7 going on 17.” Aaarrrgghh! I must figure this out before she actually is a teen or I am so in for it!

3. There are multiple workshops I dream of taking. I hope to take part in some of them this year. Yoga Therapy, Gemstone Therapy, and Shamanic trainings top the list.

4. Teach yoga regularly. The more, the better!

5. Stay present with my kids. This is something that I constantly need to remind myself. When I am spending time with my kids, multitasking is not necessarily a desirable skill. I need to find some time each day for each child. Some time where my attention is only on them and not on the dishes in the sink or the laundry that needs to be folded. If I find that space each for the one-on-one time with each kid, then the multitasking can commence. After all, where would a mom be if she didn’t multitask? Buried in a pile of laundry?

6. Manifest abundance. For me this requires changing my thought patterns. I unconsciously set limits for myself and I need to change that. The possibilities are endless!

7. Develop more friendships with like minded individuals. I want to immerse myself in the yoga community. These people are so spirited and amazing and I want to know them all!

8. Play more and laugh more…with both little people and big people. Moms need fun too!

9. Cultivate creativity. I love a creative project! I want more! Lately I am painting t-shirts and I’m loving it! (I will post pics soon.)

10. Daily yogic intention. Pull from the 8-Fold path and pick a daily focus. Ex. One day it may be ahimsa (nonviolence.) That day I will focus more intently on kind, loving thoughts and actions toward myself, my family, friends, and random strangers. Another day’s focus may be pranyama. I will try to be conscious of the breath throughout my day. You get the picture.

11. Move closer to my goal to open my own yoga center. Yes, I would love to open my own yoga center. I am not short on ideas. I have tons of those! I just need the funds to back them up.

And surprisingly enough, that is the short version! It will be interesting to re-visit this at the end of 2012 and see where I am. What do you hope to accomplish this year? Share your 2012 intentions with me…post in comments.

Namaste friends.

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November 24th, 2011

20 Things I Am Thankful For

♥ Drawn by Kira S. Higgins♥

1. My precious girls Kira and Lila…the best Christmas gifts that I have ever received.  They have taught me more about life and love than anything else ever has.

2. My husband, Mike…we have been through a lot together. Through him I have grown and learned so much.

3. My mom. She has guided me through the ups and downs that life has to offer.  She has helped me keep my mind and my eyes open, allowing me to learn that truly anything is possible.

4. My dad.  He would do anything for us. I have developed immense respect for him over the last few years. Things may have been difficult when my sister and I were little, but somehow, now, I am able to move past that.

5. My sister. So many times in our lives, we relied heavily on each other…good times and bad.  Although our relationship has its ups and downs, I’m thinking now it’s mostly ups…yay! So grateful to have her to journey through life with!

6. My sister-in-law and her family.  I am grateful that we can be there for each other.  I truly found a friend in her and my kids adore the whole family.

7. My inlaws. I am really lucky that they are my inlaws. You hear horror stories…I count my blessings.

8. Extended family. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins…I love you all. Such wonderful memories we have built over the years.

9. Ang. My best friend since high school. We always seem to be walking the same path…I am truly grateful to have an amazing lifelong friend.

10. Friends. Old and new. I am thankful to have friends near and far…and for Facebook for allowing me to keep in better touch with them.

11. Yoga. I have found my path…a home for my spirit that truly fulfills me.

12. Wholesome Food. Food that nourishes my body and sustains me.

13. Sunny Days. Nothing like a beautiful, clear sunny day!

14. The Ocean. I love being by the ocean.  I love the sounds, the smells, the calm of being near the water and watching the wildlife.  I would love to live near the ocean someday!!

15. My Home. I have a warm, dry place to call home…in a decent neighborhood where my kids can get a really good education.

16. My Dishwasher.  After 2 months of not having one, I can say that I am really, really thankful to have a dishwasher.

17. Not having to cook Thanksgiving dinner this year.  My sister-in-law volunteered and I was only too happy to oblige.

18. Books.  I love books.  I love to lose myself in a novel and I love, love, love to learn.

19. Flowers.  Another thing that truly feeds my soul. I love arranging them, looking at them, smelling them, learning about them…

20. Stones.  I love learning about minerals and gemstones. They each have different gifts to offer. There are so many that our earth generously provides for us.


 

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November 21st, 2011

Sweet Potato Custard

 

I am trying to be better about using my leftovers. Leftover sweet potato? Unfortunately, it usually doesn’t get eaten. I thought I would try to transform it a bit and see what happened. Perfect time of year for sweet potato leftover recipes,  right?  Here’s what I came up with and my daughter even asked for more!

GF/DF SWEET POTATO CUSTARD

* 1 medium to large cooked sweet potato (soft)
* 1 egg
* 1 egg yolk
* 2 tbsp Agave (or other liquid sweetener)
* 1 tsp cinnamon (you can use more if you like it cinnamon-y)
* 1 tbsp gluten free flour

1. Preheat the oven to 350 and oil a small oven-safe bowl or two personal sized oven-safe custard dishes.
2. Take the skin off of the sweet potato and discard. Mash the potato up in a medium-sized bowl.
2. Add all of the other ingredients and mix well.
3. Put mixture in your oiled bowl or custard dishes and bake at 350 for 30 to 40 minutes. You will have to adjust baking time based on whether you used one dish or two. Bake until the mixture has set…not too jiggly or soft in the middle.
4. Let cool. Enjoy.

Easy. Resourceful. Healthy. Yummy. ( If my 6 year old likes it, it must be alright.)

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October 26th, 2011

The Up Side of Down

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Topsy turvy. That’s how things have been at my house for the last month. I have been wanting to write, but haven’t been able to find the time or space. In more ways than one, things have been turned upside down and inside out on us. Don’t you just love how life does that to you sometimes. Not learning enough? Just coasting along? Aha…here you go…chew on this for awhile.

My husband lost his job, our main source of income, at the beginning of September. It was a new job and we had depleted most of our savings while he was transitioning from his previous job. I hadn’t planned on writing about this, mostly because I didn’t want it to turn into a “poor me” story. That is definitely not my intention here. I fully believe that when one door closes, another opens. I can see the hints of divine intervention woven throughout our scenario.   I may not fully understand it, but I know there is a reason for everything.

As I try not to panic and try to maintain some normalcy for the kids, I have explored some of the lessons that can be learned here.

1.  The only thing constant in life is change…roll with it. Life is full of cycles…ups and downs…ebbs and flows. As quickly as we were turned on our heads, we could be turned right around.

2.   It does no good to worry about the future. I am trying to be where I am, in this moment. The more I conjure up “what if’s” in my head, the more likely they are to happen. Stay present and stay positive….create a fun positive atmosphere for the children. My family is still healthy and together. We have food and a roof over our head.

3.  I have been extra careful to examine my thoughts when I am out and about. If I find myself starting to lament not being able to buy something, I try to turn that into gratitude for the things that I do have.

4.  I tailor my yoga practices to help me work through the feelings I am having, or better yet, to uncover ones I am avoiding.  I use the physical practice as well as meditation to help me move beyond the root chakra security issues.

5.  I have volunteered to be a homeroom mom for my daughter’s first grade class. It helps keep my mind off of other things, I get to spend time with my daughter during the school day, and I help the school. It’s win/win.  It helps to give when you are experiencing a stalled flow of energy. Giving not only helps to open energy flow, it helps maintain self worth.

6. I am attempting to maintain an attitude of detachment in the job hunt. Find job listings. Send resume and cover letter. Remain detached from the outcome. Not easy, but it helps to prevent being disappointed when things don’t turn out as you had hoped.

7. I remind myself numerous times throughout the day to maintain faith and trust that all will be well. I know there is a grand plan, I’m just not privy to what that plan is just yet.  Only time will tell.

All this is full. All that is full.  From fullness, fullness comes. When fullness is taken from fullness, fullness still remains. (Isha Upanishad)

Namaste friends!

 

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October 25th, 2011

Quartz Giveaway Winner

The winner of the Gemisphere quartz necklace is AnaLisa! Congratulations to her and thanks so much for entering!  I truly wish I had gems to give to all who entered. I hope to be able to do another giveaway like this in the future…we shall see!

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September 23rd, 2011

♥ Giveaway ♥ Therapeutic Quartz Necklace

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I am so excited for this giveaway! It is a Gemisphere 25 inch therapeutic quartz necklace. To be honest, I wouldn’t buy gemstones that I intend to use for healing purposes anywhere else. I have experienced the quality of these gemstones over and over.

Quartz is a great place to begin to work with gemstones. In fact, the foundation workshop that Gemisphere does is almost entirely working with quartz.  I have found it to be truly a multidimensional healing tool.  I use it for so many things. I quoted this description of quartz’s mission directly from Gemisphere’s website….

Quartz attracts life force from the unlimited source of life at the core of your being and brings it into the physical world. As this life force flows through you, it nourishes and balances your mind, emotions, and physical body and corrects color-ray imbalances within them. Because this stream of vital energy touches every facet of your being, all aspects of your life improve. The life energy Quartz draws through your body and into the atmosphere also provides vital spiritual nourishment for the Earth.

I don’t do giveaways of things that I do not believe in.  This form of energy healing is close to my heart so I want to make sure that the person who receives this necklace is genuinely interested in using the stones for their intended purpose.  So I am now reserving the right to unenter those entrants who I do not feel have a genuine interest.  This is my way of protecting myself from spammers and those without pure intentions. I also think I will run this contest a bit longer than I normally do to give a fair amount of time for people to find the giveaway.  That being said, here’s how to enter:

♥ Like my page on Facebook.

♥ Leave a comment below sharing what interests you about gemstone energy medicine or energy medicine in general.  You may need to click on the title of the Giveaway post to bring up the comments box.

♥ For extra entries, share this giveaway on your Facebook page or Tweet about it.  If you do share this with your friends, come back here and leave a comment letting me know that the word is out!

* The contest will run for 3 weeks, closing on Thursday, October 13th at midnight.  Good Luck!  Namaste.

 

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September 19th, 2011

Gemstone Energy Medicine

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Guess what?  I have my best giveaway yet planned for this week.  I’m so excited to share this.  Actually, I have mixed feelings.  I’m excited because I know these are really powerful healing tools and I want to share them with every one.  I am hesitant because I know many people are skeptical that anything like this can actually work.  I want to make sure that the person who wins these gemstones will actually use them for their intended, most beneficial purpose.  I am doing the giveaway later this week, so more details will follow.

First, I just wanted to share some of my personal experiences of working with these gemstones.  They are indeed very powerful healing tools.  Sometimes their energy is very subtle and not easily detected.  Sometimes their energy is strong and obvious.  It depends upon so many things…our environment, the strength of the gemstones, our intention as we use them, our belief that they can and do work…

♥  I happily share my gemstones with family and friends who wish to use them.  One of the first necklaces I owned was Carnelian. Carnelian’s mission is Revitalizing Your Being.  It helps to, “relax your mind, emotions, and physical cells so they can release their disharmony and disease.”  I brought it with me when I went to help my sister prepare for her wedding. Weddings tend to be pretty stressful.  Although this one was at the shore and beautiful, it had its share of stressful moments.  My mom was feeling the need to relax and decompress.  I asked her if she wanted to try out my Carnelian necklace just to see what, if anything, would happen. She put it on and in a very short time fell into a deep sleep in a chair in the living room in front of us all. If I remember correctly, there was some snoring involved. It quickly helped her find that place of relaxation that would lead her to feel revitalized.  I will never forget it.

♥ I went to Gemisphere’s foundation workshop a few years ago when they held it in the Poconos.  It was an amazing experience.  When you go to a workshop, you get to try on the gemstones that they bring with them.  It’s pretty awesome because you get to try on gemstones that you may not have had the opportunity to work with before.  Emerald is the memorable necklace for me.  I have read and re-read the books on gemstone energy medicine, so I knew what a powerful healing tool this necklace was.  I put it on and felt it working almost immediately.  I felt dizzy.  The flood of energy was almost overpowering.  I didn’t want to take it off and apparently, it didn’t want to come off my neck…the clasp got stuck.  Eventually, we were able to get the necklace off, but the energy of emerald is forever etched in my brain.  It is definitely on my list of gemstones to add to my gemstone pharmacy, however it is a bit out my my price range at the current time.  The memory of the experience will have to suffice for now.

♥ If you follow my blog, you know I just began teaching yoga.  Yay! I’m so happy and excited and yet, so nervous at the same time.  I have never been thoroughly comfortable speaking in front of people.  I know this is something that I need to work through to grow and be the teacher I want to be. I just get so nervous, so keyed up right before the class. Then, halfway through, when I am in my groove, I feel just fine.  Before my second class, I decided to put on my Citrine necklace to see if that would help.  “Citrine unwinds tension and increases flexibility in the cells, organs, and body as a whole, thereby encouraging your body to relax and move into greater alignment.” It worked!  I went into my second and third classes feeling much more relaxed and confident. Amazing!  I am going to wear it before every class and I will keep you posted on the results.

Those are just three of my experiences.  I have so many more.  I have been working with gemstones for about 5 years now and am continually amazed at their gifts and their power.  I am thrilled to share this!  Stay tuned for the details of the giveaway later this week….

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September 17th, 2011

I Teach ~ I Learn

Yoga Class at a Gym

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Quietly Adoring. Diligently practicing.  Patiently waiting…and it’s here!  My opportunity to teach yoga! Certified one year ago and wonderfully waylaid by the birth of my beautiful daughter.  I’m so excited and yet, so nervous.  Can I still do this? Will I be compatible with the studio?  Will the students like my teaching style?  My thoughts have gone to a place of insecurity, a place I know all too well.  Only this time, I come to this place with awareness and with new tools, yogic tools, that allow me to examine myself and these thoughts.

I guess first I should ask myself, what is the basis for the insecurity that I feel?  Mostly, I want to be a good teacher.  I want to be liked.  I want to help my students fall in love with yoga the way I have.  What if I fall short?

Oddly enough, the phrase “Do your duty dog” (in a Spanish accent, of course)  keeps running through my head.  We read a lot of Skippy Jon Jones at my house and for some reason this phrase sticks in my head as I remind myself of the lessons I have learned about selfless service, aka karma yoga.

Karma yoga is all about the attitude with which you approach your responsibilities.

  • Do it without thinking about what you will receive in return.
  • Do it in a way that will enable you to grow and reach your highest self.
  • Do it with acceptance.   Accept things as they are, with clarity, not being overcome by emotions.
  • Do it with concentration. Stay in the moment and focus on the task at hand. Remember acceptance when the mind starts to wander and just gently bring it back to present.
  • Do it well!  Practice excellence.  Do it to the very best of your ability.
  • Do it with detachment.  Do not be attached to the results.

Here-in lies my challenge.  I must teach with excellence in mind, striving to maximize my potential. At the same time, I must remain detached. Let go of the results.  Let go of  the desire to please everyone.  Let go of wanting people to like my class.  Essentially….”DO YOUR DUTY DOG!”  Teach with excellence in mind and the rest will follow.

 

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