Wild Things in Kid’s Yoga

In recent classes we’ve been fanning the flames of imagination! In a “Where the Wild Things Are” themed session, we read the Maurice Sendak book and took in the illustrations, and then dramatized parts of the story.  We became the trees that grew and grew in Max’s room and the boat that he sailed.  We performed a “wild rumpus” to music and also practiced “Be still!” (freezing in our wild thing poses). The wild things rolled their eyes, showed their claws, and roared lion’s breaths. We also did some staring contests, Max’s trick to tame the wild things, gazing deeply into our friends’ eyes.

Yoga kids also use their imagination to invent poses: become a chair, a table, and then partner with a friend to be a chair and table together.

Our closing ritual grows more heart-warming each time, as the kids discuss what Namaste means, sing a special song and chant OM together: “Namaste is what we say, to the good in you and the good in me.  Say Namaste every day and the world will be in harmony.”

-Julie Epstein