Ocean breath for calm kids

How lovely to be sharing this with you.

The first yoga lesson of the new term for Year two and it

felt like caged animals had been released. Which was liberating for them, but slightly uncomfortable for me when I realised that everything I had planned was not what these children needed.

After all the pandemic restrictions, these children needed to move, release energy… lots of it and have fun. So that’s what we did!

People have an idea that yoga with children is very calm and quiet and it can be. It is! But before we got to quiet time, there was a lot of energy that needed to move.

What a contrast! When we reached savasana, there was absolute silence. It was amazing.

Yoga had worked it’s magic again, with some children wanting to stay there, relaxing in the peaceful space.

It always makes me chuckle when I have a plan, then the universe reminds me that’s not how it works.

Here’s a lovely breathing practise Year 2 learned, around the theme of the seaside.

Ocean Breath

Hold up your hand and spread your fingers and look softly at your hand.

With the first finger of your other hand, touch the base of the thumb.

Slowly breath in as you trace to the tip of your thumb with your finger.

Breathe out as your finger moves down between your thumb and 1 st finger.

Breathe in as your finger traces up to the tip of your first finger.

Breathe out as it moves to the dip between your 1 st and 2 nd fingers.

Continue in this way like the waves on the sea until you breathe out after tracing down your

little finger.

You can finish here or repeat as many times as you like, with eyes open or closed.