Thank you Little Shop of Stories, Bud, Not Buddy, Grounded Step 3 Teachers, Renfroe Middle and the City of Decatur for the connection of yoga, literature art and music. And family. And friends. And love.
And thank you, Carrie Beauchamp, for capturing this magical day.
In L Out L Yoga with the L Listen, Look, Love In L In In L Out L Yoga with the L Lame, Limited, Lazy Out L Out In L Out L Yoga with the L Laughter, Luminous, Liberty In L In In L Out L Yoga with the L Lousy, Labeled, Low…
Nobody’s perfect. That’s what they all say. But when you’re a teenager, that saying never crosses your mind, especially with girls. We are always comparing ourselves to everyone around us, finding their flaws and comparing them with our own. I had that problem. Every time I looked in the mirror, I didn’t see anything but…
As I was preparing for my Pre-Grounded classes this week, I knew I wanted to introduce these 4 year olds to something new and exciting. For the last couple of years, I’ve been participating in gong meditations and enjoying them very much. That wasn’t always so. My first gong meditation was not a pleasant…
At the local Barnes & Noble families joined together for storytime and yoga to celebrate Dr. Suess’s birthday and Read Across America Day. I was inspired by Dr. Suess’s “The Cat In The Hat” and Co-Founder, Cheryl Crawford’s Grounded Blog Post, “Suess Sutra 1-1: Big Picture Play of Conciousness”. We tuned into our highest Self…
That is the question that I was asked by 4th grade student Isabelle at Yoga Club last week. We were working on acknowledging what we could use more of: strength, balance, or flexibility. After meditating to find what we had the least of, Isabelle raised her hand and asked this question. I stumbled for words, trying to be eloquent and honest on the spot. I spoke of the importance of strength and balance in finding inner flexibility… but honestly this answer felt like it came up short. I found myself reflecting on this question for the rest of the day (the class was over at 3:30pm). I consulted some dear friends and got many good suggestions such as taking a walk, for no other reason than to walk.
But here is what I came up with, that resonates as the voice of my own truth.
Being flexible on the inside is a lifelong process. There is a big difference between being loosey goosey with no boundaries, and being open to change and to testing new waters. These two polarities give us a framework for the spectrum of possibility. At the beginning, at the core, and at the point of willingness, is a strong inner truth. This truth is clear, it reminds me who I am, what is most important to me. For some this is a relationship with family or friends. For others their connection to their higher power is the most precious thing in their lives. Maybe for you it’s a sport, or a mission, or catfishing. I check in, sometimes daily, sometimes hourly, with my Truth. Each time I face a new challenge I ask myself “Does this bring me closer or farther away from _________________.”
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Grounded Kids Yoga provides in-person and online training, professional development workshops, and ongoing support for educators, parents, and clinicians. We specialize in kids yoga, mindfulness, social-emotional learning (SEL), trauma and pain management, emotional regulation, and impulse control for preschool through high school students. Each year, we serve thousands of children and teens through school programs, after-school enrichment yoga clubs, summer camps, Girl Scouts, 4-H conferences, and yoga studios across Atlanta, the Southeast, and nationwide.
