How yoga helps make 11 year old certified grounded Clare feel like a better person
How Yoga Makes Me Feel Like a Better Person
Yoga makes me feel like I’m fearless, more important to this world than I thought I was. It teaches me to be proud and positive, to respect others and understand what they may be going through. It tells me to do what I need to do instead of holding it in~such as crying.
Because of yoga, I know now not to let people judge me, to listen when someone is speaking to me. Instead of hiding in my own world I should shine but with confidence.
I don’t know what my life would be like if I haven’t done yoga, but I know I have become respectful, thankful, loving, friendly, and fearless.
My name is Clare. I am in the 5th grade. I work hard in school thinking about my future. I have a learning disorder that makes it hard for me to learn fast, but I only study harder because I’m not going to let a little devil saying, ” I can’t do it.” hold me back.
Next year for middle school I’m going to Druid Hills. My best subject is math. I’m interested in animals and nature. I want the earth creatures to be respected.
My favorite color is red. Some people say that red shouldn’t be my favorite color because it means stop, but I think of it as stop disrepect.
My name is Clare. I am 11 years old, and I do yoga.
Editor/Teacher note: Clare has been in yoga club since she was 5 and has had all these heart virtues all along. She just didn’t see it. Her perseverance, her loving family, and her open-hearted school environment, and of course her mindful breathing have helped clear the dust covering up the real Clare.
More will be revealed, I’m sure.
I feel so lucky to have witnessed her transformation and am delighted she wanted to share her journey with you.
Three years ago…a five year old Grounded Kid said her favorite pose was “Flat Like a Pancake” it was actually not an official pose, but rather a transition from Gratitude and Snake. To honor the wisdom and innocence of this child, we decided to make “Flat Like a Pancake” a pose that’s part of the Grounded Elevator Series. Read on to see how to griddle some pancakes the Grounded way.
Yesterday, I was with my friend Autumn, and she wanted to go to Taco Bell, which is her favorite restaurant. The only way my mom was willing to take us is if we went to a place called “Kale Me Crazy”. Basically, we were bribed. I’m not a huge kale person, so I never even though about going there.
A couple months ago, my mom had gone in there and gave the owner her recipe for almond milk. He turned it into a smoothie, naming it Grounded after my mom’s company. Of course, my mom ordered that one for us. It resembled the concoctions that my mom normally would make. It was a brown, grainy, mixture that literally looked like it came from the ground. I guess it lived up to its name.
Unenthusiastically, Autumn and I tried it. And we were surprised. It tasted like a healthy version of a chocolate milkshake. We couldn’t stop drinking it. Being the nice person that I am, I let Autumn have it so I could “enjoy” my kale smoothie, which was really disappointing compared to Grounded. I guess you never know what to expect.
To try this smoothie, I would recommend going to Kale Me Crazy or, you can even make the smoothie at home by blending these ingredients.
Recipe:
Handful of raw almonds (soaked) 3 tablespoons of raw cacao 1 banana 1 tablespoon of hemp seeds 1 teaspoon of hemp protein Handful of raw Brazil nuts (soaked) 3 dates 11/2 teaspoon of cinnamon 2 tablespoons of raw honey 2 scoops of ice 2 cups of water
1. HAVING A SECURE FEELING OF BEING IN TOUCH WITH REALITY AND YOUR PERSONAL FEELINGS.
2. A FIRM FOUNDATION TO BE INSPIRED AND INSPIRE OTHERS.
Two weeks ago my Grounded class wrote letters of congratulations to Emily, who had just earned her White Bandana. She’s nine years old and lives in Atlanta. The kids in my class were amazed that at just nine she had achieved this. They were inspired. The letters they wrote were thoughtful, complementary and from the heart.
{Tada drastuh svarupe vasthanam} Patanjali’s Sutra Chapter 1, verse 3 Then the SEER abides in it own NATURE Surely, it’s meant to BE~
To ABIDE in our own SPLENDOR~ The mind must get real quiet; it needs to uncover the truth and go on a Cloud free Diet.
No need to grasp for light For it is already here and there. Let’s thin out the distorted clouds Of ignorance and despair.
Let’s work with the muddled mind, Accept that clouds are blocking, Train to be more observant Of thoughts that keep on talking.
Just like the sun up above Our LIGHT never dims to slur. It does get covered up. And distortion may occur.
Dwarfs mine for diamonds In the classic tale SNOW WHITE. We mine for JOY It’s our undivided RIGHT.
SNOW WHITE sings joyfully, As she tidies up the cottage. Birds and animals dance along And MiIRROR her BLISSFUL wattage.
SNOW WHITE glistens KINDNESS, and undisturbed PURENESS, That exists at the core of her being Her true SELF, that’s for sureness.
In yoga, we use our practice To support the removal of clouds~ To ground into our inner brilliance And shine out free from the shrouds.
“Just whistle while you work And cheerfully together we can tidy up the place So hum a merry tune It won’t take long when there’s a song to help you set the pace “
Keep your ankles in line with your knees And your knees in line with your hips. Clasp your elbows behind your back And rise up high on your toe-tips. Bend steady your knees. Stay high up on tiptoes. Whistle or hum a tune While you work to hold this pose!
“And as you sweep the room Imagine that the broom is someone that you love And soon you’ll find you’re dancing to the tune
When hearts are high the time will fly So whistle while you work”
Clean the sand trap of cluttered thoughts With camel pose in a chair. Sit on the edge of your seat Place your hands behind you with care. Lift the sides of your heart up And the back of your heart high. Pull your head of the arm bones back. Soften both sides of your throat and sigh.
Sigh your throat back, And LIFT YOUR HEART HIGH. WHISTLE WHILE YOU WORK And allow time to fly.
Place hands on your lap Lift your head back over your heart Ground your thighs and feet, And Feel the clouds depart.
May we whistle while we work. May we notice our inner states. May our inner states be bright. And lighten our outer updates.
May the sound that whistles tunes from within our deep heart’s abyss Ring loud and ring clear~ OUR OWN TRUE NATURE IS BLISS!
Ever feel like a scaredy cat trying to hang out with the big dogs? Do you tend to talk too much or feel a hairball is stuck in your throat when you are around certain people or situations? Then take the lead from what cats really do when the presence of fear urges them to…
Grounded Kids Yoga 115 Milton Park Court, Alpharetta, GA 30022
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.
How Yoga Makes Me Feel Like a Better Person
1. HAVING A SECURE FEELING OF BEING IN TOUCH WITH REALITY AND YOUR PERSONAL FEELINGS.
{Tada drastuh svarupe vasthanam}
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