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.
{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!
Energy Love Energy is all around us, all the time. Imagine if you can access that energy to shift you when you need it the most with just one simple pose. Energy Circuit! That’s the way will go. To move from here and fro. With the feeling we like. That just feels right and shine…
Sedef Dion who teaches a Pre-Grounded class at Springs Yoga shared with me the story of a four year old girl who in the cutest way mistakenly called Savasana….Lasagna. This inspired me to write a Savasana visualization with a Lasagna theme that Amy and I recently used to connect with our Fernbank Elementary Yoga Club students. After we did our practice complete with the Lasagna Savasana, one of our students..the Principal’s seven year old daughter said…”that was so relaxing…this could help me fall asleep at night”. Since it was her birthday that day, we wanted to put together a recording that her parents could play for her as she lays her head down for a good night rest after a long day.
Thank you Eight year old Marlie for presenting me with this yoga book you wrote and taught to classes in your school. I appreciate your interesting chapters~ Yoga that keeps me calm Yoga that keeps me Grounded Yoga with more than two people Yoga with two people Yoga that keeps me happy and your very helpful notes~ Remember you will not get it the first time Breathe slowly Remember to lean your beautifully detailed art~ and your permission to share your work on our blog~ I am grateful that you have been a grounded student for three years and you continue to serve your school with yoga. With love, Cheryl Crawford
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
Want to be a risk taker?
{Tada drastuh svarupe vasthanam}
Sedef Dion who teaches a Pre-Grounded class at Springs Yoga shared with me the story of a four year old girl who in the cutest way mistakenly called Savasana….Lasagna. This inspired me to write a Savasana visualization with a Lasagna theme that Amy and I recently used to connect with our Fernbank Elementary Yoga Club students. After we did our practice complete with the Lasagna Savasana, one of our students..the Principal’s seven year old daughter said…”that was so relaxing…this could help me fall asleep at night”. Since it was her birthday that day, we wanted to put together a recording that her parents could play for her as she lays her head down for a good night rest after a long day.