I Am Who I Am – Elemental Mantras and Mandalas for Kids

I Am Who I Am – Mantras & Mandalas

Does it feel true now or is it a good reminder? 

Girl smiling while holding the I Am Who I Am affirmation deck for kids

This is what I ask my students after they pull a card from the Elemental Mantras & Mandalas set. (The card in this photo may appear larger – it’s a prototype) Time and time again I am struck by the sincere consideration students give this question before sharing their truth. This, itself, is yoga.

As was the process of birthing this project. It was pure joy working with artist extraordinaire Ruth Meagher, a Grounded Trainer, whose company Core Yoga for Youth serves children in and around Montclair, NJ.  Ruth reveals, Creating art is at my core, it brings me joy to make art and share it with others. My hope for these mandala cards is that they brighten your day, encourage you to discover who you truly are, and spark your limitless creativity.

She hand drew 55 color coded  mandalas, 11 for each of the 5 elements (Space, Earth, Water, Fire, Air) and 11 additional black and white ones for you to color. She also created the illustrated guide to drawing your own mandala. Mandala means circle. The center circle of a mandala reminds us to always stay connected to our own center. They are a symbol of our inner and outer world. They represent cosmic order and harmony found in nature and help us to create that balance within ourselves. Focusing on or coloring a mandala is a form of visual art meditation. Each gorgeous mandala reflects a virtue of a particular element. Students have loved tracing the mandalas with their finger to tune in or relax before resting pose, focusing on it during balancing poses and feeling the energy in the colors.

On the other side of the card, the virtue is written along with an I Am statement to affirm that since all 5 elements exist within our own constitution, so do these virtues. The mantra I Am holds an enormous amount of power to influence your life. A positive mantra creates positive energy, positive feelings and positive actions. Your subconscious mind does not know the difference between reality and chatter in your head; it believes what it hears. These I Am mantras operate under the law of attraction. When you repeat the mantra, it awakens that quality within yourself. These cards validate the virtues of your true nature and help you remember what you are made of so you can live your best life.

Additionally, the virtue is further defined to clarify meaning and its relevance to every day life. The kids have said these are great for building vocabulary and I couldn’t agree more. In writing these cards, I tried to use language that would make sense on different levels, depending on the life experience of the reader. So far, so good as people age 6 to 60+ have enjoyed using them.

These heart sourced, gut confirmed, double checked by intellect words are expressions of language as an art. The reader makes the interpretation and in this way, the cards become even more meaningful with each interaction. One way to use your set is to pull a card each day. By paying attention to how you are living the virtue, you’ll cultivate and balance the associated element within yourself. Use the mantra as a centering thought and inspiration for purposeful action throughout the day.

In class, students have thoughtfully matched element cards to a particular Grounded poses. They remembered a time when they embodied that quality in their own life and linked the mantra to their breath while practicing the pose. Imagine being in Camel pose, breathing in I Am and breathing out Light-Hearted – a virtue of Air.

Student creating yoga pose sequence using elemental mantra cards in class

They’ve created elemental sequences and mini flows where breath, movement and mantra kept them connected and in their own zone simultaneously. I’ve had some of the most fun and profound classes of my career using these cards! They really do serve to bring out the best in everyone.

More to Explore

  • Inner Flexibility

    BB40 big“How do you become flexible on the Inside?”

    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 _________________.”

  • How does a 4th grader live her yoga? Thoughts on “I Am What I Am”

    Kelli Love is a Certified Grounded Teacher working as a yoga specialist full time in a NYC charter school. Watch this video clip and then read on to learn how she seamlessly weaves best teaching practicies with yoga. {“video”:”https://vimeo.com/grounded/review/84695368/c9ea1579f2″,”width”:”400″,”height”:”300″}