Introducing Charlotte, Certified Grounded Kid…and her yoga perspective

I introduce to you, Charlotte, Certified Grounded Kid. This is her fifth year in the Fernbank Elementary after-school yoga club and is one of my greatest teachers.

Yoga

Charlotte 1 My name is Charlotte Walker. I have been taking yoga since I was 5.

It’s always been fun but I didn’t realize how important it is to me, until this year.

Most girls around the age of 9 start to notice things getting complicated especially in friendship. 

Even if it’s not happening specifically to you, you still see other girls getting teased or left out for the strangest reason. 

But yoga is a place where people can be theirselves not worrying about what others think.

It’s also where you can simply relax and think of the positives.

Overall to me yoga is a place where I can go, even after a rough day, to just breathe.

 

Charlottes Bio:

Charlotte portraitCharlotte Walker is your average fourth grade girl. After school she does gymnastics, reading bowl, and of course yoga. Charlotte lives in Atlanta Georgia with her parents, her brother, her sister, her dogs, and her rabbits.

{editor note: Charlotte wrote this. We do not find her ‘average’ at all but admire her humility. 🙂 }

 

More to Explore

  • Dr. Suetra presents: Yoga Sutra of Patanjali 1.2 yogah citta vritti nirodhah

    Dr-Seutra 001

    Yoga is the stilling

    of the changing states of mind~

    The act and policy of

    No chitta* left behind.

     

    Yoga is the re-channeling

    of habits of the mind~

    Capacity for Contentment grows

    And Vrittis* get declined.

     

    Yoga is the resolution of

    the agitations of the mind.

    A uniting of consciousness in the

    heart of all mankind.

    Yoga is the settling of the

    mind into silence.

     

    Nirodha* the misconceptions,

     

    And ignorant defiance.

     

    Yoga is the deepness

    In the lake of tranquility~

    Out of the surface ripples~

    And into heart’s reality.

     

    Yoga is a gentle

    Process of release~

    A settling into the

    Natural state of peace.

     


    Each inhale think calm~

    Each exhale think peace.

    Favor these words~

    Your distractions will decrease~

  • Sweeping Breath- Dr. Seuss Style (Siva Sutra 1.2 jnānam bandhaḥ)

    sweep-the-spineBondage and ignorance and limitation!
    Oh my!
    We contract like a sneeze~
    You want to know why?
    These are the roots of our issues,
    You see~
    Unworthiness, insecurity, feeling un-free.

    These deep darkened roots,
    known as Anava Mala,
    cloak our awareness
    like pollen all upon ‘ya.

    This pollen of unworthiness
    Helps us forget~
    How miraculous we are~
    We recoil ~we regret.

    We regret and we doubt.
    We feel separate and small.
    Our pimples and frizzes
    Keep us enthralled.

    How, do we, how do we
    How DO we re-remember?
    Our goodness, our freedom
    From here to September?

    Good question, my dear!
    So at your request~
    I’ll teach you the tools
    To elevate your quest!

    Your breath is the broom
    that sweeps away pollen,
    Shines light on the ignorance
    Which is hidden and smallen.

    Sit tall, close your eyes,
    Tune into your spine.
    Inhale your breath
    Down the left side line

    Sweep your breath out~
    On the same side,
    From bottom to top~
    Deep inside.

    Sweep your breath in,
    Down the right side this time.
    Get real close and real low~
    To release dust and grime.

    Sweep your breath out~
    From bottom to top.
    Keep sweeping your spine~
    No reason to stop!

    No reason to stop~
    Till you feel lighter and free!
    Relieved of unworthy
    Pollen and debris.

    The pollen of ignorance~
    And debris of limitation~
    Can be swept to the surface
    For expansive illumination.

    Each time we remember,
    We grow and expand~
    We become more real!
    And that is quite grand!.

  • Principal’s Office

    principal_doorWant to be a risk taker?

    Feel more alive?

    Go one foot past scary?

    and deep into the dive?

    We have a suggestion;

    a type of advice.

    Report to the principal’s office

    not once….but twice!

    Once as invited,

    the other time sent.

    Once in your school years,

    with our consent.

    It may seem unusual

    coming from us.

    Report to the office

    Nevertheless.

  • How to Bliss Bomb the World

    PIC-2So you finish your practice~
    You feel loving and calm.
    There is nothing you dismiss~
    You are full of BLISS bombs.

    You rejoin your family~’
    And what do you hear?
    Shouts of anxieties~
    Blames, Shames, doubts and fears!

    Does loving-kindness deflate
    As you join the contention?
    Or will your blissed state
    Transmit without tension?

    Each time you experience
    The delight of {I AM}
    Your bliss will flow forth~
    Like a hydraulic ram.

    Embody the KNOWING~
    Of your inner LOVE state.
    So you can keep it safe~
    And INTERRELATE.

    YOGA says your relationship
    between you and your SELF~
    can not be diminished,
    or put upon a shelf.

    You take your SELF
    everywhere you GO!
    Then everything is spiritual
    from Grumps to Sloppy Joes!

    Lokanandah Samadhi-Sukham
    Shiva Sutra One.Eighteen~
    PIC-1Your inner bliss continues
    Like you won the slot machines.

    So how do we GROW
    In our capacity for such LOVE?
    Without mermaids and unicorns~
    Blue moons and white doves?

    We create an INNER space
    Direct love toward KNOWERSHIP~
    Call forth our virtues,
    Our patience, our grit.

    We bridge the gap of difference
    SERVE in a profound way~
    Not cold duty or bargain~
    LOVE is the order of each day.

    Become capable with powers
    Of WILL, KNOWING, and ACTING
    By practicing {I AM}
    Without useless distracting.

    Place your hand over your HEART~
    Feel right beneath your palm~
    Towards your back body~
    Where this is endless peace and calm.

    Allow your attention
    To be with your BREATH~
    To flow in and flow out
    Softly in your chest.

    Welcome the BREATH~
    Right into your HEART.
    Feel a soft golden sun
    That is bright, warm and smart.

    With each breath IN~
    make that SUN glow.
    With Each breath OUT~
    Expand the warmth to and fro.

    As you welcome the breath in
    To the vast INNER world~
    Invite the HEART to reveal
    It’s largeness, depth, and swirl.

    Flow in with the thought {I AM}
    The mantra of the inner self~
    (Not I am Sam~
    Or I am a silly elf)

    The heart receives the breath
    With the recognition {I AM}
    The exhalation feels space,
    The experience of BLISS BAM.

    Practice with eyes open
    Practice with eyes closed
    Practice often
    And LOVE will be exposed.

    As you greet those outside~
    Amongst the chaotic and mundane~
    Stay tuned into your heart
    And send LOVE to their pain.

    You’ll get glimpses of KNOWING
    Your yoga is working~
    When outer frustrations
    Are shirking, not lurking.