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Peaceful Kids

In 2017, Alpharetta Lifestyle magazine interviewed Sedef Dion, co-creator of Pre-Grounded Kids Yoga, for an article called “Peaceful Kids.” At the time Sedef taught children’s yoga at Life Time Fitness Alpharetta, in classes for children as young as 3.

Sedef spoke about what yoga gives children: strength, flexibility, self-awareness, self-regulation and focus, along with tools for handling stress and anxiety. On children with special needs, she said, “Yoga is safe and beneficial for any age and ability level.” She explained that she teaches them with concrete directions and visuals.

Asked why children should learn yoga, she said, “Yoga encourages children to master themselves rather than wait for an adult to control them.”

Read the full article: “Peaceful Kids” in Alpharetta Lifestyle.

More to Explore

  • The Power of a Pose: How Grounded Kids Yoga Helps Children Build Strength, Calm, and Confidence

    In this feature from Points North Magazine, Amy Haysman of Grounded Kids Yoga shares how playful, purposeful yoga classes help children develop strength, focus, and confidence. Learn how programs like Quest for Elevation empower kids to regulate emotions, build resilience, and share their inner light.

  • Namaste

    Said my young friend who wants a connection:
    “I wave. I shake hands, with no objection.
    No pain, no remorse, no one intervening
    a choice I make without much thought or meaning~”

    “…Is there a gesture that honors each other?
    That celebrates greeting sisters and brothers?
    Can you show me HOW to express happiness
    with social and spiritual significance?”

    YES, my dear friend, I can show you a mudra~
    a gesture of sorts, for kings, friends and sudras.
    Place hands together from fingers to wrists~
    like a knife, cut through difference that may exist.

    This immediately gets you to the shared ground~
    of ALL people, of all cultures, of all sound.
    It’s a recognition, a united force~
    that honors equality of all from the Source.

    Close your eyes and tune into your own inner light;
    your divine spark that forever burns bright.
    That’s the key, my dear friend, you must see your OWN
    in order to recognize others’ light shown.

    BLEND your five fingers of action on the left~
    with five fingers of knowledge on the right~
    to achieve the symbol of perfection
    the union of opposites; interconnection.
    FInd the Connection of your brain and your heart;
    your sun and your moon; your stop and your start.
    Marry together reason and emotion~
    unite thoughts and feelings, stillness and motion.

    Join positive and negative; hot and cold~
    theory with practice, silver with gold~
    Wisdom with Method, intellect with instinct~
    talent with genius, and feelings with think!

    Exhalation and inhalation, ,brain and heart~
    Align in harmony, right from the start!
    There is indeed no sphere of our existence
    untouched by the symbolic significance~

    of Namaste~

    Namaste

  • Certified to Teach Kids Yoga in Middle School

    Last night felt surreal. I was standing in my kitchen with Lee, Amy & Cheryl when they handed me a single piece of cardstock with the words ‘Certified Grounded Teacher.’ I felt my throat clench and my heart skip a beat. Though I have been teaching Grounded Yoga for over a year, it was this small piece of recognition that let me know that I am now officially recognized as part of one of the greatest movements of my lifetime.
    Once I received my 200hr teacher training in 2012, I had begun leading my daughter’s classes at school once a week and eventually took over the Tween class at my studio. I pulled resources from all around- other teachers, online sites, books, games…everything I could find to help create a well-rounded class. It was a year of growth and some things worked and some failed miserably. What I did know was that I loved teaching children- their honesty in their bodies and mouths and they way it was starting to create a shift in their perspective. My dear friend and teacher, Lee introduced me to Grounded in early 2013 when she came home lit UP from Level 1 training. I watched her do Go To Your Room and that’s literally ALL it took! I knew that something special was going on with Grounded…something that hadn’t been done before…something that was about to change how the world looks at kid’s yoga. We put a plan together to “sell” our yoga program to our school as a full-time yoga curriculum. And it WORKED! I decided to take the Level 1 training just after school started so we could teach the same material and use each other to bounce ideas and begin to try to understand the huge undertaking we’d just landed.

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

    Bondage 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!.

  • Fear On The Run

    Found: This Fear escaped from a very Grounded 9 year old’s first chakra. Her thighs were rooted and her connection to the earth was solid. She faced her fears, and actually whispered to herself, “I have the Right to be Here.” After the Fear escaped she felt even more Grounded and Elevated and aware of where she was in space.