Imitation

So, my Mom sent me this video with the baby dancing to Beyonce. I watched and laughed and thought how cute. As time passed I recgnized again the importance of imitation in developing beings. We are the gift- givers as adults. We can consciously choose what our kids have access to imitate - through our words our actions our thoughts - and yes which videos we show our kids. This makes crystal clear the impact every little interaction, every everything we expose our kids to.

Pause and consider .....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikTxfIDYx6Q

Surrounded

At class last week as I brought out the singing bowl I was surrounded by sweet souls - beginning their journey through life. I looked around and saw the expectant glow around the kids waiting to ring the bowl, waiting to have a chance at doing something fun...at being successful. All in a flash of seconds this ran through my head and I considered the idea that they are living
ONG NAMO GURU DEV NAMO.....

At the beginning of class we chant Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo. The kids are hanging out - sitting in Mom's lap...doing whatever. So they hear and see us do this - week after week. One little girl (who came to class last week in full ballerina garb) told a relative "I say Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo when I don't feel good - and then I feel better". She is three years old. In class I let them know when we say those special words it is a way to feel better if we are sad or scared or frustrated. Ong Namo....is magic! Seriously!!

It is the key to the naad. (http://www.devsuroop.com/naad.html)

Kids are innately in tune with the Divine. Somewhere along the line it is us who lose our key and have to re-find it. Kids are right there. Once again - I am teaching the class but I am the student learning to live in the naad from my teachers - the little ones surrounding me waiting their turn to ring the bowl and say Ommmmmm.

The Language of Yoga

A mantra is a syllable, word or phrase in one of the sacred languages (like Sanskrit and Ghurmukhi), and sometimes in English. Mantra is "The Yoga of the mind".

Sanskrit is a classical language of India. Major modern-day languages of India are derived from Sankrit, and many Sanskrit derivatives are found in other languages, including English. Punjabi is an Indian language which belongs to the outer-circle of the Indo-Aryan languages and is distantly related to English - being a member of the same Indo-European language family. It is a modern Indo-Aryan language spoken mainly in the Punjab states of both India and Pakistan.

Remember this - Punjabi is language (what we speak). Gurmukhi is a script (how we write punjabi). I teach Mantra in ALL my classes. Now the 'meaning' of mantra is offered differently for children - to serve them at an age appropriate level. We sing a song (I am Happy - by Shakta Kaur Khalsa see Radiant Child.com) in my classes that includes English as well as Sanskrit. I let the kids know the Sanskrit comes from India and I let them know the 'meaning'.

So this morning one of the Moms sent me a message on Facebook which let me know the message behind the mantra made its way into Daniel's reality. As I have said before often times kids come to class and do not participate so it looks like they are not doing anything. Daniel has been coming to my class for years - not doing anything. But when the water hit the wheel Daniel looked within and relied on his own budding moral compass.

Here is the message from Miriam:

Thursday night Daniel found a bell from a cat toy and put in his mouth. I told him to take it out and he said he swallowed it. I called the doctor to find out if we should take him to the ER. While I waited for her return call I found the bell. Larry sat Daniel down for a conversation about lying to which Daniel replied, "and Wahay (sp?) Guru means I love the teacher inside of me." Larry looked a bit confused so Daniel told him, "Sat nam means I tell the truth and wahay guru means I love the teacher inside of me."

Sat Nam is a frequently-used mantra for meditation exercises and has become popularized by Kundalini yoga instructors. In Sanskrit, "sat" means "truth" and "nam" means "identity". There are many differing interpretations when you put the two together- some have given the following interpretation: “truth is my identity”. Other common interpretations include: "express the truth within you," "in name there is truth" and "the light shines in you"; light being a metaphor for truth. The words themselves have a soothing and centering quality due to their monosyllabic nature, similar to sounds made by babies.

Aum (or OM) is a mantra, or vibration, that is traditionally chanted at the beginning and end of yoga sessions. It is made up of three Sanskrit letters, aa, au and ma which, when combined together, make the sound Aum or Om. It is believed to be the basic sound of the world and to contain all other sounds. It is said to be the sound of the universe. What does that mean? Somehow the ancient yogis knew what scientists today are telling us–that the entire universe is moving. Nothing is ever solid or still. Everything that exists pulsates, creating a rhythmic vibration that the ancient yogis acknowledged with the sound of Aum. We may not always be aware of this sound in our daily lives, but we can hear it in the rustling of the autumn leaves, the waves on the shore, the inside of a seashell.

Chanting Aum allows us to recognize our experience as a reflection of how the whole universe moves–the setting sun, the rising moon, the ebb and flow of the tides, the beating of our hearts. As we chant Aum, it takes us for a ride on this universal movement, through our breath, our awareness, and our physical energy, and we begin to sense a bigger connection that is both uplifting and soothing.

Who Am I?

I went to teach a class at Starbright Preschool (http://www.starbrightpreschool.com/) last week. I teach the little ones (18 months to 3 yrs) first. They are so precious! Quite often in classes with little kids they sit through the whole class - watching and absorbing what is done.
I have had kids in my classes for years and I have never seen them do yoga - but their Moms post pics of them doing the yoga at home! This always reminds me of the importance of being our radiant selves while in the presence of the kids. They form themselves from what they are exposed to in their worlds. I want to be grace-full and bright in their company...reflecting their essence back to them.

After the little ones, I teach the older kids (3-5 yr olds). As we shared our practice one little girl raised her hand and proceeded to tell me she has a REAL yoga teacher at home that wants to teach her yoga all the time. I responded with - that is great! I then offerred them a chance to look through their their 'wise-eyes' (gyan mudra around the eyes) to see what they could see.
We became dogs, bugs, snakes, and trees through our 'wise-eyes'.

Later as I drove away from the school I contemplated the opportunity to look through MY 'wise-eyes' to uncover what I could in the little girl's comment...I have a REAL yoga teacher at my house....
am I a REAL yoga teacher?
am I Real?
who am I?
Each question gave me a path deeper into myself. Over this week these questions have floated in and out of my consciousness, each time giving me the chance to know myself better.

And that is all yoga really is - a chance to know myself better.

Finding our way home

At the Crawler & Toddler class Friday (Yoga Yoga North Fridays 9:30) there were 13 adults and 13 kiddos - so there was a lot of kid action going on during class. Toward the end of class the adults did a meditation and the kids hung out with each other. As we settled into the practice (a meditation to develop patience) inhaling, exhaling..... one really cute social little girl stood in the center of the room saying 'BA' and then laughing at herself. It was ADORABLE. Soon another little girl toddled over ..... there they were in the center of the room ba-ing back and forth until a third little girl joined in. The laughter after the 'BA's was almost impossible to ignore.

I was sitting in front of the class encouraging the adults to keep the eyes 9/10 of the way closed focus on the tip of the nose & to let their attention come within themselves as much as possible. How was I supposed to compete with the live entertainment in the center of the room - those kids were funny and cute. Some of the Moms were chuckling after the laughter bubbled up in the middle of the room. We went about 5 minutes with the meditation; after which we all laughed and commented on the antics that had gone on during our practice.

So the joy of this is found in our ability to let our attention settle within ourselves. It isn't ALWAYS a negative or troubling event that draws our attention away from our inner Guru - sometimes it is an impossibly cute kid, a hilarious happening....whatever. And I am not suggesting ignoring your kids. What I am suggesting is you practice letting your attention live deeply within yourself, allowing your center to be within instead of outside of yourself. Parents sometimes find themselves so depleted they feel they cannot go on - they have allowed their center to leave their bodies so to speak (the 10 bodies are a Kundalini concept). Living outside of yourself leads to all kinds of problems - fatigue, anger, resentment. When we lose touch with the inner Guru (Guru Dev Namo) we are fortunate to have experiences such these to guide us home.

Yoga gives us the opportunity to find your way back to ourselves. When we are fed, strong, settled, living from that deep place of knowing (the inner Guru) we serve those around us from a foundation of grace.

'Ba' hehehe is the beginning to the path within - vibrate with your inner Guru. Find your peace.

Then let the laughter begin!

They're the SAME !

Saturday and I am headed over to teach my tots yoga class at Sacred Streams
It is always a guess at which families will make it - I mean really: getting yourself, your kid, and the rest of the family at home ready so you can make it to a 9:30 yoga class on a Sat morning is admirable.

So this morning three adorable kids and their parents have arrived to venture into the world of yoga - finding ways to share sacred space with their kids, have some fun, and possibly channel some of the never ending energy these kids have.

Most people know we use sticky mats in yoga and have had the experience that when you go to a yoga class everyone rolls out their mats and then does their practice on their mats...not so in a tots class. The entire room is the yoga mat for them. We start by tuning in, ringing a singing bowl and Ommmmmm-ing. We move through class doing train, half moon, and toes to nose. Giggling and having fun. At this point in the class we come to singing Itsy Bitsy Spider (by Shaktar Kaur Khalsa - Radiant Child Yoga). It is a chance to sing, do something familiar - even though there are different words - and build fine muscle coordination. Right after the song we do 'spider' - bringing all 10 finger tips together and pushing them together and apart. This is a challenge for most of the kids in the class - they have just begun to build the coordination and fine motor skills to do it. As one little boy worked diligently on creating the form...he looked so intently at his hands...and suddenly out of his mouth burst "they're the same". He had discovered the symmetry of his body.
Yoga is the opportunity to know ourselves. The eight limbs of yoga give us the framework to accomplish this journey. The first limb being asana - the exploration of the physical body. That is what this precious spirit did at the moment the words burst from his mouth. The pure spontaneity he expressed was filled with awe and joy - and that energy spread through the room.

Doing yoga with kids connects us to our own inner child. Re-experiencing those days when we also were just beginning to know ourselves in the innocent emotions of childhood. Parents doing yoga with their kids have the opportunity to re-discover themselves as well as having fun with the kiddos, and providing a yogic environment for them to grow up in.

Let's SEE

Each class I am filled with joy knowing there will never be a dull moment. The moms meeting other yogini moms, the kids exploring the room and new friends, all the while we are doing yoga.

Just last week one of the wee ones was making the rounds during yoga class - stopping by all the mats in the room to check out what was fun, what was interesting. She had to come to class with her Grandmother...such a couple of sweethearts.

At some point in class I saw the little one toddle over to GM and GM say thank you.....hmmm I thought. And off we went into another breath awareness exercise. I didn't think much of it until not too long after GM let me know that her dear sweet grand-daughter had lifted a credit card (American Express to be exact) from someone else's bag.

A microcosm of the world in our yoga class...distractions are constant. Distractions that oftentimes lead us to 'neglect' the essentials. Of course Momma got her cc back and all was well - but in each moment we can accept the opportunity to see. What else in life distracts me away from what is essential? This was the nugget (the little gems I see come up in class) I felt honored to focus on after class; letting it percolate within. Allowing it time to roll around, giving myself permission to examine a bit deeper what is really essential? Do I neglect that essential-ness in my life?

Many years ago I used to be into things to 'change the world'. There has always been some part of me determined to make things better. A few years ago I attended the Aquarian Kundalini Teacher Training Program at Yoga Yoga in Austin. I graduated from Level 1 and am enrolled in the third module (of five)for Level 2 Teacher Training this fall. One idea Yogi Bhajan focuses these teachings on is the coming of the Aquarian Age. We are currently moving from the Piscean Age into the Aquarian Age.
This change will be big for humanity - we maintain a sort of status quo with manifested reality. It takes A LOT to affect change - and this is the role of Kundalini (and all - really) teachers - to usher in the new age. To uplift, to raise awareness/vibrations so we can all move toward the transmutation of selfish desire into group love. That is really making a sweet and simple statement about this huge energetic shift humanity is going through - but you get the jist.
My point being - a large part of my contribution toward this energetic shift comes through teaching kids yoga. Offering them self awareness and love as we do yoga (and have lots of fun!)
Instead of protesting and putting energy toward the things that need to change ....I create a space for little souls to open up to their own inner beauty and connection to the sacred essence of life. Heart to heart - this is what creates change.

I walked into class the other day at The Olive Tree Learning Center (http://olivetlc.com/) and immediately one of the little boys stopped, looked at me, and toddled toward me until he could reach his arms around my legs. He gave me a big hug. Then when we set up our circle with the little carpet 'dots' he got his carpet dot and sat right in front of me instead of next to me. His eyes turned upward as he looked at me - and I recognized the Guru sitting before me. Allowing for the truth that I was there to learn as much as teach I proceeded through the class with an open heart.

Yoga and Autism

I have been teaching a class for kids on the autism spectrum for a few months now up in north Austin and have just recently added another couple of classes at Big Sky Pediatric Therapy Clinic. The manifestation of autism has a broad range. The kids in my north austin class (Sundara Yoga Therapy Fri's 6-6:30) come with their parents and we all do yoga together. It has been fascinating watching the kids (& their folks) benefit from the yoga. We meditate at the end of class and have been doing Sa-Ta-Na-Ma with the hands held at the level of the ears as we touch each finger tip in succession with a syllable of the mantra. None of them could do it when we started - three months ago.
At this point ALL of them can do part of it. This is a huge accomplishment for kids on the autism spectrum - following directions, fine muscle coordination, and body awareness. My heart overflows with happiness as I watch them all struggle with the mudra (hand movement/positions) and the mantra because I know as we struggle - we grow, we refine ourselves, we vibrate with bliss, joy, the universe, eventually attaining samadhi. It is beautiful.

So as we move through our lives and we ourselves struggle, or those around us struggle we can find the deeper meaning of these times. They are golden opportunities to know our eternal selves, the I that lives beyond the body, circumstances, and limitations of life on earth. Pure love, perfection....Wahe Guru!!!

Radiance

In class last Friday the sweetest little girl came with her momma. She loves to get her groove on when I put on the song Happy Jio (from Shakta Kaur Khalsa). Adorable! After the kids portion of our class all the mommas go back to their mats and we do a meditation. As I started the meditation, the kids start to settle down as our breathing slows and lengthens. I begin the meditation inhaling, exhaling, closing my eyes, focusing at the brow point. After 45 seconds or so I open my eyes to check in and see how everyone is doing...and there is that little groovin cutie pie RIGHT up in my face - like 2 inches away watching me meditate!
I think the kids are drawn to the radiance as we practice Kundalini yoga. It isn't the first time I have opened my eyes and there is a kiddo right there face to face with me. Once I open my eyes they slowly move away...finding something else more interesting.
Each class I find a sweet opening of the heart center with the grace and authenticity of the kids surrounding me. Mommas bringing their little ones the joy and beauty of yoga....well all I have to say is Sat Mom!

photo by Clarissa Peereboom

Ancient Soul in a teeny body

Alice has been coming to my class for months now. She is adorable and so social! She carries a little purse and as everyone comes into class and sets up their mats she makes the rounds - greeting all new comers. When someone came in after class had started - her little head popped around as 'who's that?' echoed through the room. Off she went to greet the new friend who had just entered.

One important thing to know about crawlers and toddlers doing yoga is that they imitate us. If you are a momma you have already experienced this I am sure! So as we do our yoga ALilce will begin doing what we are doing...as we rub our hands together to tune in...there is Alice standing in the middle of the room with her purse, big smile on her face, rubbing her hands together!

So her Mom and I were visiting after class yesterday and she mentioned that Alice now insists the family tune in before eating a meal. So there they are rubbing their hands together singing Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo (I call on the creative consciousnees of the universe, I call on the divine teacher) before enjoying their meal.

There's yoga for ya!!!

Face to face

In class today there was a cutie pie name Hollin. She is about 17 months old and has been coming to my class since she could crawl. Toward the end of class Mommas always do a meditation before savasana (final relaxation)...so today we were doing Sa-Ta-Na-Ma and I was sitting on a couple of bolsters stacked in front of the door (to prevent wee ones from escaping). I had my eyes closed as we went through the mantra again and again. At some point I felt a little tickle on my leg..... I opened my eyes and there was Hollin about one inch from my face - with a huge smile on her face. How sweet is that?

Kids Say the Darndest Things

So I teach a post-natal yoga class with crawlers and toddlers. Last week there were 12 moms and 12 kids, quite a full house. The moms come in and get settled and the toddlers are off visiting other mats, snatching toys, and running off with some else's sippy cup.

The biggest challenge of the class is keeping the focus with the chaos going on around us. I remind the moms quite often that some people travel all the way to New York City to meditate in Time Square for this experience and here we have it at our disposal!

At the end of the class we end with "The Long Time Sunshine" song followed by a long Sat Nam. Sat Nam means "Truth is my identity" in my yoga tradition. Last week we closed class with the song and the long Sat Nam when a little voice popped up with "Saaaaaat....Mom!" It was hard to tell which kid had done it, but then suddenly a big grin and another "Saaaat...Mom!" from Henry.