Flying Yogis
Yoga & Acrobatics for Kids
Week 5 OUTLINE
HERE IS A GUIDE ON HOW TO STRUCTURE YOUR YAMAS LESSON.
CLASS INTRO (15 MINS)
ACTIVITY 1: LINKED TO SOCIAL TOPIC (15 MINS)
ACTIVITY 2: LINKED TO PHYSICAL TOPIC (15 MINS)
CONCLUSION AND MEDITATION (10 MINS)
THIS WEEKS SOCIAL FOCUS IS : Communication and interpersonal Skills
THIS WEEKS PHYSICAL FOCUS IS : Meditation Focus Week – My Calm Body
1. CLASS INTRO - 15 MINS
A. WELCOME CLASS AND INTRO TO TOPIC- 5 mins
GET THE GROUP SEATED AND FOCUSED, INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND SESSION RULES.
UNDERSTANDING COMMUNICATION & INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
Interpersonal skills are traits that you use to successfully interact and communicate with others. For example: Active listening, Teamwork, Responsibility. Communication is so important for healthy relationships where we listen and understand one another
Why is communication and interpersonal skills important?
People with strong interpersonal and communication build good relationships and can work well with others. They understand family, friends, and peers well.
WHAT IS MEDITATION?
Meditation can be defined as a set of techniques that are intended to encourage a heightened state of awareness and focused attention. Meditation is also a consciousness-changing technique that has been shown to have a wide number of benefits on psychological well-being.
Why is staying calm important?
Staying calm allows you to think logically and make better decisions. Clarity of mind is extremely important while you are dealing with problems. If your mind is free and relaxed, your clarity of thoughts shall provide the solution to you.
Yes, calmness is a human superpower. The ability to not overreact or take things personally keeps your thoughts clean and your heart at peace, which instantly gives you an upper hand regardless of your circumstances.
B. COMPLETE JOURNAL OR WORKSHEET- 5 mins
NO LONGER THAN 5 MINS
Stick in and complete necessary worksheet, write thoughts and topic definition (worksheet will say the weeks social skill and the weeks physical skill)
C. Quick 5 pose stretch/warm up:- 5 mins
NO LONGER THAN 5 MINS
(5 new poses or stretches each week) Salutes if desired
2. SOCIAL TOPIC GAME/ ACTIVITY (15 min)
Topic- Communication and interpersonal skills
There are 3 activity options below, select the one best suited to your age group. If you have spare time feel free to complete 2+ activities with your group.
A. GAME #1 - STANDING IN A LINE
DESCRIPTION:
The children are asked to stand in a chronological line based on different features (age, tallest to shortest, number of siblings, first letter of their name)
Their attempts are timed, first with no restrictions, then with no talking and only miming
LESSON LEARNT:
Discuss how the interactions and outcomes changed when different methods of communication were used.
B. GAME #2 - GUESS THE OBJECT
DESCRIPTION:
Have a random hidden object (in a bag or hat or box)
Make sure that the kids understand that they’re not allowed to peak…
Chose a child to feel the simple object:
The aim of the game is to describe the object for the class to guess. (using good communication skills)
For older groups add challenges (talking, no talking, only miming, Only using 1 word.. etc)
LESSON LEARNT:
Discuss how the interactions and outcomes changed when different methods of communication were used.
C. GAME #3 - FAMOUS PAIRS (USE FOR OLDER KIDS)
ITEMS NEEDED:
Sticky Post-it notes and pens for the kids
DESCRIPTION:
1. The kids get into pairs and decide on 1 famous pair (peanut butter and jelly) (black and white) (day and night) (shoes and socks) etc.
2. They write 1 of each pair onto a stick note
3. Once everyone has written a stick note you tell them to walk around the room and stick it on the forehead of another person in the room (until all kids have a random note on their heads)
4. The kids must move around the room asking questions to their peers about what they are or direct them to who they should pair with, without saying names or pointing.
LESSON LEARNT:
This is a challenging fun game for kids to practice the power of communication.
D. Blind folded communication -
ITEMS NEEDED:
Blindfolds
DESCRIPTION:
1. The kids get into pairs and are given 1 blindfold between them
2. An obstacle course is set around the room and the pairs must navigate the course with 1 child blindfolded. (Have the children hold hands for guidance) but the challenge is to use communication to guide each other
LESSON LEARNT:
Talking clearly and communicating well can help us to achieve difficult tasks
E. Untangle -
DESCRIPTION:
1. Divide the participants into groups of up to four, six, or 12 people who then form a tight circle.
2. Using one hand, grab the hand of anyone in the group
3. Using the other hand, grab the hand of anyone in the group except the people standing next to you and the person you are already holding hands with.
4. The challenge is to get untangled without letting go of each others’ hands. This requires a lot of communication and cooperation!
5. Repeat without talking and discuss the outcomes of both.
LESSON LEARNT:
Improves students communication skills.
Video guides below if available
3. PHYSICAL SKILL- GAME/ ACTIVITY (15 min)
Topic- Calm my body – meditation focus week
There are 3 activity options below, select the one best suited to your age group. If you have spare time feel free to complete 2+ activities with your group.
A. SLEEPING LIONS
DESCRIPTION:
1. Designate one child as the “hunter.” Have all of the other children lie down on the floor in sleeping positions.
2. Once they’re down, they can’t move. Have the designated “hunter” walk through the room and try to make the sleeping lions move by making them laugh, telling them jokes, and so on.
LESSON LEARNT:
Challenge the children to maintain their bodies calm so not to be distracted by the hunter.
Teaching kids to recognise their calm body and train themselves to maintain that calm.
B. NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM - FROZEN YOGIS
DESCRIPTION:
1. The children must be frozen still and silent in a pose, the “Night Guard” walks around the room trying to spot anyone moving.
2. While the night guard is looking away, challenge the kids to stealthily and calmly adjust to a new pose. The last standing wins
LESSON LEARNT:
The students who are the calmest, observant and smooth with their movements will last the longest.
C. YOGA SHOPPING LIST (Yoga is calming an requires a calm and focused mind)
DESCRIPTION:
1. In a circle ask each child to perform a pose, the following child must then perform that pose followed by their own pose.
2. Continue around the circle until a long sequence is created. If a child cannot remember the sequence, help them, or simple start again with a new sequence.
LESSON LEARNT:
The calmer you are and more observant of others playing the easier it is once it is your turn.
Video guides below if available
4. ENDING DISCUSSION & MEDITATION (10 min)
BRING THE GROUP BACK INTO A CENTRAL CIRCLE, DISCUSS ANY LAST IDEAS OR LEARNINGS FROM THE GAMES AND ANSWER ANY LAST QUESTIONS
Ask the kids what they have learnt and how they will carry these skills into the rest of their week
FINISH WITH A NEW MEDITATION EACH WEEK
CHOCOLATE MEDITATION-
Encouraging Awareness of the moment and focus on the senses (can be done with any little snack i.e. a lolly or piece of fruit)
• Open the packet. Inhale the aroma. Let it sweep over you.
• Break off a piece and look at it. Really let your eyes drink in what it looks like, examining every nook and cranny.
• Pop it in your mouth. See if it’s possible to hold it on your tongue and let it melt, noticing any tendency to suck at it. Chocolate has over 300 different flavours. See if you can sense some of them. (Can also be eaten very slowly with little rabbit like nibbles) challenge is to eat it as slowly as possible, maybe set a timed challenge
• If you notice your mind wandering while you do this, simply notice where it went, then gently escort it back to the present moment.
• After the chocolate has completely melted, swallow it very slowly and deliberately. Let it trickle down your throat.
• Repeat this with one other piece.
How do you feel? Is it different from normal? Did the chocolate taste better than if you’d just eaten it at a normal breakneck pace? Do you feel fuller that normal, more satisfied?