Flying Yogis
Yoga & Acrobatics for Kids
Week 6 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 : Empathy and Compassion
THIS WEEKS PHYSICAL FOCUS IS : Flexible body Flexible mind
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 EMPATHY & COMPASSION
Empathy can be defined as the ability to be aware of, perceive, understand, and be sensitive to the feelings, thoughts and experiences of another and to express that understanding through a supportive responseCompassion means we care about others, treat them with kindness, and feel a strong desire to help people in need.
Compassion is empathy in action. For a six-year-old, compassion might look like giving a hug, making a card, or saying something kind to help a friend or family member who is feeling sad or upset.
Questions to start discussions:
Can you think of a time you felt empathy for someone? Can you think of a time you showed compassion? what are more ways we can shoe compassion?
FLEXIBLE BODY FLEXIBLE MIND
Why is it important to have a flexible body and mind?
When we are flexible we are open. When our body is open, the mind follows and we become more open-minded.
Becoming more physically flexible means that we can move in many directions not only with our body but with our thoughts and in our minds.
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- Mindfulness
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. MONEY MONEY MONEY-
What you need: Some tokens to represent money or trade (monopoly money, can be done with coloured pom poms)
Instructions:
1. 2 lines are created and each person turns to face their partner.
2. The teacher hands a sum of fake money to 1 line of the pairs.
3. The Children cannot speak and have 1 minute to count and decide how much they would like to share.
4. On the count of 3 all groups make the share at the same time.
5. The side that received money then either put a thumb up or down for if they are happy with the share.
6. Only teams with the thumbs up, get to keep the cash, Any team with a thumb down loses all the money and neither child keeps any.
Lesson Learnt:
Once the game is complete the teacher discusses how many teams were left happy vs not. The happy teams were successful because their members had empathy for their partner and shared equally with them in mind…
B. SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES
Instructions:
1. Have your students stand in a circle.
2. One at a time, students step forward and say a fact about themselves (e.g. I have one sister.).
3. If that statement is true for other students, they come forward one step and say “just like me”!
4. The next student steps forward and says his or her fact.
5. Continue until all students have had a chance to go (and you could keep going if you have time)
Lesson Learnt:
Recognising similarities and differences…
C. TOSS THE BALL
Instructions:
1. Take turns tossing the ball to one another.
2. The person who catches the ball looks to the empathy scenario they landed on
Then, he/she must respond how they should empathise with that scenario
3. Even if another child gets a repeat question, they’ll still be able to answer it in their own unique way
Lesson Learnt:
This game is great as you can play it with larger groups endlessly.
Different scenarios can be written on each side of the ball, the child must answer what emotion the character may be feeling, and how they might deal with that situation.
Video guides below if available
3. PHYSICAL SKILL- GAME/ ACTIVITY (15 min)
Topic- Body Awareness
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. YOGI SAYS - (YK-3)
B. Mirror - (Y4-6)
C. Through the Hoop
D. Spatial Awareness
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
BODY SCAN- READ SCRIPT AS CHILDREN LAY STILL AND CALM
Namaste Yogis- it’s __teachers name__ Here.
Today I am going to give you what the Yogis call a Yoga Nidra. It’s also known as a Body Scan. The teachers at Flying yogis give this meditation at the end of most of their classes and it helps even the most restless kids relax.
Find a comfy place to lie down. On your bed or floor… on your own, with your mum, dad, sister, brother- as long as they dont interrupt you… you can even lie with a calm cat or dog.
Close your eyes. Take long deep breaths. Slowly inhale for 4 counts, .. 1…2…3…4 , Slowly Exhale for 6 counts. 1….2….3….4….5….6….
Now when you have started to relax- make a wish. Wish something wonderful for you, your family or the world. Remember all the things you are grateful for- your body; your family; your friends; your passions and pastimes. It helps to meditate with a little smile on your face!
Now i want you to squeeze every muscle in your body.. SQUEEEEEEEEZE… And now relax. Again SQUEEEEEEEEEZE…. And now relax . last time SQUEEEEEEEEEZE…. And now relax.
We are going to relax every part of the body. When i mention a body part- breathe in to that body part, then breathe out any tension you may be holding.
Let’s start with the toes… breathe into the toes. (pause) … breathe out from your toes until your toes are completely relaxed.
Relax your feet… breathing in and out of your feet.
Relax your ankles ; Your shins and calves; Your knees; Your thighs… your hips and even relax your bottom!!
Relax your belly and chest … then breathe into the back of your body and relax your lower back; your spine; your shoulder blades..
Relax all around your heart and lungs
Relax your shoulders; Relax your arms and elbows; Your wrists; hands and fingers.
Now relax every bone and muscle in your face. Your jaw and chin; your cheeks; your cheekbones; your lips; teeth; tongue… your nose; your ears… breathe into your eyes- relax your eyelids. RElax your eyebrows; forehead and the point between your eyebrows… this is your third eye. Breathe all worries out of your mind and brain. Relax your skull…. And relax your brain….
Feel like you are so heavy… you weigh a tonne. You couldn’t move- even if you tried. Heavy, heavy, sinking, sinking, sinking into the ground. So still…..
Now i want you to feel as light as a feather… so light. Float right out of your room. Flip and float high in the sky. Up on a cloud.. You can float to anywhere you want. It could be a tropical island; a beach; try to float anywhere in nature that you feel peace. And stay floating on your cloud a while… free from stress, harm or worry.
Now i will count backwards from 10 slowly. As i count, id like you to slow your breath down so it takes the length of the count. And as i count, i want you to relax deeper and deeper…
10………….1
Now it’s up to you to take your time…. Wiggle your fingers and toes, arms and legs… and very slowly come up to seated. If you can keep your eyes closed even better.
Now remember your wish,……. Sing one ohm…. OHM
Namaste little Yogis