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I have a dozen books on children's yoga, but yours is the only one through which I have felt a strong healing energy communicated.

-- Michele Nurnberger, London

Frequently Asked Questions about Storytime Yoga™

Everything you ever wanted to know about Storytime Yoga™ , benefits, and training is available on this page. If you cannot find an answer you’re looking for, please send us an email.

Current customers who need assistance with orders, subscriptions, payments, or products, please email us.

Storytime Yoga™ is a pioneering and innovative children’s body-centered educational program that brings health, literacy, and peace to kids ages 3 and up. It integrates the healing qualities of yoga with the mind and heart-enhancing powers of storytelling. It capitalizes on children’s natural inclination to move about freely, explore their innate creativit and act on their curiosity to learn more about the world.

What happens in a Storytime Yoga™ class?

In a typical Storytime Yoga™ class, children gather in a relaxed atmosphere, such as at home, school, yoga studio, library, retreat center, therapy session, or kids’ camp. They participate in an interactive mind/body storytelling session, in which their qualified Storytime Yoga™ teacher tells them fascinating wisdom tales from around the world. The teacher uses props, oral storytelling skills and various yoga, breathing and relaxation techniques to ensure that each child is enraptured and engaged with the session.

After a story is orally told (not read from a book) by the teacher, everyone “acts out” the plot of the story in real-time through a variety of specially chosen yoga poses, stretches, deep breathing, and other relaxing or invigorating movements.

The yoga teacher facilitates the session, leading the class along, while ensuring each child is focused, attentive, and fully participating.

Children increase their literacy skills and comprehension by retelling the story, dictating or writing words, and expressing ideas.

Within 15, 30 or 60 minutes of a session, children find themselves more calm, more attentive and more in tune with their bodies and surroundings. They learn new vocabulary, get a sample of different cultures, learn words from different languages, spark their creativity and imagination, and spend time interacting with others in a safe community environment. The result is healthier minds and bodies, and more joyful and peaceful children.

What are the benefits of Storytime Yoga™ ?

Research has shown that yoga brings health-enhancing benefits such as greater muscular strength, flexibility, spine health, and joint health. These benefits trickle into the mental arena by increasing attention, concentration, inner peace, relaxation, and a sense of overall calm and focus.

Children who practice yoga tend to relax more and are better able to concentrate at school. When yoga is combined with storytelling, children experience an overall healing effect in each area of their lives. Meanwhile, they refine their listening skills and utilize their imagination as they contemplate possible meanings behind each story.

Yoga is well-known for its ability to engage the mind and body simultaneously. This is perfect for children, who are often easily distracted by external stimuli. Yoga has stress-reducing effects, and it helps increase one’s focus on the present moment.

Parents from all over the world are sure to enjoy having children who are more balanced, relaxed, and in tune with themselves. Teachers will also appreciate these same benefits.

What is different about Storytime Yoga™ ?

Many yoga trainings include storytelling within the curriculum; however, they tend to be based strictly on books or outlines, appealing mainly to the rational and intellectual sides of our psyches. In many cases, the coursework is presented purely in linear fashion: “OK, kids, now we’re going to….”

Storytime Yoga™ , on the other hand, uses oral storytelling to deliver material organically and cyclically. It appeals to the intuitive and sensing sides of our psyches to provide balance, emphasizing teacher/student connection, and engaging the child in a spontaneous fashion. Neither the student nor the instructor is restricted to a predetermined outline or order of activities. The material is not set in stone. When students respond with random comments (which they assuredly will), or if surprises occur during the session (which they most often do), the instructor maintains flexibility to work with these occurrences so that they seamlessly become integrated with the class. The teacher has a “readiness bag” to pull out material, stories, or exercises suited to the student or class circumstances.

Storytime Yoga™ emphasizes mind/body connection and sets the framework for each class to serve as a ritual. The content of the class is interdisciplinary. Children learn geography, peace, character education, Spanish, yoga, healthy eating, relaxation, meditation, storytelling and oral skills, as well as other literacy skills. The content is not limited to one subject area. Rather, the class moves cross-curriculum, keeping interest high as children become engaged from within.

The teaching philosophies behind Storytime Yoga™ are influenced by Montessori and Waldorf education methods.

Is Storytime Yoga™ only for children?

Teens and adults can also benefit from Storytime Yoga™ , since stories are universal in nature and can be adapted to serve more complex purposes. Stories can help people find their true identities, discover meaning in the mundane, and awaken hidden sources of creativity and inspiration. Not to mention, yoga benefits everyone from the itty bitty toddler to the elderly of our population.

What is Mythic Yoga™?

Mythic Yoga™, a component of Storytime Yoga™ , serves middle school children, teens and adults. This unique program facilitates a powerful transformation in people’s lives, prompting them to self-realization. It’s a magical journey and a process of self-discovery, where students can fully engage in exploring different areas of their mind, body, and consciousness. Mythic Yoga™ is based on the principle that myths truly constitute the “universal language,” which enables us to speak to our inner selves and each other in the most powerful ways possible.

I am interested in presenting a Storytime Yoga™ Class to students – how do I get trained?

The Storytime Yoga Children's Yoga Teacher Certification program is open for registration.

You can still take our "do-it-yourself" At-Home Training to learn the basic methodology of hosting a Storytime Yoga class for children. Though you may not call your classes "Storytime Yoga" classes without proper certification, you may certainly use the principles learned in our training materials, to enrich your own classroom or home settings.

You do not need to be certified in order to use Storytime Yoga™ or Mythic Yoga™ privately for your own children or yourself.

If you do use our methods and concepts publicly, please credit Sydney Solis and Storytime Yoga as the source, and contact us and if you use it professionally you must request permission to tell, reprint or publish any of our materials (including lengthy passages, graphics, writings, etc.). Storytime Yoga is copyright and trademark protected.

What are the At-Home Training Guides, and how do they work?

The At-Home Training Guides are a series of three training segments (Part I – Awakening the Storyteller; Part II – Stories from the Heart; and Part III – Mythic Yoga™) designed to teach you the principles and fundamentals of the Storytime Yoga™ and Mythic Yoga™ programs. This coursework is intended to help you get in touch with your own personal myth as you conduct your daily yoga and meditation practice. It is mainly for personal enrichment. Included are various reading materials, assignments, and audio lectures in the form of MP3 files, all of which you can study at your own pace, from anywhere in the world.

These guides assist you with structuring your own Storytime Yoga™ or Mythic Yoga™ session for home, school, library and more, while providing tips on how to select stories, props, music, and more. You will discover which styles and methods are best for teaching yoga to different age groups, and receive practical guidance on how to deal with the challenges that inevitably arise from teaching yoga to children.

By studying these at-home training materials in their entirety, you will:

Gain valuable knowledge to help you boost your career and expand your yoga business or enhance your children’s at-home education and family connections.
Undergo a profound inner journey, as the assignments encourage you to explore your own imagination, personal myths, dreams, and yoga/meditation practice.
Learn how to master the Storytime Yoga™ and Mythic Yoga™ program, so you can spread wisdom, health, and joy to children, teens, or adults with the power of yoga and story.

There is no need to submit completed assignments to Sydney; they are intended for your own reflection.

What will I learn in the At-Home Training Guides?

Each of the three training segments is designed to take you, the student, on a journey into yourself through yoga and story. The material you learn will enrich your life and teachings. Through dream work, journaling, yoga rituals, guidance, and self-reflection, you can connect with ancient wisdom of story and yoga and be transformed by your own practice. You can then pass this knowledge and wisdom onto the students you work with, including your own children, if you have them. You are encouraged to keep your own blog or journal, attesting to the power of yoga and story in your everyday life.

Each segment guides you in becoming a competent oral storyteller and using the Storytime Yoga™ and Mythic Yoga™ programs to teach yoga and yoga philosophy. If you are working as a yoga teacher, you can use the training material to develop your career. Learn Sydney’s “tricks of the trade,” and get invaluable advice for dealing with the special demands that come from teaching children. As a parent, you will learn to better educate your child in speaking, reading, writing, and art, as well as peace, character development, and yoga philosophy.

For additional information on the At-Home Training Guides, view the complete course outline.

What additional forms of training are available?

Live training events may be available in select areas. Every third week of January students are invited to apprentice with Sydney in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands and participate in the Storytime Yoga Children's Mission, which counts toward certification if taken individually and is included in the tuition of full certification.

Do I have to be a yoga teacher to benefit from Storytime Yoga™ training?

No, all you need is a strong interest in developing kids’ minds and imaginations, while teaching them how to live healthy, fulfilling lives. Storytime Yoga™ training is very suitable for parents who want to tell their kids stories and/or teach them yoga poses and relaxation. It is also ideal for parents who are interested in home-schooling their children. For parents, we offer a variety of educational/training books and e-books. We also offer numerous music and video programs your children can enjoy. If you are going to be teaching children in a professional setting, older children or with teens and want to be a fully certified Storytime yoga Teacher, an adult or child yoga teacher certification is required. Storytime Yoga does not teach anatomy, alignment or yoga asanas and is specialized in using storytelling. Visit our online store to browse our selection.

How many hours per week will each At-Home training segment take?

The At-Home training guides are self-paced. However, you can expect to spend about five hours or more per week working with the material and completing the assignments. For Yoga Alliance credit, every five hours online equals 1 hour of live credit. Consult Yoga Alliance for more information. Pre-School teachers receive a certificate of completion that can be applied toward continuing education credit. Consult your state's requirements for more information.

What books are required for completing each segment, and which age groups are suitable?

Part I – Awakening the Storyteller is based on the book Storytime Yoga: Teaching Yoga to Children Through Story, by Sydney Solis. It is best suited for teaching children ages 3-10 but can be used for older children as well.

Part II – Stories from the Heart is based on the book The Treasure in Your Heart: Yoga and Stories for Peaceful Children, by Sydney Solis. It is best suited for children ages 8-12 as well as middle schoolers and teens, and can easily be adapted for younger children.

Part III –

Mythic Yoga™ is based on the e-book Mythic Yoga™ – Vishnu’s Dream: Ancient Hindu Myths and Personal Story, by Sydney Solis, and is suitable for teaching teens and adults, as well as exploring your own life story through yoga and myth.

For more information about each segment, view the full course outline.

Do I need special equipment to complete the At-Home Training Guides?

The training program includes several large audio and video files that require downloading. For this reason, we recommend having access to high-speed internet.

To video the video files, you will need to download and install Quicktime on your computer. To listen to the recorded MP3 audio lectures, you will need an MP3 player such as iTunes. Both Quicktime and iTunes software can be downloaded for free.

After I complete Part I – Awakening the Storyteller, can I teach a Storytime Yoga™ class?

When you finish Part I of the At-Home training guides, you are welcome to use any of the materials in the course as part of a regular yoga class. In addition, you may use material from Storytime Yoga™ books for your own use. Please credit Sydney Solis and Storytime Yoga in each telling.

However, to call your class a Storytime Yoga™ class, you must train with Sydney, become certified in the program, and meet all the certification requirements for being a Storytime Yoga™ instructor.

Storytime Yoga™ is a registered trademark, and only certified individuals may use the name for their own businesses or professional work.

If you use material from Storytime Yoga™ books professionally, please request permission and credit the program and its founder, Sydney Solis.

Do I need a yoga certification to use the Storytime Yoga™ training for my own purposes?

Not if you wish to use it in the home, library, classroom or simply use the basic techniques. However, to become a Certified Storytime Yoga Children's Yoga Teacher you must have a basic yoga teacher certification by the end of your training. Many participants become so enthralled with Storytime Yoga that they naturally seek out certification for their own benefit. Stortime Yoga emphasizes storytelling, and anatomy and aligment or how to do poses is not stressed but is included in manuals. Basic poses are presented to present to young children. Yoga certification is required for older children and adults. You can take any yoga certification concurrently with the certified course. You do not need it to take the At-Home-Training Guides to get started in the certification process, but must have it by the time of full certification. IIf you are thinking of starting your own yoga practice, we recommend getting certified.

There are many fantastic children’s yoga certifications available in the marketplace. Feel free to take any of them, and view our Find a Teacher page for resources in your area. Many yoga teachers typically have certifications and trainings from multiple places. Sydney believes that an adult yoga certification is best, followed by special training in children’s yoga.

Any experience you can obtain in working directly with children – such as babysitting, child care jobs, teaching, and parenthood – will provide you with the best way to learn how to reach children on their level.

If you are using the training to enhance your own life, and/or to teach your own children, you do not need to be certified in yoga. The program is for you, and its effects on your life will be transmitted to your children. Many people enjoy reading the stories as much as they enjoy practicing yoga without asana. The stories can even be used in dharma talks for adults. No matter what you choose to do with the Storytime Yoga™ material, you can always use it for meditation, relaxation, and philosophical reflection.

What happens after I complete the At-Home Training Guides?

Either during or after your completion of the at-home training, you can utilize Sydney for private coaching via telephone or SKYPE. You may also join the dynamic Story-of-the-Month Club and optional online forum if you are interested in furthering your education. People who have completed their at-home training are also invited to attend live retreats, workshops, and events to bring their experiences to the next level. For the most cutting-edge certification, you’ll want to take our annual Storytime Yoga Children's Yoga Teache Certification that commences every September.

What is the League of Yogic Storytellers (LOYS)?

The League of Yogic Storytellers (LOYS) is part of the Story-of-the-Month Club (SOMC) and LOYS membership serves as certified teachers' annual administrative dues as well. It serves certified Storytime Yoga teachers as an online community comprised of individuals who are working to spread the joy and wisdom of yoga and storytelling. The LOYS forum within the SOMC is where networking happens, resources are posted and can listen to audio recordings of the monthly LOYS Q&A and group coaching call.

LOYS is the place where you can share your stories and experiences with other members, engage in lively discussions, trade tips and resources, ask questions and interact with a dynamic community. It includes forum posts of how members are using Storytime Yoga™ and Mythic Yoga™ in their homes and communities.

These individuals are committed to using oral storytelling as a vehicle for spreading the wisdom of yoga. They act as the modern version of the “shaman/minister/healer” by using story and yoga for teaching children and adults, and uniting the community.

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I live outside the United States. Can I still take part in the online trainings and LOYS and the SOMC?

Absolutely. The self-paced At-Home Study Guides and LOYS are designed for international students. You can access the materials and the online group from wherever you are in the world, as long as you have an internet connection.

Past participants of the trainings and LOYS have come from Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Denmark, The Netherlands, Mexico, Hong Kong, India, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Singapore, Egypt, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Cameroon, Bermuda, Argentina, Per, Colombia as well as all over the United States!

What kinds of people join LOYS, the SOMC and train in Storytime Yoga™ and Mythic Yoga™?

People from all walks of life take Storytime Yoga™ and Mythic Yoga™ training. We have many diverse individuals in our current LOYS group. Public and private school teachers, massage therapists, play therapists, school psychologists, librarians, yoga teachers, special education teachers, occupational therapists, mothers, fathers, and others are all welcome to train and join our community.

Essentially, the people who participate in these courses are passionate about the imagination and the body. They strongly believe in the power and art of story, language, and the arts to heal and transform lives. In addition, these people are committed to spreading the benefits of yoga and serving children around the world.

How do I get certified in Storytime Yoga™ ? What are the certification requirements?

View complete certification requirements here.

What can I do with a Storytime Yoga™ Certification?

As a certified Storytime Yoga™ instructor, you can teach yoga classes to children and families in schools, preschools, after-school programs, camps, libraries, in private therapy practice, and at yoga studios. Additionally, you can teach storytelling classes to children, perform, and teach in schools and festivals and as an artist-in-residence. You also have the right to display the Storytime Yoga™ logo on your website. You may call your classes “Storytime Yoga™ ” classes.

Will I receive a certificate at the end of my training?

Completing the At-Home Study Guides alone does not make you certified; you must also meet the additional certification requirements.

If you become a certified Storytime Yoga™ and Mythic Yoga™ teacher, you will receive a certificate upon completion of the necessary work.