Teaching a Storytime™ Yoga Class at the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery

by Jessica Shayna Azeez

Certified Storytime™ Yoga Teacher

A month and a half had elapsed since teaching a Storytime™ Yoga class at the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery. Class was cancelled during the month of February due to the Chinese New Year. Chinese Buddhists begin the year by going to the temple to offer incense and prayers. Liz Nichols and I prepared for our class several days prior to our reunion with the children. Having a phone conversation to review logistics as well as clarify our thinking and look at what was and wasn’t working was very helpful.

I think that meeting the children with a prepared yet not entirely fixed agenda can help to reinforce the structure in the classroom and aid in transitions. In addition, children are very sensitive as well as aware and can perceive the energy and presence of adults. This is even more of a reminder to remain present yet flexible and mindful of our internal thoughts and attitudes in everyday life and especially amongst children.

Something we tried differently this time was beginning in a seated position immediately after entering the room. In our prior classes we would enter the room and remain standing for a circle and song together. I think that grounding the children in a seated position helped to set the stage for “class time.” We did our good morning stretching song in which we sang “Good Morning, Good Morning it’s a Beautiful Day, Good Morning, Good Morning, It’s Nice to see You.”

Since we hadn’t seen each other for several weeks we wanted to check in with how they were feeling. We went around the room, stating our names and how we were feeling in which then we all repeated after one another so that we could embody one another’s energy. For example, I said “Jessica’s feeling happy!” and when I said happy I gave myself a hug. Then all the children repeated after me and did the same hugging motion.

After that we stood up with a great yoga mantra which was inspired by Sydney Solis, “I am a mountain strong and steady, for yoga class I now am ready.” Such a difference this can make. It certainly sets the tone for the experience we’re about to embark on together. The children are invited to repeat after me.

From that declaration we transitioned into a sun salutation song. I love Kira Wiley’s “Dance for the Sun” song. I have her song on my i phone under i tunes. I usually do not to use technology in my classes but when music is involved I enjoy incorporating songs with movement. It can also be nice to hear the instruments accompany the voices in the room. Wiley’s song is a playful exploration of the sun salutations mixed with animal familiarities and silly phrases like “tickle you toes” and “leap like a frog”.

One thing that I love about having another co-teacher in the Storytime™ Yoga classes is that we can support one another and assist the children in their poses. One of us can actually stay stationary to demonstrate the pose while another helps the children to experience the form of the asana. I have found this to be very important because the children will watch us do a yoga pose, flowing from asana to asana, while one of us can help them to experience a fuller and more precise pose.

Afterwards we played Pom Pom Yoga. Liz learned this great activity from her Rainbow Kids Yoga teacher training. This is when we strike a yoga pose and then one of us tries to balance a lightweight pom pom ball on the children. For example a great place to balance a pom pom ball would be on a child’s thigh in warrior 2 pose. Also placing a pom pom on their head during tree pose is great as well.

There are a number of engaging poses to do with children while they balance a pom pom ball and the task becomes more fun when they have to try to not let the pom pom ball fall. To gather all the pom poms, we sat down and used our yogi breaths to blow them to the center. This was another idea from the Rainbow Kids Yoga training. An adult then picked the balls up and placed them back into the pom pom bag.

Since we were already seated, it was a great time to start the story. During the last class we decided to read a book to the children. I love telling stories orally but reading books to them is also very much enjoyed by them. I chose a spring-inspired story called, “Who’s Awake in Springtime?” The children loved the images in the book and even helped to read the story with me.

After the book it was time for shavasana. We tried a great technique that Liz had in mind of placing a glass bead on each child’s forehead while in shavasana, another practice from Rainbow Kids Yoga. It was magic to see them all there in silence and relaxation. I think that they really enjoyed the placement of the bead on their third eye.

While in shavasana I guided them through each part of their skeletal system and encouraged them to relax. After some time, we went around the room and gently took the beads off of their foreheads. This helped to signal that shavasana was over.

They came back up to a seated position and we transitioned into the last activity of art. Liz made copies of yogic yantras and themed images and they enjoyed coloring them with crayons and markers. This concluded the Storytime™ Yoga portion of the class.

The children helped to clean up and met me in a line where one by one I presented them with a sticker. Many of them asked for it to be on their third eye. Meanwhile Liz gracefully helped other children to finish cleaning up. After they received their sticker they walked back to reconvene with their parents.

I always enjoy teaching a Storytime™ Yoga class and feel like I am acquiring more and more tricks up my sleeve for how to handle excited and rambonxious children. I am grateful for Storytime™ Yoga, my co-worker Liz Nichols, the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, the Family Sangha, and of course the families and children who join us every 2^nd Sunday of the month.

Namaste, Jessica Shayna Azeez

Related Posts:
Tips for Teaching Yoga to Preschoolers Using Story
Storytime™ Yoga for Kids with a Waldorf-Inspired Approach
Kids Love Little Toys and Props in Yoga Class!