Visiting Feelings ~ a book with heart & purpose

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Be still by heart…. look at this gorgeous book “Visiting Feelings” coming out in September by Lauren Rubenstein! It is currently available on Amazon.com for pre-order for $10.17 hardcover (32% off). Release date: 9/15/13.
Order at: http://amzn.com/1433813394.

I just ordered a copy and am challenging everyone who follows my page to do the same.

This is the first time I have put forth a challenge like this. Why? And for a book I haven’t even seen in person yet?

Read this description: “Beautifully descriptive prose and delightful illustrations cultivate a message of mindfulness and emotional awareness to help children fully experience the present moment. Rather than labeling or defining specific emotions and feelings, Visiting Feelings invites children to sense, explore, and befriend any feeling with acceptance and equanimity. Children can explore their emotions with their senses and nurture a sense of mindfulness. Gaining this objectivity allows space for a more considered response to the feelings. Practicing mindfulness can also enhance many aspects of well-being, help develop insight, empathy, and resiliency. Includes a “Note to Parents to provide more information about emotional awareness, and suggests ways to seamlessly incorporate mindfulness practices into your child and family’s daily routines.”

If that’s not enough to seal the deal, read this review on Anxiety-Free Child: http://anxietyfreechild.com/visiting-feelings/.

And she is donating the proceeds to Go Give Yoga http://www.gogiveyoga.org/volunteers/lauren-rubenstein-psyd

Wouldn’t it be cool if this book went viral and sold out even before it’s released?!

Please “like” and “share” this pic with as many folks as you can: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.602434699807539.1073741861.174264525957894&type=1&l=a203d9abc7

Sneek Peek inside the book: visiting feelings2

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Feel free to comment and “tag” your FB page or include the link to your blog or website.

{this is my first time to try out blogging via the WordPress app on my iPhone…. so I may have to fix links via a computer later}

#Mindfulness #socialemotionaldevelopment #kidsyoga #yogaforkids #kidslit #ece #Haiti #payitforward #charity #sharethesparkle

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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, IAYT, RCYP-2

Speech-Language Pathologist

Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities

Radiant Child Yoga Certified – Levels 1 & 2

E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga

Contests & Giveaways on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsContestsandGiveaways

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/#omazing-kids-yoga

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741

Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad

Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com

OMazing Kids LLC is an organization that promotes inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities. The blog and social media pages share information about books, DVD’s, CD’s, games and other products specifically designed for kids wellness, mindfulness and relaxation, product reviews & giveaways, lesson plan & activity ideas, research, kids wellness in the news and a connection corner with listings of individuals doing adapted yoga and those offering trainings.

NOTE: Please ignore any ads that appear below the crayons divider bar or any ads or unusual hyperlinks that may appear above. This is a free blog site & I have no control over ads appearing here.

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Review & Mobile-Friendly Giveaway: Kids Yoga 100 Coloring Book + Crayon Rocks

mobile friendly Kids Yoga 100 giveaway

New mobile-friendly giveaway on OMazing Kids! Enter to win a copy of Kids Yoga 100 : An Interactive Yoga Coloring Book + a set of Crayon Rocks……

Product Description:  Kids Yoga 100 : An Interactive Yoga Coloring Book written and illustrated by Jodie Taylor. Includes 100 coloring sheets of different yoga postures including: 64 Individual Poses, 8 Sequence Savers, 24 Mini Sequences and 4 Partner Poses. The individual poses are listed in categories by the color of the rainbow for creative fun and easy sequencing. The yoga poses are all labeled with common children’s yoga names, and where possible, sanskrit names have been included. There are instructions on how to use the book along with a table of contents to guide you through it. Each page also includes a brief set of suggestions on how to do the pose(s) and how to include in a children’s yoga sequence, as well as any reasons not to engage in yoga. Retail price is $9.99.

More info: http://full-moon-yoga.com/kids-yoga-100/

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Jodi is also including a set of her favorite “Crayon Rocks” in the giveaway:
  • Crayon Rocks are all natural soy wax crayons made from USA grown soybeans and colored with mineral pigments.
  • The colors are vibrant and can be layered to make beautifully textured art work.
  • They were designed to strengthen the tripod grip muscles, preparing fingers and hands for handwriting.
  • The shape allows small fingers to color in large, wide strokes creating pictures rich in color.
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Here’s what I love about the book:
  • The amount of detail packed into this book is phenomenal….. especially for a book priced under $10.00! I love that easy-to-follow instructions & the benefits are listed on each page. Makes it perfect to send with students after a yoga class for home practice or to use in classrooms as a “yoga break”.
  • Great info in the Intro section will make it easy for kids, parents, teachers & caregivers to implement the strategies safely.
  • Love how the poses are organized into categories by the focus of the pose & that the categories correspond to the colors of the rainbow.
  • The Mini Sequences & Sequence Saver sections are my faves! Great way to get ideas on how to combine poses into a flow.
  • Jodi’s creativity & passion shines through in her hand drawn illustrations….. so cool!
  • Eco-friendly printing – The book is printed on 50% recycled and 30% post consumer waste paper.
  • Part of the proceeds of this coloring book  help to fund local community kids yoga programs. This included recent sponsorship of 7 new kids yoga teachers at the Tahoe Radiant Child Level I to III Children’s Yoga Teacher Training.

Jodi sent me a set of the Crayon Rocks to try out too….. very cool! Many of the kids I work with have a difficult time holding traditional crayons so I love the unique shape of these. I also love the unique look they add to artwork with broad swaths of color on the paper. You can even give the picture a quick buff with tissue or the palm of the hand to blend the colors & give it a slight “waxed” appearance (see pic above).

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Table of Contents:
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Great info in the Intro section:
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All of the info is fabulous….. but here are a few “faves” to give you a feel for the book:
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The back cover of the coloring book depicts a sample rainbow coloring yoga sequence that you can create, color and do, to help stay happy, and, healthy.
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Purchase: Available on Amazon.com & from the publisher (Mira Smart).

Be sure to sign up for Jodi’s blog posts via e-mail: http://www.fullmoonyoga.org/ & “like” her page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toadiejaylor to get the free kids yoga sequences she shares!

More info about the author: Jodie Taylor is, first and foremost, a mom! She is also a children’s yoga facilitator, artist and founder of http://www.fullmoonyoga.org. She enjoys sharing yoga and art with her kids and all the kids in her beloved community of South Lake Tahoe, California. She has a B.A. from the University of Toronto, Canada. She took her 200 Hr RYT at the Yoga Tree in San Francisco, California and is now working on her mentorship to complete her 95 Hr RCYT with Radiant Child.
– 

Disclaimer: I received a free sample of this product to facilitate my review.  Opinions expressed are my own.Starting in 2013, a new component of reviews & giveaways hosted on OMazing Kids is that a review will be added on Amazon.com (for products sold on that site). See my Amazon profile at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A1JKVLELLSX7FD?ie=UTF8&ref_=cm_aya_bb_pdp.

Giveaway (chevron)

New Mobile-Friendly Entry: http://bit.ly/17TrzwZ

  • Helpful Info & Tips: To access the tab via Facebook or to use any of the FB entry options, you have to be logged in as yourself (not a fan page). This is my first time to try out Rafflecopter. Folks had requested a simpler mobile-friendly entry option. After researching all the “free” options I could find, I’ve decided to try this out. I tried it out on my iPhone and it appears to work. In the event that you experience difficulties with the Rafflecopter entry tab, please e-mail me specific details so I can attempt to fix it. E-mail to: amoorad1@juno.com . The entry deadline may be extended at the sole discretion of OMazing Kids in the event of prolonged entry tab problems
  • Each “giveaway” is handled separately on OMazing Kids. So there are no rules prohibiting previous winners from entering this or future giveaways. I really do read every entry in every giveaway carefully to insure that the products end up in the best hands to impact kids lives.
  • In order to simplify the entry process, I have eliminated the “A Way to Give” portion….. unfortunately few folks were interested in going through the extra steps to do so.

Entry Deadline: 11:59pm CST on August 27, 2013.

Rules of Participation:

  • Must be 18 years or older with a valid e-mail address.
  • International entries are allowed for this particular giveaway.
  • Employees or family members of OMazing Kids, LLC or the product’s company are not eligible.
  • No purchase required.
  • Comments submitted via entries may be copied & pasted into the blog post.
  • Odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries received.
  • The winner will be chosen from valid entries on August 28, 2013. NOTE: Even though I am using Rafflecopter, I will still be hand selecting winners to insure products end up in the hands of folks who will put them to the best use. Briefly tell me how winning this would help you & the kids. I take the time to read each entry so details count. It doesn’t have to be lengthy…. just heart-felt.

3 winners will each receive one copy of the book + one 8-pc. set of Crayon Rocks

7 winners will each receive one copy of the book

  • The winner will be notified via e-mail, will be posted on the blog post & will be posted on the OMazing Kids Facebook page. The company offering the prize may also post the winner’s name on their website, blog, Facebook page and/or other social media sites at their discretion.
  • The winner’s address will be forwarded to the company and they will be mailing the prizes directly to the winners. Any questions about the prize should be directed to that company. After I e-mail the winner’s info to the company, it is their responsibility to mail out prizes. Please contact them first if you are concerned about not receiving a prize. If that does not resolve the problem, then feel free to e-mail me and I will glad to assist in whatever way I can.
  • Prize Value: $9.99 book, $4.75 crayon rocks

Other Legal Stuff: I know it’s just a kids yoga book & crayons but just to be safe here is all the legal stuff…

This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. You are providing your information to OMazing Kids, LLC and not to Facebook. The information you provide will only be used for our internal purposes in relation to the administration of the giveaway. Your information will NOT be sold to any outside parties.

Indemnification/Hold Harmless: By participating, entrants agree: (a) to the decisions of OMazing Kids, LLC, which shall be final in all respects; (b) to release, discharge, and hold harmless OMazing Kids, LLC and its respective representatives and agents from all liability, injuries, losses or damages of any kind to persons or property resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the acceptance, possession, misuse or use of a prize, or from participation in and/or entry into the Contest or any Contest-related activity and for acceptance, delivery, or use of any prize; (c) that the foregoing parties have neither made nor are in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representation or guaranty, expressed or implied, in fact or in law, relating to any prize.

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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, IAYT, RCYP-2

Speech-Language Pathologist

Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities

Radiant Child Yoga Certified – Levels 1 & 2

E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga

Contests & Giveaways on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsContestsandGiveaways

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/#omazing-kids-yoga

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741

Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad

Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com

OMazing Kids LLC is an organization that promotes inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities. The blog and social media pages share information about books, DVD’s, CD’s, games and other products specifically designed for kids wellness, mindfulness and relaxation, product reviews & giveaways, lesson plan & activity ideas, research, kids wellness in the news and a connection corner with listings of individuals doing adapted yoga and those offering trainings.

NOTE: Please ignore any ads that appear below the crayons divider bar or any ads or unusual hyperlinks that may appear above. This is a free blog site & I have no control over ads appearing here. I have attempted to remove the CouponDropDown but no luck so far…. DO NOT click on any hyperlinks unless you hover above them first to insure they are valid. Ones I included should appear in blue font.

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Assistive Technology Consultation & Supports to Schools Eliminated by the Oklahoma State Department of Education ~ call to action!

Assistive Technology consultation & supports to public schools have essentially been eliminated by the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

What?! How? A long-standing contract with the Oklahoma Assistive Technology Center (OATC) was quietly allowed to lapse at the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2013. Interesting that this happened during the summer when schools & parent advocacy groups would be less likely to notice.

Until this issue is resolved, OATC is unable to accept requests for Assistive Technology Consultations, Assistive Technology Evaluations,  Assistive Technology Technical Assistance or Trainings, or Assistive  Technology Equipment Loans.  OATC has been a valuable gem of a resource in our state for over 20 years. It will be a huge loss for individuals with special needs in our state if these or similar services are not resumed.

Contact info for OSDE to express concern about the lapse in Assistive Technology consultation & support for schools in our state: (405) 521-3301; sdeservicedesk@sde.ok.gov .

I wonder what influence a social media, blog, e-mail & phone call blitz might have?! I can’t just sit on the sidelines and watch these services quietly disappear in our state. Who’s with me?

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Disclaimer: I have no financial interest in any contracts with OSDE or OATC. My only “interest” in this situation is in advocating in services for individuals with special needs in Oklahoma. I am engaging in this social media campaign on my personal time. It is in no way related to my place of employment.

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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, IAYT, RCYP-2

Speech-Language Pathologist

Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities

Radiant Child Yoga Certified – Levels 1 & 2

E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741

Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad

Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com

OMazing Kids LLC is an organization that promotes inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities. The blog and social media pages share information about books, DVD’s, CD’s, games and other products specifically designed for kids wellness, mindfulness and relaxation, product reviews & giveaways, lesson plan & activity ideas, research, kids wellness in the news and a connection corner with listings of individuals doing adapted yoga and those offering trainings.

NOTE: Please ignore any ads that appear below the crayons divider bar or any ads or unusual hyperlinks that may appear above. This is a free blog site & I have no control over ads appearing here. I have attempted to remove the CouponDropDown but no luck so far…. DO NOT click on any hyperlinks unless you hover above them first to insure they are valid. Ones I included should appear in blue font.

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Review & A Way To Give Giveaway: Luke’s Beach Day from Kids Yoga Stories

Product Description:  

Give Your Children the Healthy Benefits of Yoga with this Kids Yoga Stories Adventure Book. Join Luke’s beach adventure. Hop like a kangaroo, perch like a sea gull, and rest like a sea star as you act out this journey on an East Coast Australian beach. What else might you see? Learn something new, explore movement, and have fun together! Kids Yoga Stories introduce you to engaging characters who will get your child laughing, moving, and creating. Reading is good for the mind AND body! The story links several yoga poses in a specific sequence to create a coherent and meaningful story. This book for ages 4 to 8 is more than a storybook, but it’s also a unique experience for children.
  • Paperback: 46 pages
  • Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (May 7, 2013)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1481159127
  • ISBN-13: 978-1481159128
  • Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.2 inches
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Here’s what I love about the book:
  • Great eco-friendly theme as Luke & his friends clean up along the way in their adventure at the beach!
  • Each page in the book includes the targeted pose in bold font in the text & a picture of the pose in the top corner. This makes it easy to keep the flow in a kids yoga storytime especially for those who are new to yoga and may not know all the poses. Additional details are provided in the back of the book.
  • There are 18 poses in the book. Plenty to fill most kids yoga classes for the targeted age range (4-8 year olds). For a longer class, you could add poses for other animals or things you might see in the ocean or at a beach and talk about eco-friendly choices to extend the theme. Suggestions are provided in the book.
  • The Kids Yoga Stories Guide section at the end of the book is full of great tips for setting up a fun & safe yoga storytime for kids. Love this: “Ooze creativity, imagination and abundance. Encourage each child to tap into his or her own creativity and imagination through movement and breath. Welcome quiet times for reflection. Pause often. Remember, it’s not the end result, but the journey where miracles happen…“. Giselle’s passion and love for kids shines through :)
  • Love the inclusion of Savasana at the end of the book.
  • The book has bright colorful illustrations & a nice easy-to-read font size.
  • The book is available in English & Spanish versions.
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A look inside the book:
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Purchase: Available on Amazon (on the date of this post all of the Kids Yoga Stories books were on sale…. go check it out!) & the author’s website (also available in Spanish as “Lucas en un Dia en la Playa: Un Cuento de Yoga para Niños
Divertido y Educativo”).

Be sure to sign up for their newsletter & check out the great “free resources” section on their website:

http://www.kidsyogastories.com/free-resources/. She often shares free lesson plan ideas!

They are also on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KidsYogaStories, Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/kidsyogastories/ & Twitter: http://twitter.com/kidsyogastories.

More info about the author: http://www.kidsyogastories.com/about/.
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Disclaimer: I received a free sample of this product to facilitate my review.  Opinions expressed are my own.Starting in 2013, a new component of reviews & giveaways hosted on OMazing Kids is that a review will be added on Amazon.com (for products sold on that site). See my Amazon profile at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A1JKVLELLSX7FD?ie=UTF8&ref_=cm_aya_bb_pdp.

A Way to Give - Giveaway

How to enter the A Way to Give – Giveaway:

  • Required Entry Method: Enter via the “Giveaways” tab on the OMazing Kids – Contests & Giveaways Facebook page (http://a.pgtb.me/plpbTf) & mention why this book would be helpful to you. Also nominate a friend, relative, teacher, therapist, school, clinic, library, etc… it can be any individual (other than yourself) or setting & tell us why they would benefit from having it (details will count in selecting the winner). Only entries that include a nomination will be valid…. so take the time to think of someone besides yourself who would benefit from having this. (comments must be in English; must include full first & last name; must use respectful people-first language, 1 entry per person).
  • Bonus Entry Options:
    1. Invite some friends to “like” the OMazing Kids Facebook page (comment here on this blog post to let me know you did)
    2. Share this review on Facebook & include a @OMazing Kids to tag my page – (comment here on this blog post to let me know you did)
  • Helpful Info & Tips: I use the “Giveaways” tab because it saves me the step having to obtain your mailing address – the info you complete on the tab comes directly to me via an e-mail. FYI…. I use a free app from Shortstack for that tab and have no control over technical difficulties either on their end or on Facebook. The Facebook tab may not work on a cell phone. If you experience that, try again on a computer. Make sure you are logged in as yourself (not a page) when using the tab. In the event that you experience difficulties with the FB entry tab, please e-mail me specific details so I can attempt to fix it. E-mail to: amoorad1@juno.com . The entry deadline may be extended at the sole discretion of OMazing Kids in the event of prolonged entry tab problems
  • Each “giveaway” is handled separately on OMazing Kids. So there are no rules prohibiting previous winners from entering this or future giveaways. I really do read every entry in every giveaway carefully to insure that the products end up in the best hands to impact kids lives.

Entry Deadline: 11:59pm CST on August 6, 2013.

Rules of Participation:

  • Must be 18 years or older with a valid e-mail address.
  • International entries are allowed for this particular giveaway.
  • Employees or family members of OMazing Kids, LLC or the product’s company are not eligible.
  • No purchase required.
  • Comments submitted via the Enter Giveaways Here…. tab on Facebook may be copied & pasted into the blog post.
  • Odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries received.
  • The winner will be chosen from valid entries on August 7, 2013.

The winner & the person/place they nominate will each receive 1 copy of this book.

(This is the “A Way To Give” portion of giveaways on OMazing Kids. I was inspired to make giveaways more meaningful after this experience. Think of it as a way to plant some seeds.)

  • The winner will be notified via e-mail, will be posted on the blog post & will be posted on the OMazing Kids Facebook page. The company offering the prize may also post the winner’s name on their website, blog, Facebook page and/or other social media sites at their discretion.
  • The winner’s address will be forwarded to the company and they will be mailing the prizes directly to the winners. Any questions about the prize should be directed to the company.
  • Prize Value: $15.95

Other Legal Stuff: I know it’s just a kids yoga book but just to be safe here is all the legal stuff…

This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. You are providing your information to OMazing Kids, LLC and not to Facebook. The information you provide will only be used for our internal purposes in relation to the administration of the giveaway. Your information will NOT be sold to any outside parties.

Indemnification/Hold Harmless: By participating, entrants agree: (a) to the decisions of OMazing Kids, LLC, which shall be final in all respects; (b) to release, discharge, and hold harmless OMazing Kids, LLC and its respective representatives and agents from all liability, injuries, losses or damages of any kind to persons or property resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the acceptance, possession, misuse or use of a prize, or from participation in and/or entry into the Contest or any Contest-related activity and for acceptance, delivery, or use of any prize; (c) that the foregoing parties have neither made nor are in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representation or guaranty, expressed or implied, in fact or in law, relating to any prize.

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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, IAYT, RCYP-2

Speech-Language Pathologist

Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities

Radiant Child Yoga Certified – Levels 1 & 2

E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsYoga

Contests & Giveaways on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OMazingKidsContestsandGiveaways

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/amoorad

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/amoorad1

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/OMazingKids/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/#omazing-kids-yoga

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110305433538768736741

Boardmaker Share: http://www.boardmakershare.com/Community/FriendsProfile/10916/Angela-Moorad

Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com

OMazing Kids LLC is an organization that promotes inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities. The blog and social media pages share information about books, DVD’s, CD’s, games and other products specifically designed for kids wellness, mindfulness and relaxation, product reviews & giveaways, lesson plan & activity ideas, research, kids wellness in the news and a connection corner with listings of individuals doing adapted yoga and those offering trainings.

NOTE: Please ignore any ads that appear below the crayons divider bar or any ads or unusual hyperlinks that may appear above. This is a free blog site & I have no control over ads appearing here. I have attempted to remove the CouponDropDown but no luck so far…. DO NOT click on any hyperlinks unless you hover above them first to insure they are valid. Ones I included should appear in blue font.

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The Best Lesson Plan ~ Follow Your Passion

I have had several inquiries this week regarding recommendations for the best kids yoga teacher trainings, where to find lesson plans & how I create my lesson plans. There’s not a simple answer.

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I do what works for me & for the kids I see. I work in a very unique setting with very unique kids. The JD McCarty Center is a pediatric rehab hospital for kids with developmental disabilities. We serve kids ages birth to 21 years of age & the patients are assigned to therapeutic groups by their treatment team (which I may or may not be a part of). The kids in my theraeutic yoga group change from week to week depending on admissions & discharges from the hospital (think “revolving door”…. some kids will overlap in their time in the group but not much). So I don’t have the luxury of having a long period of time to teach yoga foundations that I can then build upon in later sessions. We’ve had a few patients stay with us an extended time that have gotten to be in our therapeutic yoga group over several months…. but that’s the exception not the rule. I’ve had kids as young as 2 1/2 yrs. & as old as 20 yrs. in the same class. Not ideal but I made it work. When I did yoga at our summer camps, the kids ranged from 8-16 years. Again…. not ideal but I made it work. The only time I’ve been able to set my own age parameters for a class was the “inclusive” kids yoga class I offered last summer for kids ages 4-8 years. Even then that was not an ideal age range (big difference between 4 yr olds & 8 yr olds in attention span, interests, size, physical abilities (including balance), etc…) but I had to make it that broad in order to get enough kids registered to be able to offer it.

My 24 years of experience as a pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist has taught me how to modify everything “in the moment” to meet individual needs (not just in kids yoga but in everything I do). I am always equipped with visual supports & props (because I know they are helpful for most of our patients). I always have a general idea / lesson plan of what my goals or intentions are for a kids yoga class (just like I plan for my speech therapy treatment sessions). But I’m not tied to the plan. It becomes obvious very quickly when I am going to need to modify in the moment. I have had several patients lately with physical limitations & orthotics that made it very difficult to transition from sitting to standing. I often don’t know that until they show up in my class. So I modify poses & activities in the moment so that all kids can be included & feel successful.

While I learned alot in my yoga teacher trainings, it is not the only info I use to create my classes. I have attended several other trainings, have read lots of books, reviewed lots of materials & constantly gain new ideas from blogs & social media sites. I also incorporate all that I know about developmentally appropriate practices, child development & inclusive practices from all the continuing ed I have attended over my career and life lessons along the way. I incorporate arts & crafts, music & books into my kids yoga classes. How I do it depends on the needs of the kids in that particular class.

One of the most frequent requests I get via e-mail & Facebook comments or messaging is asking for a recommendation for “THE best kids yoga teacher training”. My typical response is “there are LOTS of great kids yoga trainings out there. The best one for YOU depends on lots of factors: where you will be teaching kids yoga (a yoga studio? school? hospital? yoga-themed birthday parties? camps?), what ages of kids you will be working with, will you also be offering “family yoga” or “mommy/parent & me yoga”, if your classes be inclusive (include kids with special needs), where you live or your ability to travel to a training (both time & expense), the amount of $$$ you have to invest in a training, etc…”

Most yoga teacher trainings include info about developing lesson plans and/or materials that will give you inspiration for lesson plans. But there is no perfect lesson plan. Please don’t be offended…… I LOVE lesson plans. You see me sharing them all the time. They are great inspiration for ideas. But if you have a lesson plan that you love so much that you can’t deviate from it or modify it in the moment, it’s a recipe for disappoinment / disaster. In my opinion, that holds true regardless of the particular kids in your class (2 or teen, with or without special needs) or where you will be teaching. You need to be flexible to connect with each individual.

My advice is to combine what you learn in any kids yoga teacher training with everything you already know & already love to develop lesson plans that work for you. They will then be from YOUR heart…. from YOUR passion. So I guess there really is a “simple” answer….. “Follow your passion”. You can’t go wrong with that 🙂

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 I love to connect & exchange ideas! Feel free to leave a comment below or on the OMazing Kids Facebook page :)

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Angela Moorad, MS, CCC-SLP, IAYT, RCYP-2

Speech-Language Pathologist

Founder of OMazing Kids, LLC – inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities

Radiant Child Yoga Certified – Levels 1 & 2

E-Mail: amoorad1@juno.com

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Blog: http://omazingkidsllc.com

OMazing Kids LLC is an organization that promotes inclusive wellness activities for kids of all abilities. The blog and social media pages share information about books, DVD’s, CD’s, games and other products specifically designed for kids wellness, mindfulness and relaxation, product reviews & giveaways, lesson plan & activity ideas, research, kids wellness in the news and a connection corner with listings of individuals doing adapted yoga and those offering trainings.

NOTE: Please ignore any ads that appear below the crayons divider bar or any ads or unusual hyperlinks that may appear above. This is a free blog site & I have no control over ads appearing here. I have attempted to remove the CouponDropDown but no luck so far…. DO NOT click on any hyperlinks unless you hover above them first to insure they are valid. Ones I included should appear in blue font.

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