Parents Need Yoga, Too (FREE yoga classes for grownups)

This fall, Shining Kids Yoga is offering 3 FREE outdoor yoga classes for adults in Rockville, MD. Class will be held on Thursdays from 9:00 - 9:45 a.m. on September 5, 12, and 26 (no class on September 19)

ABOUT THE CLASS:

Start your morning with bliss and relaxation surrounded by the beauty of nature, green grass, and the nurturing shade and cool breeze of the trees.
This class for adults (18+) and is appropriate for those new to yoga as well as those who want a slower paced class focused on pose alignment, breathwork, and meditation.Classes will include the sun salutation sequence and a variety of standing, balancing, backbending, and seated poses. Variations and modifications will be offered for poses to help each participant adapt the practice to their body.

Each week will include a different theme and pose focus:

September 5 - grounding/stability - standing poses
September 12 - connecting to the Earth - seated and supine poses
September 26 - Fall Equinox celebration - creating balance

Because this class is held outside please be aware that the ground may be uneven. **In case of rain, class will be cancelled.**

Location: 400 Casey Lane, Rockville, MD 20850 (outside the Fallsgrove Clubhouse building)

To receive class updates/rain cancellation notices, register online (FREE class): Outdoor Yoga for Adults Series

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:

This class will be taught by Andrea Creel, yoga teacher and owner of Shining Kids Yoga & Inspiration Yoga & Wellness LLC. Andrea has been teaching yoga for over 19 years and has been a resident of Fallsgrove since 2002.

How to Play the Color Yoga Game

One of my favorite things about teaching yoga to young children is the infinite ways to turn children’s love of sharing about themselves into a game AND a way to practice yoga!

The Color Yoga Game allows children to share their favorite colors with the yoga teacher and their friends and is a HIT in my classes for children ages 3-5.

Rules:

  • teacher names a color and shows a yoga pose card

  • any child who likes that color does the pose

  • children may select as many colors as they want!

This is an easy and fun way to get children to practice many yoga poses. I recommend holding the pose and counting to 5 or 10.

Here are some colors you can use during the game: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, white, black, brown, RAINBOW (a preschool favorite color), peach, teal, beige/tan, indigo, violet, maroon, gold, silver


Andrea Creel, MSW, LMSW, E-RYT 200, YACEP

Andrea is the founder of Shining Kids Yoga, which began as an after-school program at her son's elementary school in 2014. She has been teaching yoga to all ages since 2005.  Andrea completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Tranquil Space Yoga in Washington, D.C. In addition, she received specialized training in children’s yoga from the Radiant Child Yoga program, training in postnatal yoga from Baby OM,  and training in therapeutic yoga from  The Samarya Center.

Andrea is the author of Mystery Pose: A Yoga Guessing Game (affiliate link) and the creator of two yoga card games for kids: Double the Fun Yoga Cards and Yoga Pose or Dare. She is also the creator and facilitator of the Shining Kids Yoga Kids Yoga Teacher Training, a 17-hour certification program in teaching yoga to kids.

When not teaching or practicing yoga, Andrea enjoys playing board games with her son, Quinn, singing karaoke, and trying out new vegetarian recipes!

3 Ways to Teach Lovingkindness to Kids

Note: As an Amazon Associate, Shining Kids Yoga earns from qualifying purchases from the links in this article.

Lovingkindness (metta) meditation is a well known meditation practice that builds feelings of love and being loved by sending words of love and kindness to yourself, loved ones, and all beings in ever widening circles. This meditation is traditionally practiced by adults, but there are many ways this meditation can be adapted for children as young as 3.

Below are three ways you can teach and practice lovingkindness meditation with young children:


.1. Lovingkindness Fill-In-The Blank Activity Sheet
Download Shining Kids Yoga's Lovingkindness Meditation Activity Sheet. This simple activity sheet guides children step-by-step in creating their own unique meditation sending love and kindness to the special people in their lives. Click to get your free download (for personal and educational use only): https://shiningkidsyoga.com/store/lovingkindnessworksheet

2. Read Along Meditation: Audrey’s Journey: Loving Kindness by Kerry Alison Wekelo

This book teaches the practice of lovingkindess meditation in a simple-child friendly way, through the eyes of a girl named Audrey. Audrey offers wishes of lovingkindness to herself, her brother, her mom, her dad, and all beings. Children can easily repeat these wishes along with Audrey. After reading the book, I like to ask each child in my class who else they want to offer lovingkindness to, and I love hearing all of their sweet responses, including wishing lovingkindness to their cat, their stuffed animals, grandparents, and friends. Even though I’ve recommended this book for ages 5-10, I’ve also had great success reading it and practicing the meditation with older preschool/pre-k students, too!

3. Guided Audio Lovingkindness Relaxation for Kids

The child-friendly guided audio relaxation below teaches the practice of lovingkindness (metta) meditation to young children. Perfect for Valentine's Day or any day of the year! This child-friendly meditation will help your child feel more calm, happy, and loved. Children can listen to this lovingkindness meditation at bedtime or anytime they want to feel more kind, loving, and peaceful.

Narration by Andrea Creel, founder of Shining Kids Yoga http://www.shiningkidsyoga.com Music by David Fesliyan Image by Brett Sayles from Pexels https://shadowburn.org


Andrea Creel, MSW, LMSW, E-RYT 200, YACEP

Andrea is the founder of Shining Kids Yoga, which began as an after-school program at her son's elementary school in 2014. She has been teaching yoga to all ages since 2005.  Andrea completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Tranquil Space Yoga in Washington, D.C. In addition, she received specialized training in children’s yoga from the Radiant Child Yoga program, training in postnatal yoga from Baby OM,  and training in therapeutic yoga from  The Samarya Center.

Andrea is the author of Mystery Pose: A Yoga Guessing Game (affiliate link) and the creator of two yoga card games for kids: Double the Fun Yoga Cards and Yoga Pose or Dare. She is also the creator and facilitator of the Shining Kids Yoga Kids Yoga Teacher Training, a 17-hour certification program in teaching yoga to kids.

When not teaching or practicing yoga, Andrea enjoys playing board games with her son, Quinn, singing karaoke, and trying out new vegetarian recipes!

Gratitude Meditation for Kids

Help your child feel calm and build their “gratitude muscle with this relaxing guided meditation from Shining Kids Yoga founder, Andrea Creel!

Close your eyes, let your body relax and be still. Take a deep breath in through your nose, deep breath out through your mouth. As you close your eyes, imagine in your mind, someone in your family who you love very much. It could be your mom or dad, or brother or sister, or grandma or grandpa. Think about something wonderful that they have done for you that you are grateful for. Maybe they give good hugs, or they’ve taken you somewhere special, or they give good food for you to eat. Take a moment in your mind to imagine that person and thank them for something that you are grateful for. And now take a moment to imagine one of your friends, you can imagine them in your mind and think about things about your friend that you are thankful for. Maybe they play fun games with you, maybe they’re kind to you when you’re sad. Take a moment to remember all the things that you are grateful for about your friend. And now imagine in your mind, your favorite teacher. It could be your teacher at school this year or it could be a teacher in the past or it could be someone who has taught you a special activity like soccer or music. Imagine that teacher in your mind and think about what you are grateful for. Maybe they’ve taught you something important. Maybe they have been kind to you - whatever it is, take a moment to be thankful and remember all the wonderful things that teacher has done. And now take a few moments to think of three things in your life that you are thankful for - maybe it’s something in nature - the beautiful trees or a sunny day. Maybe it’s something that you have in your life - like enough yummy food to eat or a cozy bed to sleep in at night. Maybe it is special experiences that you’ve gotten to have in your life - like going to school or on a special trip. Whatever it is, take a moment to remind yourself of those things that you are thankful for in your life.

Take a deep breath in through your nose, deep breath out through your mouth. Remember how lucky and special you are. Remembering all the wonderful people and things that you have in your life; being grateful for everyone and everything.

As you rest and relax, you can keep thinking of more and more things that you are thankful for. Take a deep breath in, deep breath out. Filling your heart and mind with love and gratitude as you rest and relax.

Meditation created and narrated by Andrea Creel

Fall 2023 Yoga Class Registration Is Open - Classes Start End of September

YOGA FOR KIDS in Rockville, Potomac, Bethesda, Olney/Brookville, Germantown, and Silver Spring, Maryland

Shining Kids Yoga is bringing our award-winning after-school yoga programs to MCPS Elementary Schools this fall! Children will learn yoga poses, deep breathing, meditation, and relaxation techniques in a fun, interactive environment. Each class ends with a period of meditation and deep relaxation.

All of our instructors have years of experience working with children and have specialized training in teaching yoga to children.

Yoga Classes will be offered at the following schools:

Arcola Elementary

Bayard Rustin Elementary

Beverly Farms Elementary

Cedar Grove Elementary

Fallsmead Elementary

Farmland Elementary

Flower Valley Elementary

Greenwood Elementary

Oakland Terrace Elementary

Ritchie Park Elementary

Rock Creek Forest Elementary

Sherwood Elementary

Wyngate Elementary

Register today at www.shiningkidsyoga.com/registration

Questions? Email info@shiningkidsyoga.com

Feel the Love: Lovingkindness Meditation for Kids

Lovingkindness (metta) meditation is a well known meditation practice that builds feelings of love and being loved.

Enjoy this child-friendly guided audio relaxation that teaches the practice of lovingkindness (metta) meditation to young children. Perfect for Valentine's Day or any day of the year! This child-friendly meditation will help your child feel more calm, happy, and loved.

Online Yoga Games That Kids Will Love!

As an Amazon Associate, Shining Kids Yoga earns from qualifying purchases from the links in this blog

“In every job that must be done 

 there is an element of fun.

 You find the fun and snap!

 The job’s a game.” 

- Robert B. Sherman, Richard M. Sherman, “A Spoonful of Sugar,” Mary Poppins


As anyone who has taught or watched a kids yoga class knows, teaching yoga to kids is very different from teaching an adult yoga class.  Keeping the attention of students and presenting material in a way that is accessible and engaging means that we need a lot of tricks in our kids yoga teacher toolbox. In my classes, I use many different modalities to make yoga more exciting and fun for children including songs, creative & imaginative play, art, and games.  However, especially for the elementary school age group (ages 5-10), games are one of my favorite and most well-received activities. 

In yoga class, games turn learning and challenges into fun by finding creative ways to engage children in learning yoga poses (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation (dharana). I’ve also used games to teach children the sanskrit names of yoga poses and help them understand the yamas and niyamas. Games also teach important developmental skills including: cooperation, teamwork, honesty, concentration, rule-following, and strengthening short-term memory.   In a 15 minute yoga game, children can practice upwards of 20 yoga poses and breathing techniques.  Games also allow for repetition of poses which leads to mastery.

Some of the games we play in my kids classes are “yoga-ized” adaptations of traditional and ubiquitous children’s games like “Duck Duck Goose” “The Floor Is Lava” and “Simon Says”. Other games I created specifically for use in yoga class and a few were created by students themselves.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when yoga classes moved online, I had to think carefully about how to adapt or create new games that would work in this novel medium. Some games that I had used in my in-person classes translated easily with few or no adjustments.  Others required rule changes or creative adjustments to get them to work. And some work even better online than in-person due to the ability to show images close up and larger on the screen, the new possibility of having digital props (images and videos shared through the screen-sharing function), and children having props at home that they wouldn’t have at school or at the yoga studio (dice, stuffed animals, pillows, etc).  Being online also facilitated the creation of new games.  

 In online classes, visuals are a lot more important so having yoga cards that could be held up or digital cards that could be screenshared was a must. Utilizing tools embedded in Zoom are also helpful - including using the chat function where kids can share guesses in a game or answer a question if they don’t want to speak out loud. Given the physical isolation kids have experienced throughout the pandemic, It’s also important to me that the games we play in yoga class foster connection. Many of the warm-up games that I teach include opportunities for children to share about their day or week as well as opportunities to find shared interests and make connections with other children in the class. Despite our physical distance, these games help kids feel more connected and provide them an outlet to share about their lives.


Online yoga games are simple to learn and play, work well with a wide range of ages and abilities, and create an atmosphere of fun and engagement in yoga class. If you are looking for more ideas and demonstrations on how to incorporate yoga games into your online yoga classes or as brain breaks during virtual school, check out my recorded workshop Adapting Yoga Games for Online Kids Yoga Classes, which includes 7 teacher-tested/kid approved games that you can play in your online yoga classes with children, including one game that gets requested by students almost every single class.

If you’re ready to dive into the world of games in yoga class, check out these great resources in the Shining Kids Yoga online store:



Andrea Creel, MSW, LMSW, E-RYT 200, YACEP

Andrea is the founder of Shining Kids Yoga, which began as an after-school program at her son's elementary school in 2014. She has been teaching yoga to all ages since 2005.  Andrea completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Tranquil Space Yoga in Washington, D.C. In addition, she received specialized training in children’s yoga from the Radiant Child Yoga program, training in postnatal yoga from Baby OM,  and training in therapeutic yoga from  The Samarya Center.

Andrea is the author of Mystery Pose: A Yoga Guessing Game (affiliate link) and the creator of two yoga card games for kids: Double the Fun Yoga Cards and Yoga Pose or Dare. She is also the creator and facilitator of the Shining Kids Yoga Kids Yoga Teacher Training, a 17-hour certification program in teaching yoga to kids.

When not teaching or practicing yoga, Andrea enjoys playing board games with her son, Quinn, singing karaoke, and trying out new vegetarian recipes!

How To Play the Yoga Memory Game with Kids

The Yoga Memory Game is a playful way for kids (and adults!) to improve their short-term memory while learning and practicing a variety of yoga poses designed to improve balance, strength, flexibility, and gross motor skills. During the game, children get to practice 20 different yoga poses, as well as become familiar with the English and Sanskrit yoga pose names.

This game is always a hit as part of a kids yoga class and is a great addition to family game night! Scroll down to read through simple instructions for playing this game as a family, with a small or large group, or for solo play - plus some extra hints for adapting the game for younger children!

Materials Needed:

Double the Fun Yoga Cards OR Original Kids Yoga Card Deck (Digital Download)

If using the Original Kids Yoga Card Deck - print out and laminate 2 copies of each card. You will need matching sets of yoga pose cards in order to play the game.

Set up:

Shuffle all cards (40 cards).  Place all cards face down in rows of 8 cards across and 5 down.

Gameplay:

Select one player to go first.  That player flips over 2 cards to see if they are a match. The cards must be completely flipped over so all players can see the cards.  If a match is made, the player takes the cards and places them in front of them, and everyone does the yoga pose shown on the card. The player can take another turn if they make a match.  If a match is not made, both cards are left in place and turned face down. 

End of the game:

The game ends when all cards have been matched and removed from the play area.

The person who has made the most matches wins the game!

Finish your yoga practice with a relaxing savasana (final relaxation) by lying down on your yoga mat, closing your eyes and listening to a calming relaxation story

Variations:

  • Large Group: To play the game in a larger group (like a yoga class) remove the matching card “bonus” turn.  Play goes around clockwise with everyone getting one turn each until all cards have been matched.

  • Ages 3-5: For younger children, play with 20 cards (10 sets) to make the game easier

  • Solo play: 1 player plays as instructed above and counts the number of turns it takes to make all matches. 


Andrea Creel, MSW, LMSW, E-RYT 200, YACEP

Andrea is the founder of Shining Kids Yoga, which began as an after-school program at her son's elementary school in 2014. She has been teaching yoga to all ages since 2005.  Andrea completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Tranquil Space Yoga in Washington, D.C. In addition, she received specialized training in children’s yoga from the Radiant Child Yoga program, training in postnatal yoga from Baby OM,  and training in therapeutic yoga from  The Samarya Center.

Andrea is the author of Mystery Pose: A Yoga Guessing Game (affiliate link) and the creator of two yoga card games for kids: Double the Fun Yoga Cards and Yoga Pose or Dare. She is also the creator and facilitator of the Shining Kids Yoga Kids Yoga Teacher Training, a 17-hour certification program in teaching yoga to kids.

When not teaching or practicing yoga, Andrea enjoys playing board games with her son, Quinn, singing karaoke, and trying out new vegetarian recipes!





Calming Stories for Kids

Even little kids can have big feelings! That’s why Shining Kids Yoga founder, Andrea Creel, created special calming relaxation stories just for kids ages 3-10! These guided visualizations engage children’s senses and imaginations while introducing evidence-based relaxation and emotional regulation techniques. Your child can listen to these stories at bedtime to help them fall asleep, after a difficult day or emotional outburst, or whenever you want to help your child feel more calm and peaceful inside!


Click the links below to listen to the stories:

Calming Tree Relaxation Story

Rainbow Affirmation Relaxation Story

Rocket Ship Relaxation Story

Magical Unicorn Relaxation Story

Snowy Day Magic Carpet Relaxation Story

Flower Butterfly Relaxation Story

Autumn Leaf Relaxation Story

I am Thankful Relaxation Story

Heart Cloud Relaxation Story (lovingkindness meditation for kids)

Would you child benefit from a relaxation story on a different topic (trucks, bugs, Disney, the beach…)? Send Andrea a message with your special request and she will create a short relaxation story just for your child! Email your request to info@shiningkidsyoga.com


Andrea Creel, MSW, LMSW, E-RYT 200, YACEP

Andrea is the founder of Shining Kids Yoga, which began as an after-school program at her son's elementary school in 2014. She has been teaching yoga to all ages since 2005.  Andrea completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Tranquil Space Yoga in Washington, D.C. In addition, she received specialized training in children’s yoga from the Radiant Child Yoga program, training in postnatal yoga from Baby OM,  and training in therapeutic yoga from  The Samarya Center.

Andrea is the author of Mystery Pose: A Yoga Guessing Game (affiliate link) and the creator of two yoga card games for kids: Double the Fun Yoga Cards and Yoga Pose or Dare. She is also the creator and facilitator of the Shining Kids Yoga Kids Yoga Teacher Training, a 17-hour certification program in teaching yoga to kids.

When not teaching or practicing yoga, Andrea enjoys playing board games with her son, Quinn, singing karaoke, and trying out new vegetarian recipes!




Mindful Hanukkah Ideas for Children & Adults

Hanukkah, often called the festival of lights, is an annual Jewish celebration of the of the re-dedication of the temple in Jerusalem and the miraculous burning of sacred oil for eight days.

Andrea Creel of Shining Kids Yoga shares insight, tools, and resources to foster mindfulness in children and adults during this festival. Listen or watch below for tips on how to be nourished by love and light in your family, kids yoga classes, adult yoga classes, and personal devotion.

For more ideas on how to use yoga and music to celebrate Hanukkah with children, check out this blog post!

Fall Class Schedule Coming Soon

Shining Kids Yoga will be offering after-school yoga classes in select MCPS schools this fall! We will also be offering online classes for children who would like to take class virtually. Class schedules will be posted the week of August 23rd. Please check our registration page starting 8/23 for registration details and early-bird discounts!

To bring a Shining Kids Yoga after-school class to your child’s school, please contact Andrea at info@shiningkidsyoga.com