Timeline Photos

Sensational Downward Dog The other evening while making dinner in the kitchen, I turned around to see my three kids doing synchronised Downward Dog. Master Toddler of late is randomly going around the house getting into Downward Dog, so what exactly is so good about this pose that he puts himself into it so frequently? Anyone who has done a yoga class will soon realise that it is a foundational yoga pose that is done as part of warm-ups and throughout a vinyasa flow class. We can feel the obvious benefits of it strengthening our arms, wrists and shoulders while stretching the backs of our legs, ankles and back (an amazing pose to be doing all of this at the same time!). But it also has a number of other not so obvious benefits which are so important for kids, and perhaps why my youngest likes it so much! 1. It is a simple inversion pose (when our hearts are higher than our head) which is fantastic for bringing fresh blood to the head and increasing circulation; energising our body and mind. A great pose to do for 5 breaths if you're feeling flat. 2. While being energising, it is also a calming pose! How so? Well, it is a semi-folding pose where you can take pause to focus on your breath, to centre and calm the mind. It also stretches the spine and neck allowing the head and mind to relax. Brilliant. 3. It is a great pose for kids to get steady pressure on all their joints - wrists, elbows, shoulder, knee and ankle - which teaches them how to regulate the force and accuracy of their movements and how much their body can take. 4. Being upside is great fun for kids! And without realising it, they're doing it to help them develop balance and body awareness. It is an excellent pose for kids to understand where their heads and bodies are in relation to the space around them, and to learn how to maintain balance and stability in a different position. So there you go - what a sensational pose for kids (and adults!). No wonder he loves doing it so much!

What a great first class this afternoon! Thank you to all parents who brought their kids, and to all of the kids for participating so enthusiastically :) I hope they all had as much fun as I did and looking forward to seeing them all next week!

How to Teach Your Kids about the Brain - Mindful

Brilliant article on how to teach kids about the different parts of their brain so that they can understand and learn how to manage when their 'big feelings' take over from their 'rational thinking' part of the brain.

6 week class