Saturday, July 30, 2011

Labyrinth Adventures

Labyrinth & mazes are found all around the world in many cultures and civilizations. Designs have been found carved in rock, clay tablets, mosaics, manuscripts and pavements. The significance of them for the various cultures they were part of and the story of how they developed from one place to another is often mysterious and hard to grasp.
The labyrinth has long been associated with the legend of the Minotaur, the monster half-man half-bull which resided in the heart of a labyrinth on the island of Crete. Theseus was able to get to the center of the labyrinth, slay the Minotaur and find his way out again by following a thread he had trailed behind him on the way in.

A labyrinth differes from a maze in that it has only one path that weaves its way to the center and back out again. There is only one entrance and exit: no dead ends, and no choice of which way to turn. In recent years, labyrinths have seen a resurgence as an interactive tool for spiritual reflection, meditation and focus.

Several weeks ago at the Summer Connections Camp at  Teamwork Wins (a local camp for children with Asperger's and other hidden challenges) I created an outdoor labyrinth using some colored rope. The theme of the week was "Treasure Hunt" or "seeking & finding that which is hidden". I thought this would be a good time to introduce labyrinths to the kids.

I first gave each camper a printable labyrinth to use on the tabletop (Find "Printable Labyrinth Activity" here) and showed them how to use it. Then I told them that there was a large labyrinth in the yard that we were going to use topractice concentrating and relaxing. They were excited!

It was a very hot & humid day so I didn't keep them outside as long as I wanted. Had it been cooler I would have allowed them to do a relaxation & guided imagery when they got to the center.

Some of the feed back I got was great:

"It took longer than it looks."

"Its really hot out here, but I feel calm and relaxed anyway."

"That was COOL! Can I do it again?"

and my very favorite: 

"You MADE this for us?"

I thought the best way to show you what we did was with a photo album journal. You can view the
album here:

Labyrinth Day

I'd love to hear about how you have used labyrinth activities on the playground, in therapy or in the classroom!

Here are some other links to learn more:

http://www.labyrinthresourcegroup.org/manual.html

http://kidsrelaxation.com/2011/03/21/labyrinth-activities-to-calm/






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Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Flexibility & Patience-Priceless Gifts

Today on my walk I was thinking of how lucky I am to have a supportive family.

In spite of my easy going, non-confrontational nature, there are many things about me that require flexible thinking and patience on the part of anyone who knows/loves/lives with me.

On the outside, I am the children's yoga teacher, always ready to be creative & have fun, however, this comes with a price & I know I am probably not the easiest person to live with.

Last week I stopped at the store to pick up some supplies for a yoga camp program. While I was there, I was very excited to see some some items that I could use for a different class.  I hesitated a moment and could not remember what I had at home and I did not want to buy double so I called Jay, my significant other at home to find out. The conversation went like this:

Me:  [excitedly]: Hi honey! you know those big plastic bugs in my office? The ones on top of the Tabla drum and next to the basket of paper plate African masks?

(At this point another customer looked at me strangely...)

Jay: [sigh]: yes...?

Me: I'm at the store. can you see which ones I have already so I don't buy duplicates?

Jay: [silence]:

Me: Babe are you there?

Jay: [blandly]: I'm here...

Me: You see them?

Jay: Uh huh. There is an orange ant, a green beetle with a spike on its head, a tarantula and a gray-blue looking beetle kind of thing...

Me: OK. No Lady bug, grasshopper or bumblebee?

(More strange looks from customers.)

Jay: No. None of those.

Me: Thanks-be home in a bit...

Ok. I know. Its weird. I am ok with weird. While many women my age are excited about Pottery Barn sales & who won on Dancing with the Stars, I get excited about giant plastic bugs. I just can't help it.

My family however, sometimes does not share my enthusiasm. I can't blame them really, especially when the dining table is covered with paint, glue and paper mache and its almost time to eat. Or when they find little grains of colored rice on the floor with their bare feet. Or there are a dozen yoga mats are drying all over the yard killing the grass and  when there are twisted staples, tiny beads & glitter all over the living room floor from a project gone wrong. I can see them shake their heads & roll their eyes and chuckle. Then they see the rain sticks I made, or the colorful mosaics when they are completed or see me put the giant bugs to use in a class or family event. Then they 'get' me, relax a little & see that I am not merely an overgrown child who likes to collect imaginary creatures & make a mess, but there is definitely a purpose & a method to it all.

While most see a freakishly large, tacky dust-collecting piece of plastic that will no doubt pollute the environment someday, and Jay sees dollar bills flying out of our piggy bank and another closet being taken over for "storage", I see the beauty & the GIANT educational potential of simple, tacky looking toys! The kids LOVE them! This is how I get their attention, keep their imagination stimulated, their minds curious & their senses engaged in a world outside & away from all the noise, violence, electronic screens, flashing, blinking lights and annoying sound effects. These giant plastic bugs are part of a sanctuary of fun & a vehicle for learning.

So, I want to take a minute to extend boundless love & sincere gratitude to this family I live with:

To Jay for making room for me, my daughter, my rain sticks, drums and other odd looking musical instruments, my art supplies AND my growing collection of giant bugs; to my daughter for being so compassionate & willing to 'share' her own stickers, crayons, scissors, ideas & her beautiful heart with me & the kids we work with; and to my sons, for inspiring me to keep the creative, explorative spirit alive in myself and to encourage it in others.

As much as I am sure I annoy them sometimes, this family trusts and believes in me, maybe more than I sometimes trust & believe in myself. It touches me that they are aways there for me, giving me ideas and encouragement, (and sometimes sideways looks), and through their example, reminding me how much I value their priceless gifts of flexibility and patience!






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Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Of Mice & Yoga...





This week I am again reminded that we can only plan loosely when working with kids. They are wired differently, energetic & so spontaneous that we have to stay on our toes & think  'flexibility'.  (And  isn't that part of what yoga is all about?)

I love the way the kids keep me grounded and rooted in the reality that no matter what our "Best Laid Schemes" - lessons & plans are as a 'teacher' - whether a yoga teacher or academic one - there is a really good chance that the kids will 'miss the point' and create their own lesson in spite of our good intentions. We have to let go of  the outcome we think we want-and embrace the one we actually get. (This would fall under "non-attachment").

Today gave me one of those moments-and instead of teaching ideas & leading young minds to answers, I found more questions.

So I have been working with a wonderful family providing private yoga classes for 2 children. Our main focus has been reducing anxiety & using calming techniques along with postures that release body tension. I have put together a customized program using themes and characters that 'Zack' - 7 years old- likes & relates to.

I was very pleased with the work I had done- creating a story and activities & games around his favorite topic: Star Wars. He loved it and was very excited at the idea of travelling to stars and planets - as he learns yoga. I modified the story so that I would not be emphasizing the "Wars" part: there were Peaceful solutions & outcomes, and no battles only "challenges" and so on.

Today was another exciting adventure. We talked about what to take with us on our "Star Quest"-popcorn, pillow pets, blankies and, of course a Ray Gun (I did not judge him or censor him- but he assured me it was only for protection.)

As we landed our aircraft on a strange new surface-(sand, water, lighthouses...) we realized we were on planet Earth and at the beach. We also saw surfers, jellyfish, dolphins and an array of other creatures and  things. (So far so good. They were engaged and using their breathing and practicing the postures with me. )

At one point in our story, I introduced a scenario where I was going to guide Zach through the process of using his calming breaths to stay focused so he could overcome a "challenge". (That was my intention.)

The 'problem' was that a shark was swimming in the water nearby-and as soon as I introduced a shark in the water Zach immediately responded by (being silly) jumping up off of his mat, and hiding under a blanket saying "oh no! a shark. he's gonna eat us!!".  

As his mom and I were redirecting him back to the mat and getting him to remember how to breathe to stay calm & think about what to do next in this situation, he suddenly smiled and told us "Its OK-I just blasted him with my Ray Gun!".

So the imaginary shark, no longer posing a threat, was now blasted away into another galaxy-as was my lesson plan, my peaceful breathing techniques and my staged 'teaching moment'. My ego was also blasted & I had no choice but to be humbled.


Clearly, Zach's lesson today was not how to use yoga breathing to handle his anxiety in a tough situation, or how to use the dolphin pose to release tension in his tight shoulders. It was self-preservation, which is also very important to all of us as individuals and as a society.

How as parents & educators do we walk that fine line between teaching kind, peaceful interactions and appropriate self-protection?

While we want to teach children to talk things out & peacefully resolve conflict when they can, I wonder where teaching them to also be prepared, and protect themselves from threatening & dangerous situations fits in? (The Yamas of Yoga texts tell us about "Ahimsa"-non harming-but also that we are allowed to defend ourselves against attackers.)

When children perceive something as a threat, are we doing them more of a dis-service by making them feel badly if they "protect" themselves by force: with a push, a punch-or an imaginary Ray Blaster? Do we really need "Zero Tolerance" policies or to expell a child for making a pretend gun with his fingers or just a little more common sense in looking at & considering each situation as individual and unique?

Today I was suddenly concerned that we as educators are sending mixed messages in emphasizing the "Peace" part too much and the "Protection" part not enough. Is this part the reason that so many kids are falling victim to depression, feel dis-empowered and become bullies or act out violently towards classmates and teachers?

You have to admit, in spite of all the programs in existence and the schools cracking down on violent behavior and inappropriate language, etc. there has still been a steady increase in school violence and bullying to now epidemic proportions. Why is that?

Maybe instead of censoring these imaginary scenarios, we need to let kids start exploring & working through these 'taboo' subjects again through creative play, where it is safe, just as Zach did today. Maybe we have taken an unrealistic stand and have gone overboard with zero tolerance & character education. Both Peace & Conflict are part of life and two sides of the same "Human Nature" coin. Knowing when to employ each is an important life skill not only for self preservation & safety, but for self esteem and self-responsibility. Maybe we need to re-examine this and come up with a better  & less confusing approach.

Maybe Zach has the right idea:  always carry your Ray Gun, just in case. If you ask me, he acted appropriately: he came prepared for anything & when a danger arose, he didn't have to think. His instinct took over & he protected himself, his sister and his mom. (Wouldn't we do the same as parents?)

He has also made his yoga teacher think again. And learn another un-intended lesson.

"The best laid schemes o' mice an' men-(an' this Yoga teacher) go oft awry..."