Holy man, it is cold out! 

It doesn’t help that we are all confined to our homes with our kids with continually changing Covid restrictions. LUCKILY, it doesn’t have to be boring. We have compiled a list of 5 kids yoga resources that will have you wondering how you went your life without them. 

These resources are GLOW approved as we use them in and out of our classes on a regular basis. We hope you will get just as much use out of them. If nothing else, it’ll help the winter fly by. 

1. Jbrary: https://jbrary.com/
This one is technically not yoga related. HOWEVER, we use the rhymes, storytimes, songs, etc. from Jbrary in almost all of our kids under 3 classes. We just incorporate yoga poses into them. Dana and Lindsey are children's librarians. Jbrary is a library of storytime resources for those of us working with children. Join them for songs, rhymes, fingerplays, and more!

2. Kumarah Yoga: https://kumarahyoga.com/
I don’t even know where to begin with this one. Kumarah Yoga is jam packed with incredible resources for kids yoga and mindfulness. Lesson plans, mindfulness tips, games, breathing printables and more. Check out our recent blog post dedicated to them here. 

3. Pretzel Kids: https://blog.pretzelkids.com/category/yoga-for-kids/
This incredible Boston based company has so many offerings for kids yoga and mindfulness on their blog and as a part of their membership program. They share lesson plans, monthly virtual trainings & branding information for all of you wannabe yoga teachers. Stay tuned for our collaboration with them to be released soon.

1. Babies to Bookworms: https://www.babiestobookworms.com/

Printables and books is the name of the game for this incredible company. Vicki has created an incredible Calm Down Kit printable that is a MUST HAVE for any parent or teacher when they are teaching about strong emotions with the littles in their life. 

1. Kids Yoga Stories: https://www.kidsyogastories.com/kids-yoga/

There are so many incredible yoga posters, printables, cards, books, lesson plans and more on this site AND they ship to Canada! This is definitely a one stop shop for all things Kids Yoga! Check back for our latest post on their site to be published April 29, 2021.


Stay warm & have fun,

Robyn
Xoxoxo

​She also has lesson plans, games, mindfulness tips, breathing printables and more, all available for FREE in her Free Resources Library. On top of all that, her blog is jam packed with information on yoga for kids and how you can get them moving at home. This is so incredibly needed right now and I am thrilled to be able to share it with you. 

One of my favourite blog posts that she has done recently is Outer Space Themed Yoga for Kids. It is filled with amazing Outer Space facts, yoga poses, breathing techniques, games and a link to our brand new book, “A Yoga Adventure Through Space”. It can be hard to come up with things to do with your kiddos on a regular basis so take the hassle out of it by checking out some of her super fun ideas! I’ve used a number of these in my classes and trust me, THEY ARE SO FUN! 

BLAST OFF!!! 

Robyn
Xoxoxo

I love Spring time! All the rain and sun mixed together, spending time outside and enjoying the smell of fresh flowers. I know that this year looks a little bit different especially for our little ones but hopefully with a yoga magic, we can help!

If you are looking for something fun, active and creative to share with your kiddos while they are stuck in this new reality or in your center as things slowly start to open up again, then here's a sweet printable for you.

Spring Move As If Cards! 

How to create:
To create your cards, download the file below, and print double sided on card stock. Next, cut out and laminate or simply leave as is. 

How to play:
Simple. Choose a card from the deck, show the picture, say "move as if you are" and then read the back of the card. Direct the children to use creative movement to "act out" how they would move if they were the object on the card. These cards are a fun way to introduce a Spring theme and warm up little bodies at the same time!

We are wishing you all health and happiness!

All my love,

Robyn

I LOVE Halloween, if you remember from last year's post of the Halloween Dance, it is one of my favorite Holidays. Any time I have a chance to dress up in costume and step into an alternate reality for a night, you'll find me ready to go. I especially love going Trick-or-Treating with my kiddos, seeing all the other amazing costumes and getting a fright every now and then at the spooky decorated houses. This year we are planning to celebrate at a Halloween Party and then have a super special pumpkin carving night with friends! 

If you are looking for something fun, active and creative to share at your Halloween Party, in your Spooky classroom or with your little monsters at home, here's a sweet printable for you.

Halloween Move As If Cards! 

How to create:
To create your cards, download the file below, and print double sided on card stock. Next, cut out and laminate or simply leave as is. 

How to play:
Simple. Choose a card from the deck, show the picture, say "move as if you are" and then read the back of the card. Direct the children to use creative movement to "act out" how they would move if they were the object on the card. These cards are a fun way to introduce your Halloween theme and warm up little bodies at the same time!

We hope you have a safe and Happy Halloween. 

All my love,

​Vanessa

Summer Solstice is upon us, as we transition into this beautiful, fruitful time of year it’s important to stop and smell the roses or stop and watch the butterflies. Nature teaches us so many lessons, when we are willing to sit and notice her challenges and gifts. Summer brings us an opportunity to relish in the warmth and splendour of what we’ve been creating, the buds in our lives to turn into flowers but of course roses don’t come without thorns. Some of what we’ve been growing towards may no longer serve us, and that means it’s time to burn, shed, disintegrate, let go…. You get the idea. Take the butterfly for example: the spring brings a chance for new life, eggs are laid, caterpillars are born, they grow to size and begin to form their chrysalis around themselves when it’s time. During this transitional phase, the caterpillar works hard to completely disassembles itself, breaking down it’s cells into goop and reassembling into an amazing, symmetrical, fluttery, magical gem of nature. Through the struggle of growth it comes out completely transformed, ready for a new life. As the seeds we sowed in spring have either grown or become over grown with the weeds of our bad habits, limiting beliefs, negative thoughts and patterning we can choose which plants to nurture, and which ones to burn away in the heat of the sun. This solstice brings up much for me, and as I sat at the lake last weekend admiring the butterflies I couldn’t help but tie them into our newest Sun Dance Post. Their story is so inspiring! So today, be like the butterfly, shed that shell that doesn’t serve you any longer and become the best, most amazing, symmetrical, fluttery and magical version of yourself. If you missed the first post in this series, be sure to have a look as it will give you the background you need to best use the new addition to our Sun Dance Series.

Wishing you the most amazing solstice on this longest day of the year, may you be filled with light, love and surrender to shed that which no longer serves. 

Yours in peace and joy,

​Vanessa

Today I had the pleasure of being celebrated along with all of the other moms at my daughter's preschool. We had a lovely tea party, and they gifted us with beautiful cards and those adorable "about my mom" sheets filled out by the kids. It made me think about how blessed I feel to be a mama to my 3 beautiful littles. As they grow and change, each day is a new adventure and when I step into presence with them on that journey the days become longer, the colors become brighter and the magic is abound. My children are my greatest teachers; each and every day I learn so much about who they are, who I am, and how I can be a better version of myself and a better mom too. To all of my mama friends out there, this one is for you, the Mother's Day Dance. If you missed the first post in this series, be sure to have a look as it will give you the background you need to best use the new addition to our Sun Dance Series.

Have a beautiful weekend celebrating your role as a mother, and the woman who taught you to be who you are too! With a full heart, shining all my love to you for a Happy Mother's Day.

Be Bright, Be Bold, Be YOU!

Vanessa
xoxoxo

May the 4th be with you! I've become quite the Star Wars fan over the past years, as our oldest son adores the films, action figures, lego sets, books and more. Star Wars has infiltrated our lives, and I'm not complaining. I love sci-fi! The idea of intergalactic travel is so entertaining and engaging, it's no wonder that the brand appeals to all children young and old. On this special Star Wars day, I am so excited to share with you our latest Sun Dance in the series - the Star Wars Dance. If you missed the first post in this series, be sure to have a look as it will give you the background you need to best use the new addition.

I hope that you enjoy this! For more ideas for Star Wars themed yoga classes, check out our past post here. Have a ton of fun celebrating with your favorite little Jedis... or Siths! 

Most love & light - May the Force be with you.

-Vanessa

What is your happy place? Where do you feel  most relaxed? What scene makes your shoulder drop while you exhale with a big sigh? For me, the answers to all of these questions is in nature. Being in the mountains, strolling down a forest path, exploring along the beach... beautiful natural landscapes have a calming effect for me. The scary part is that our natural oasis' are slowly being taken over by garbage. Did you know there's a section of the Pacific Ocean called "garbage island" which is about the size of Texas and holds a massive concentration of plastic particles. Who lives in the plastic filled water? Fish. Who eats the fish that is eating, breathing and living in plastic? Humans.... Think about this one... There is no new water in the world. Water does not leave the planet, new water does not come in. The water we drink, the water that makes up our bodies is the SAME water that the dinosaurs were made of. Crazy. So if we continue to dump waste and garbage into our water supply, eventually that is all that will remain. The amount of garbage we make as humans is insane; think of packaging that you throw out on a daily basis. Consider how many bags of garbage your family creates each week, now multiply that by 52, then multiply that by 80 + years.... YIKES! Yes, living in outer space is a possibility, so if we destroy our planet at least we will have a plan b - BUT then the only way we will experience these natural oasis' is through virtual reality. Okay, can you tell I am passionate about this? Earth day is a day that is recognized once per year, but I truly believe it should be celebrated every day! Today we will celebrate Earth Day with a lovely little Earth Day Dance.  If you missed the first post in this series, you'll want to have a look at it as it will give you the background you need to best use our newest addition to the Sun Dance Series. ​ I hope you enjoy!

This Earth Day, remember to talk to your kid(s) about their impact, and the footprint you are leaving as individuals and as a family. They will often have way more amazing ideas than you do when it comes to ways we can improve! It's not just about reducing our use, it's also about re-using  and re-purposing what we can, of course recycling, and creating new and innovative ways to be a better co-inhabitant of Earth. Let's leave behind a planet that our kid's grandkid's grandkid's will be able to see while on it rather than above it!

With a love-filled heart, sending you blessings of peace and joy.
- Vanessa

**Be BRIGHT, Be BOLD, Be YOU **

Easter weekend is right around the corner, and I know many families have very special Easter traditions that they look forward to each year. My family is not included in those many, as our Easter plans and activities tend to evolve from year to year, but we definitely LOVE our Easter egg hunt. What we've given to the kiddos over the past 7 years has also changed, as we now like to steer away from candy and chocolate (those vegan chocolate eggs are pricey!) to reduce their sugar intake. So last year we started to give them change in their eggs - $0.25 in each one; it added up pretty quick for them, and they were SO happy to get money. Then in their basket, they each got a special toy that they were excited about. Simple! No big sugar rushes or crashes and happiness all around.

What ever your traditions are around food, family and fun this time of year, I hope that you will make time to share a special moment or two together in presence with your little ones. This week I have the amazing opportunity to just BE with my children, no work, no cell phone, no email - just us together, playing, crafting, cuddling, and enjoying one another's company. What an outstanding gift. Our Easter dance is simply another means to connect with each other during this special holiday, even if just for a minute or two. If you missed the first post in this series, you'll want to have a look at it as it will give you the background you need to best use our newest addition to the Sun Dance Series. ​ I hope you enjoy!

Wishing you blessings of peace and love over this Easter weekend! May you always remember to find and create the extraordinary in the ordinary. As always, if you have any comments, or want to share how you are using our sun dance series we would love to hear it. With a full heart, be bright, be bold & be you!

Deep love,

-Vanessa

Spring is sprung! Today is the FIRST official day of spring. Unfortunately here in Edmonton, that reality is far from truth, knowing that we will likely be living in this snowy wonder(waste)land until the end of April or so. In early February I spent the weekend in Victoria for the yoga conference, and there were BUDS and BLOSSOMS beginning to make themselves known. During the first weekend of March, I ran a training in Vancouver, and saw the beginning of their buds and blossoms as well. I am SO lucky and grateful to have experienced the start of spring two times already this year, and really, really, REALLY look forward to seeing that **soon** (fingers crossed) in my own city too.

Spring is so magical, it's a time of new beginnings, new life, new sights, sounds, smells, feelings... it's feels like a re-awakening, a fresh boost of energy and excitement, the warmth of sunshine on your bare arms... Yes, can you tell? I love spring! And I am so excited to share this Spring Dance with you. If you missed the first post in this series, you'll want to have a look at it as it will give you the background you need to best use our newest addition to the Sun Dance Series. ​

I hope you love this new Sun Dance as much as I love Spring! I've been thinking.... why not create these in video format to go along with the script? If you like this idea, and see value in it please let me know in a comment below, even if there's only one person who digs it, I'm in! For now, I wish you the most amazing first day of spring. May it bring you plenty of love, beauty and joy.

Be Bright, Be Bold, Be You!

Most love,
-Vanessa