Yoga Calms the Kids

Yoga has made its way into the classroom in Minneapolis, and teachers say the results are amazing. Yoga Calm is a program that was developed by Lynea Gillen and Jim Gillen, a married couple who are both teachers from Oregon. Their low-cost yoga curriculum, designed for children, is now being employed in a kindergarten class in Minneapolis where 500 teachers in 37 schools have been trained in yoga. Teachers say it’s been helping the kids develop a sense of participation, to problem-solve, increase their strength, boost their confidence, and help them relax. With such positive results, they’re hoping to extend the program to the entire district. More at www.startribune.com.

The Power of Mudra

How much of a role do hand postures play in your yoga practice? Some yogis place a strong emphasis on the role of the hands and fingers during yoga. This art and science is called Yoga Mudra. Ancient yogis believe that the hands hold a great deal of energy and that the fingers represent the elements of fire, air, water, earth, and ether. Different hand-finger positions are thought to re-balance these elements and in doing so, heal physical ailments and ensure calm. This week’s blogger talks specifically about certain mudras that she claims has helped her with various conditions while holding them in certain poses. You can read her short blog at www.yogadogsandchocolate and to learn more about Yoga Mudra, try www.lifepositive.com.

Yoga Therapy in India

If you’ve had an interest in learning about yoga therapy and what it entails, this beautiful and informative video is the answer. Although likely designed to entice you to take this course in India with Vidya Gurukul, the video alone is worth watching. At the least, it will give you a nice overview of what exactly yoga therapy is and its many applications, and at most, it will invite you to explore it further, either as a teacher or recipient of its myriad benefits, including healing disease. Through lecture and demonstrations, this engaging video briefly covers yoga therapy asanas, using a neti pot, the role of Ayurveda, and understanding the differences between a western approach and a yogic one.