How are you a peaceful warrior? What do you stand for? In this class for kids ages 3-9yrs, Lani shares how we show peace to our bodies, peace to others and peace to the earth. In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the ultimate Peaceful Warrior- we like to think about how we can make change by fighting for equality, justice and freedom for all beings, no matter what color your skin is or where you come from. Now more then ever, this is an important lesson.
The Peace Book by Todd Parr
Set up the class by reading a few pages from this book- pick out pages that share ways to be kind and peaceful to yourself, others and the earth.
Peace Breath
Place hands to your mouth and take a big inhale- exhale all your breath into your hands. Place hands on your belly and breath in and out, feeling your body fill up with breath. Notice what happens when you take big breaths.
Wise Owl & Bulldog
Ask kids what part of the brain gets calm when you take big breaths- It’s the Bulldog! When our Bulldog Brain gets calm, we can make better choices with our Wise Owl- does that help us to be kind? Does it help us to be more peaceful? Yes!
You can find more info about the Wise Owl & Bulldog Brain from our Mindful Yoga Breaks Card Deck.
Roly Poly Pop
Roll bodies up to stand with a big POP!
Mountain & Volcano
We practice yoga as a way to be kind and peaceful to our bodies. Standing tall, with hands at your heart. You are a strong, peaceful mountain. Bring arms up to the sky, rub hands together and say “vollllcano!” as you jump feet out to the sides. We practice our mountain and volcano 3x.
Star Sequence
Is it peaceful to look at the stars at night? We practice our star sequence which includes standing star, shooting star, dancing star, folded star and twisty star.
Partner Trees
Think about how we can make the earth a better place- planting trees! Let’s practice our tree pose and see if we need a friend to help us balance. When we help our friends, we show kindness to others.
Warrior Sequence
We practice our Peaceful Warrior sequence. We think about how warriors are fighters- but a peaceful warrior fights for change, equality, freedom and justice. Who do you know has done that? MLK jr. (and SO many others) Think about how people like him use their words to bring change. He is fighting but not hurting others.
We start with warrior 1 which is our BRAVE WARRIOR and say “I am Brave!”
We move to Warrior 2 which is our STRONG WARRIOR and say “I am Strong!”
We move to Peaceful Warrior pose and say “I am Peaceful!”
Peaceful Frog/Hopping Frog
Start in peaceful frog pose. When I say “hopping frog” you can hop around the room. Notice other frogs and see how kind and peaceful you can be with your bodies- moving in a careful way. When I say “peaceful frog” kids freeze in place with hands together at heart in frog pose.
Peace Basket
What can you put in your peace basket? What do you do to be a peaceful warrior?
Roly Poly to Peace Candle
Roll bodies on mat a few times and end with legs up to the sky in a peace candle. Count backwards from ten to bring legs all the way to the earth.
Relaxation
During relaxation, relax all bodies parts sending love and peace to each. Sharing how this is the ultimate way we take care of our bodies! Relaxation makes our bodies feel so good, so calm and peaceful.
Peace Begins with Me
This meditation involves a mantra, “Peace begins with me,” which can help students return to calm at any time.
● Use the mudra (hand gestures that can influence energy in the body) with a mantra (a phrase or saying that you can repeat to bring calm and stillness) to use with each word.
● Touch each finger together while saying each word:
○ Peace – thumb and forefinger
○ Begins – thumb and middle finger
○ With – thumb and ring finger
○ Me – thumb and pinky
● Repeat out loud 3x.
● Repeat in a whisper 3x.
● Repeat silently in your mind 3x.
How are you a peaceful warrior?
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