Butterfly Effect: YOGA FOR GIRLS

                

BUTTERFLY EFFECT: YOGA FOR GIRLS 

Butterfly Effect: YOGA FOR GIRLS 

An 8 session series I created that can be tailored for girls of all ages; the young or the seasoned! Details below.  

This program is Christian based, but can be modified to fit the needs any girl's club, school, church or private group to be done at your chosen facility.  

Program Details:

The Butterfly Effect: Yoga for GIRLS “BE” Series was created based upon the experience I have had working with, speaking to and serving teen girls for the last 20 years. Girls, no matter the age, often have poor self esteems and low expectations of themselves.  Youth especially tend to turn inward which leads to feeling sorry for themselves, acting in a self-centered manner, as well as compare their weaknesses to other’s strengths, putting others down, and being jealous.  They fall prey to everyone else’s voice but rarely stop to listen to their own.  Girls are stronger than they know and possess so much potential!  Many just need an inner compass and encouraging words to tap into that powerful inner voice.  All girls want is to be truly accepted for who they are and crave unconditional love.  Yoga has a unique way of being able to unite the mind, body and spirit, while also providing that self acceptance and love.

“The Butterfly Effect: BE Series” is a 8 week program, structured in such a manner as to build character and confidence in girls from the ground up. Girls will be taught how to quiet their minds and become more in tune with everything from how their body feels in poses, to how they emotionally feel about themselves.  As they accept their weaknesses and build upon their strengths young women grow more self assured.  And as they begin to take their yoga practice into their daily lives they will become “more” and live a fuller life through service and gaining more knowledge.

This series reiterates timeless truths, encourages girls to love themselves and others and develops strength of character.  As youth move through the series and process what they learn each week through structured journal prompts and writing, they will have an increase of understanding, unlock their inner light and all the while, develop a stronger, healthier body. 

*A butterfly’s entire existence “from worm to wings” lasts about 6-8 weeks.  One of the most miraclulous transformations known to man! Each week in this series focuses on both the physical and subtle body starting with the root and ending with the crown.  Asanas, verbal prompts and discussions during each practise will focus on opening the cooresponding parts of the body. An equally amazing transformation is possible for each particiapnt who is open and ready…to spread her wings!

Week 1: BE STILL

Girls learn how to ground themselves in an ever changing world.  Becoming in tune with their breathe stabilizes them and it is here they develop a safe place to be still and breathe deeply.

2012-"Be Still" LDS Youth in Avon, IN

Week 2: BE GRATEFUL

Young women become aware of the difference between wants and needs. Happiness increases with reflection on blessings. Taking time to cultivate a grateful heart increases perspective, compassion and joy allowing contentment to persist even in the darkest hours of their lives.

Week 3: BE POSITVE

With hope and courage girls harness their desire for transformation and change. Each young woman has the power within to achieve worthy goals. As they think positive thoughts, say uplifting things and look for the good in others, girls will be surprised at how much they can accomplish.

2011-"Be Beautiful" at "The Sanctuary" in Zionsville, IN 

Week 4: BE BEAUTIFUL-INSIDE & OUT

Be true to yourself.  Girls see the beauty of their own unique talents and traits.  They learn about lasting deep beauty and how to be a confident, beautiful young woman in a world that often sends the opposite message.

Week 5: BE SMART

Be wise about preparing for your future and intelligent in the choices you make now-for each decision has ramificaitons.  Our girls have been endowed with unique strengths and talents and will be encouraged to develop them!  Yoga helps youth train their minds and hands to become an influence for good in their families and communities as they go forward in life.

Week 6: BE HEALTHY

Girls learn that what they eat matters, what they watch, listen to and read matters, and what they say and do ALL matter in regard to their overall health. Yoga helps them make healthy decisions in every aspect of their life. Girls will learn to carry themselves with integrity and be good stewards of their body, mind and soul.

2011-"Be Healthy" LDS Youth in Avon, IN

Week 7: BE PRAYERFUL

Meditation, prayers and quiet pondering all deepen understanding of individual worth and purpose in life.  Yoga helps youth understand they are a small part of a greater whole and that insight gives greater perspective.

Week 8: BE INVOLVED (Parents asked to attend)

A closing of one door and an encouragment to “go forth and do” as girls pass into so many other open doors of possibility in their life.  We will do an exhibition of various yoga poses so parents get to see what their daughters have learned.  Each girl will also get the opportunity to share a 2min speech on one thing they’ve learned during the program so parents can hear what girls have internalized.  Each girl will receive a special gift-a little reminder of the Butterfly Effect!

BE STILL YOGA

It is easy to sweat...but do you have what it takes to BE STILL?


Hey there! My mom sometimes calls me her "granola girl"- I think "ISHA Girl" is more on point.  A "Ruling Goddess"?  Yes, that is exactly who my highest self is! 

I have always loved the scripture, "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10.  Whenever I lead classes into shavasana I call it "Be Still Time" and as I have taught for almost 15 years the importance of being still means even more to me.

Let me tell you a little story about myself.

I knew I wanted to teach yoga ever since I fell in love with it over 20 years ago.  I taught from my home for years and taught groups of teens at my church for years-because I just loved doing it.  In Fall 2011 the stars all aligned and my dream of certifying came true.  I was certified through Peace Through Yoga's Teacher Training (200hour/6 month program) and graduated March 2012.

Rewind a couple years before that, I never could have imagined obtaining that goal amidst serving in a busy calling, running a household and also dealing with sudden loss of optimal health. From summer of 2009 to summer of 2010 I went from running 1/2 marathons and doing triathlons to not being able to get out of bed in the morning.  Migraines, painful sore throats, aching joints and muscles, hormonal imbalances and zero energy became my constant companions.  

I was so miserable July 2010 that I finally put my white flag up and admitted I couldn't possibly go another day limping through life pretending I could just push through it.  What ensued was a lot of traditional medical tests, a lot of "no answers from said tests" and a lot of prayers.  Prayers that eventually led me to functional medicine ("alternative" if you will) and more answers.  It was exactly where I needed to be in my journey to better health.


It was not an easy journey at that.  To regain my health took many months and I still am learning.  But now my "regular medical check ups" are done by a chiropractor, a acupuncturist, a naturalpath M.D. or my cranial sacral therapist.  Medical practices that were so foreign to me growing up, have now become my mainstays and I've never looked back.

It became apparent to me that...

1. What we EAT matters.
2. What we DO matters.
3. What we SAY matters.
4. What we THINK matters.
5.  How we handle STRESS most definitely matters!


Making "BE STILL" time every day through meditation, pondering, journaling, yoga or prayer is a crucial aspect of optimal health and happiness.  


After I was so sick I did not have the physique I did before and was initially frustrated trying to get back into yoga.  Exasperated feelings transformed into an epiphany one night at a yoga class.  I realized focusing on my breath and quieting the mind was so much more useful and empowering to me than focusing on my lack of strength.  I made room for patience and self-love that night.  With that new found confidence, I knew I would one day be even stronger than I was before I fell ill.  

I saw this come to fruition when I beat my 1/2 marathon time years later and I did it while pushing an 80 pound double amputee friend!

Focus on the mind-and the body will follow.  (Allow it to happen in God's time and with eternal perspective.) Being still creates space. Space for healing, for peace, for inspiration, for answers and for love to flow in.  

I hope you will find ways to create your own Be Still time.  And maybe that time will be with me in class next time I teach!

Tall Ones & Small Ones-Description

“Tall Ones & Small Ones” is designed for “Small Ones”, children ages three through eight and an accompanying “Tall One”, mother, father, grandparent or caregiver.  

This class is a one of a kind way for parents to bond and interact with their children while getting a work out too. 

Each yoga routine incorporates children’s literature, music, singing, games or rhymes, creating an atmosphere for imagination and learning while promoting a healthy body! 

Yoga helps children and adults alike calm their mind and stretch their bodies.  It also increases the ability to concentrate and focus, as well as deal with stress.  The younger we can teach our children this the better able they will be to handle the fast paced, high pressure society they are growing up in.  And what better place to teach them this, than in a safe environment with their “Tall One” by their side!

Every participant has their own mat, but because adults are right beside their small ones, they are able to support them in “tricky” balancing poses, give encouragement and confidence to otherwise shy participants and help keep the class manageable behavior wise.  Most of my routines incorporate partner poses to engender trust and love between tall ones and small ones.  (It is such a sweet sight to see a small one snuggle up to their tall one or hold their hand during shavasna at the end of class.)

Conversely, being with their small ones gives tall ones “permission” to be silly and child like again!  In this way, both benefit from the interaction during class.

Each one of my routines is designed to literally exercise both body and mind.  For example, one week, children develop phonemic awareness through memorizing nursery rhymes reinforced by coordinating asanas.  And another week we talk about symbiotic relationships between crocodiles and plover birds on our virtual tour of the African Savannah's.

Each routine is theme tailored and complete with an intention for the practice, appropriate asanas and shavasana ("be still" time in corpse pose at the end of class).  

See other "Tall Ones & Small Ones" post for a list of possible themes...and the list just keeps getting longer!  If you have a specific theme or book you would like to see done for your event or school-let me know and I'll see what I can create!!

Kids' Yoga Adventure Themes

                                                         (Giraffe in Prasarita Padottanasana)

African Safari

Take a trip to Africa and check out the local wildlife and learn about symbiotic relationships.

Giraffe in Prasarita Padottanasana)

  Yoga For Fun (with Sally)         

Learn lots of new poses like airplane, tree, bird poses and more!                                                                                

  Pizza Party

Learn about the importance of good food, good friends and good fun.

Surfin U.S.A.

Come ride the waves on the North Shore of Hawaii and explore the ocean floor.   

          

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle…Yoga!

We’ll learn how to incorporate the 3R’s into our practice both on AND off the mat!

Yoda Yoga                                                   

Who better to learn yoga wisdom from than the Jedi Master himself!      

Yoda in Baddha Konasana

                                                      

                                                                                                   

Hogwarts School of Hatha

Stressed bodies and sad faces “magically” disappear through this Harry Potter inspired routine.

Captain America Asanas

Poses inspired from Spiderman, Captain America, Superman, Catwoman, Storm, the Fantastic Four…                

and the list goes on-feel empowered and strong as we channel our inner heroes for the day! 

Hulk in Vriksasana

Kids' Yoga Adventure-Description

2012-Eagle Creek PTY studio

Kids’ Yoga Adventure 

2013-Zionsville PTY studio

Yoga helps children calm their minds and stretch their bodies.  It also increases their ability to concentrate and focus, as well as deal with stress.  The younger we can give our children tools to handle their emotions and exercise their bodies the better able they will be in handling the fast paced, high pressure society they are growing up in! 

Yoga benefits the mind, body and spirit, 

but it is also a lot of FUN! 

Kids will discover all four of these aspects in our monthly routines tailored just for them. Each kid’s yoga class is based on a theme and incorporates children’s literature, music, singing, science, games or rhymes, creating an atmosphere for imagination and learning while promoting a healthy body!  

Being with kids is always an adventure!  In this journey they’ll learn a lot about themselves and the world around them.  So enjoy PTY's Eagle Creek Park Studio once a month & Zionsville every week while your kids enjoy this one of a kind yoga adventure!

*Adults: If you want to join the class, you are welcome to do so for only $8 more! 

Young Yoginis

I have taught Young Yoginis at preschools, daycares and library programs targeting beginners in every sense of the word!  This class is theme based like my other classes for children, but a lot more hands on to support developing gross and fine motor skills and help kids become comfortable with yoga poses in general.

Frequent use of imagination, stories, rhymes and songs coupled with a shorter time frame helps keep these young ones engaged and the experience enjoyable.

Below are a few themes I've done in the past-I am always creating new routines and incorporating new children's books.

Pizza Party: 
Learn about the importance of good friends and good healthy food.

Winter Fun: 
A winter sport inspired routine.  Kids get to enjoy skiing, iceskating and sledding in the warmth of the indoors.

The Best Gift Ever:
Children learn that LOVE is the best gift ever and doing acts of service is always a good present to give. 

A New Year:
A time to celebrate the old year and look forward to a new one.  2013, the four seasons and the calendar months will be reiterated through out the practice.

"Snowmen at Night":
Based off the instant classic by .... we pretend to be snowmen and have fun like they do!

African Safari:

Take a trip to Africa and check out the local wildlife, learn about symbiotic relationships and more!

Yoga "Rocks":

What moves rocks better than bulldozer, backhoes and dump trucks?! Kids will love this construction site inspired routine.

Sunrise Hike:

Take “a hike” with me up one of my favorite mountain ranges and learn about nocturnal animals, echolocation and more.