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They say that a child remembers something better when they actually experience it, versus just being told something or reading about it.  And we can imagine, that if you read something as well as experience it, the memory will recall even more.  Reading a book and doing yoga go hand-in-hand and here's how it can be done.

For example, take a book such as Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle.  In the story, we are introduced to 9 different animals (all different colors) and a teacher.  There's a brown bear, red bird, yellow duck, blue horse, green frog, purple cat, white dog, black sheep, gold fish, and teacher with glasses.  Did you know that there's a yoga pose that can be done with each of these animals?  The poses may not flow as smoothly as yoga should, but they get the kids active and recalling the book and poses much easier when combined.  You can combine yoga with any book that you read, or even revolve yoga moves around a topic that is being taught in school to help children recollect.

Tip #1: Don't forget to do floor moves as well as standing moves.

Tip #2: Always remember to counter-stretch.

Tip #3: Remember to stretch both sides of the body.  For example, if a child does tree pose with their left foot on the floor, they should also do the right foot on the floor.

Have you ever wondered what a kids yoga class looks like? Probably not, but I'll tell you anyway.  A yoga class usually lasts anywhere between 30 minutes to 1 hour.  Usually in the beginning, the instructor will start out with some sort of sharing activity, where everyone gets to introduce themselves and something special about themselves.  "What's your favorite animal?"  Then, there are a few breathing exercises that everyone does.  This may sound hokey, but the kids truly enjoy this moment. 

Some instructors revolve their yoga class around a story, using animal poses or poses that represent objects, such as rocks, boats, mountains, and stars.  A story is a great way to get the children involved and who doesn't like a good story?  Poses are both sitting poses, standing poses, poses on bellies, and poses on backs.  The idea is to get all of the muscles and body parts moving and stretching, always remembering to breath along the way. 

Songs, chants, and games are incorporated into the class to add variety.  We all know that kids get restless, and with all of the variety, there's no time to get bored or disengage for very long. 

All children enjoy routine or familiarity, as well as challenges.  So, along with some familiar poses, stories, and/or songs (such as row, row, row your boat), there are usually some new yoga moves added to each class. 

At the end of a kids yoga class, the instructor will have the kids take a yoga nap or shavasana.  Kids lie on their backs in relaxed manner, while the instructor either tells a relaxing, happy story or plays soft music.  This moment of "silence" is amazing, and usually the older the kids, the more they need it and love it. 

Whether you are a yoga master or someone who just thought yoga was another brand of fancy yogurt, you must check out a kids yoga class one day and see for yourself that it will bring out the kid in you.

There are so many cool balancing devices out there, and I thought I'd do a quick comparison of the pros and cons. 

First there's the balance bike. Pretty great workout for the legs, and great hand-eye coordination practice for kids.  This bike is so cool for kids who want to tool around town a bit faster than walking, and way more fun than running.  It's small and fits in the trunk of a car.  It's also a great way to encourage kids to ride a bike and gets them riding a bike without training wheels probably faster than normal.  My niece went straight from the balance bike to a regular bike with pedals (and no training wheels) in less than a day, and she just turned 5!  Not great with babies or toddlers just learning to walk. Unfortunately, this bike is also a bit too small for adults.  Why don't they have one in my size?

Then, there's the balance board with the ball roller underneath.  So, this balance device is hard-core.  If you are a skate-boarder, this may be the board for you.  But, beware...it's challenging and can even be dangerous because you can slip and fall quite easily.  Not a great thing to have with little kids, but awesome for older kids looking for that challenge. 

The all-time balance ball.  These have been around forever, and they are great to have in the house as an extra chair.  I remember hearing one time that they are a good replacement for the office chair, as you can totally workout your core while working on work-related desk projects.  I also remember using them at the gym for total body workouts. Besides tossing or kicking them around, young kids have a tough time with them, as they are pretty big.  And your dog may mistake one for a fetching ball.  If they get a hole in them, it's a bit challenging to fix. They're great for the pool and outdoors.

The balance board.  This board is great for the whole family to use.  Even toddlers and Grandma will enjoy the challenge.  The balance board is open-ended and perfect for taking yoga poses to the next level.  It can be used indoors and outdoors and doesn't take up a lot of space.  No helmet is required.  It looks intimidating, but it doesn't bite.  Just be careful that your rabbit or panda doesn't get ahold of it.  It's made of wood and will look quite delicious to those who enjoy gnawing on bamboo or maple.

There are a number of other balance devices out there, and they all have their benefits.  I guess it's up to you to figure out which one would be most compatible with your family and lifestyle.  Heck, if you have the room, get them all and enjoy. 

Did you know that mouse pose and bunny pose may help you the next time you have a belly ache?  Many yoga poses are great for helping us feel better, if not physically then mentally. Here are a few to try the next time you are feeling yucky in these parts of your body:

Headache.....Downward dog and Sloth pose may help with a headache. 

Throat.....Lion pose brings more blood flow to your throat and may help with a sore throat. 

Backache.....Happy Baby pose.  Gently rock from side to side on your back for a mini massage.

Digestion.....Bridge pose and maybe even Snake pose can not only help with digestion, but can also reduce backaches.  Don't forget to counter stretch with mouse pose.

Gas.....Mountain pose or any twisting poses both standing and sitting are great to get out the bothersome gas in our bodies. 

Leg cramps....Sloth pose, Downward Dog, Tree, Pigeon, and Boat pose will all help strengthen and stretch your legs. 

O.k., so you see them everywhere! Balance balls, balance boards, balance cushions, balance bikes are appearing everywhere left and right.  Why are they so great?  Did you know that doing the same exercise on a balance device makes you even stronger?  Research tells us that balance boards and balance balls engage more muscle fibers in the body.  For example, the lower back muscles use 42%-70% more exertion when on a balance device.  Now, how about those abs?  They say that 22%-34% more exertion takes place when on a balance board or ball.  Quads get a whopping 61%-84% more exertion, calves about 17%-51% more compared to exercises done without those balancing devices. 

Why didn't we know this years ago?