There were 18 children in the class at Columbine Elementary yesterday. This school is 89 percent Hispanic, oddly enough, since it is in the middle of Boulder, within a neighborhood where houses easily start at $450,000. I suspect the Anglo parents ship their children off to another school and I feel that this open enrollment policy with Boulder Public Schools destroys diversity, encourages racism and undermines all children's learning. I never knew segregation was alive and well in the United States.
But the children were eager to learn yoga, and again I teach to these children in service. Using the theme again of the Hero's Journey, i teach them that yoga is a journey to the self, to find that union within. The children love the puppets i use, especially Mr. Bones, the small skeleton who encourages drinking water and eating healthy foods. And of course the pirate, Jean-Jaques JeuneGens, sets the tone for the story and is a philosophy lover. A child asked, "What is Philosophy?" and I replied, "the love of knowledge and wisdom." Such smart little children. I love watching them do the poses and get into their bodies, they are so flexible in upward bow pose, and it was a joy to help those up who never have done it before. We practiced meditation, of breathing deeply and then a visualization of bring a tree. The exhalation sinks our roots deep into the earth, grounding us, helping us to control our bodies and be still. Then the in breath makes our trunk and branches expand. They visualized thousands of tiny leaves shimmering in the wind, and I urged them to make those thousand of leaves become very still. I use a bell to remind them to stay in the moment, to feel their bodies and breath moving in and out, in and out and to see the leaves perfectly still. THey did well in shavasana, although it took the reminder that the most still will be rewarded with ringing the bell to bring the group out of relaxation, and that helped a lot!
I will continue teaching the theme of non-violence and peace using heart opening poses.
Lalita the Marequite lady bug puppet was very useful in reminding children of the rules of conduct in the class. These children were especially talkative and interuptive. Perhaps because it was such a large group.
Love and peace,
Sydney Solis
www.StorytimeYoga.com