A Merry Mindful Christmas

Only a few days to go … Have you got your Christmas presents sorted yet? With practicing gratitude, mindfulness and minimalism we told the kids that this year there will be only (?!) one gift per person under the tree. So the girls wrote a letter to Santa wishing for one out of three things: something they would like, something they would really like, and something they would really really really like.

Surprisingly we found ‘family time’, ‘drawing things’, ‘a snorkel set’ and ‘my two front teeth’ listed. No ipads, phones, computers or other nic-nac. Pretty exciting.

You’re still on the hunt? Why not give the gift of yoga? Teaching tools of self-calm, finding inner strength and happiness are only some of the life-skills yoga teaches us. I truly believe there is no better gift!

Some ‘yogic’ ideas to get some self-calm into your household:

• Give a yoga story book

• Host a Christmas yoga party: What fun! You could wear your most comfortable pants, eat healthy food and get a good stretch!

• Download meditation for children: https://www.greenchildmagazine.com/free-meditation-guided-relaxation-scripts-kids/

• Mandala Colouring: Children, teens and even adults love to colour in. Mandalas are special because they help to create single-pointed focus and develop concentration; a perfect moment of peace among the Christmas madness. Check out www.printmandala.com for a multitude of choices.

• Make a yoga Christmas tree ornament: We often do this in the final yoga class of the year as a special gift for the kids to take home. Draw your favourite pose on an ornament to hang on the tree for a personal touch.

• Play Yogi games: Listen to Christmas songs and make up Yoga poses along the way.

• Sign up for a term of yoga classes for children. While I’ll not be running after school classes next term, a number of excellent Yoga Ed. Teachers who have been trained by me will be. I always share their classes on my social media: www.facebook.com/yogazeitkids

• Learn to teach yoga to children: Go to www.yogazeit.com.au/trainings. There’s a training in Bunbury coming up in January (only a few spots left!) and other trainings will be held in April and May 2019. Booking links are open – please note that spots are strictly limited! When it’s sold out – it’s sold out!

• Commit to doing an anonymous good deed: In the spirit of Christmas, teach children the joy of giving to others.

• Give a a deck of yoga cards: https://www.bookdepository.com/Yoga-Pretzels-Tara-Guber/

• Practice gratitude: Thinking of all the things you are grateful for. List 5 and add another 5. And another 5. And another 5. Life will soon sound really exciting!

• Rename five yoga poses with Seasonal names. For example, Tree Pose could be Dancing Elf or Rock pose could be melting snowman. If you feel creative, sequence them into a Christmas story or a song.