Yoga & Mindfulness for Children
- Begin standing in Mountain Pose. Find a place to rest your gaze that is straight out in front of you. Keep staring at that spot to help you balance. Slowly lift your right foot up off of the ground. Bend your knee and turn it out to the side, so that you can place the sole of your right foot on the inside of your left calf. You can also lift your foot to the inside of your thigh, but make sure not to place it on the side of your knee.
- Try to relax the foot of your standing leg. Notice if you are curling up your toes, and if so wiggle them a little bit. Imagine your standing leg growing roots deep into the ground to hold you steady. Press your foot into your leg, and your leg back into your foot. Lift your arms overhead like branches reaching for the sun.
- When you are ready to switch sides, turn your right knee to the front, pause, and then slowly lower it down. Then practice tree pose with your left leg.
- Now practice tree pose again, but this time, try an experiment. While you’re holding the pose, look up, then right, then left, then down…move your eyes quickly and notice what happens in your body. Now try looking at something that is moving, such as leaves blowing on trees, cars going by, or anything else that has a bit of movement to it. How do you feel? Finally try closing your eyes, and see what happens to your balance.
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Jennifer Cohen Harper, MA, E-RYT, RCYT, is an author and educator who works to support all children and teens in the development of strong inner resources through the tools of yoga and mindfulness. Her goal is to help kids, and those who care for them, thrive in the world regardless of circumstances, and navigate the many challenges they face with a sense of personal power and self-awareness.
As the founder and CEO of Little Flower Yoga, Jennifer brings embodied mindfulness programming and education to schools and community organizations nationwide, serving students, families, educators, and mental health providers. She is an active member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists, and the board president of the non-profit Yoga Service Council, which works to maximize the effectiveness and sustainability of those committed to sharing practices supporting healing, resilience, self-development, community building and positive social change.
Jennifer is the author and co-author of numerous titles and card decks, including Yoga and Mindfulness Practices for Children Card Deck (PESI, 2016), Little Flower Yoga (New Harbinger, 2013) and children’s books, Thank You Body, Thank You Heart (PESI, 2019) and Thank You Mind (PESI, 2020).
Jennifer’s work has been featured in prominent publications including NY Times, The International Journal of Yoga Therapy, Publishers Weekly, and Yoga Journal and endorsed by thought leaders including Dan Siegel, Sharon Salzberg, Rick Hanson and Congressman Tim Ryan. Jennifer is an engaging presenter committed to collective growth and learning. She offers powerful information in a practical, easy-to-implement format with warmth, humor and joy.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Jennifer Cohen Harper is the owner and CEO of Little Flower Yoga. She is a published author and receives royalties. Jennifer Cohen Harper receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Jennifer Cohen Harper is an advisor to the Center for Resilience. She is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapy and the International Association for School Yoga and Mindfulness.
