Yoga for Kids : Heart Seal
By Erin Barrette Goodman
Many Yogis (that's the fancy word for people who practice yoga) begin and end their practice by gently pressing the palms of their hands together over the center of their chest, which is also known as the "heart center," to form a Heart Seal.
The Heart Seal helps us to bring the energies of the Mind, the Body, and the Heart together to focus on peace and happiness, which is what the practice of Yoga is all about. This lovely, gentle sequence makes a nice transition into/out of rest time or to begin/end the day.
The steps:
Begin by sitting comfortably on the floor. Legs can be folded or stretched out.
Take a deep breath in and think about something that makes you feel very happy (sunshine, snowflakes, your friends, your pet, your family).
Next reach your arms up way over head as you take another big breath in.
As you breathe out, slowly float the arms down and bring the palms together at your Heart Center (right around the sternum).
Repeat this breathing sequence two more times, letting the happy feelings in your heart grow bigger each time you breathe.
After the third breath, hold the hands at the Heart Center. As you gently press the palms of your hands together, close your eyes and imagine that you are sealing all of these good feelings into your heart.
Optional: Invite the children to share (verbally, in writing, drawing, or painting) the happiness and peace that they sealed into their hearts.
Erin Barrette Goodman (www.eringoodman.com/blog) is a writer, yoga teacher and mother of two. She is the founder of the Rhode Island Birth Network (www.ribirth.net), which promotes empowered decision-making during the childbearing years.
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