Kids love to follow other kids. This was the inspiration for our first DVD for children, Kids Teach Yoga: Flying Eagle, which earlier this month won the Mom’s Choice Award® Gold in Home and Mobile Viewing Category.
It’s an honor we’re extremely proud of, for the Mom’s Choice Awards are known for establishing the benchmark of excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. Parents, educators, librarians and retailers rely on them when selecting quality materials for children and families.
The honor is Yoga Calm’s second such recognition from Mom’s Choice. In 2008, Jim and I received their Silver Award for our book Yoga Calm for Children: Educating Heart, Mind and Body.
Designed for home and classroom use, Flying Eagle presents a very special Yoga Calm class in which 12 year old Haley, graceful and confident, leads a diverse group of boys and girls on a yoga adventure. The children learn how to calm themselves and use simple yoga poses to develop the strengths of the eagle: strength, focus and caring.
To build social skills and a sense of community, each child contributes by leading activities and giving each other compliments. Other team-building activities include Tree Circle, in which the kids help each other learn more advanced balance poses.
One of the most poignant scenes comes near the end of class when student Rylie invokes her Native American heritage’s love and respect for the eagle through a beautiful original song she performs during Haley’s relaxation storytelling.
Each time I watch this class, I’m touched by the poise and compassion of Haley and the students. And they all continue to practice Yoga Calm at home and school, which delights me.
Jim and I hope that as more children try yoga, they will learn how to direct their youthful energy and passion to helping others and making the world a better place.
– Lynea Gillen
