Ms. Ellen's December Yoga Journal

Over the last few weeks, we have celebrated the Winter Solstice and incorporated the theme of light into our movement activities. This has been a delightful way to engage minds and bodies while connecting to the rich, universal symbolism of light. Light represents hope, warmth, joy, and the sun's eventual return—common themes across various winter celebrations such as Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Chinese New Year. We practiced poses commemorating light, such as a flowing Sun Salutation to “Here Comes the Sun,” Candlestick pose, and other shapes like the sun, star, moon, lightning, and fire log legs. Children also shared how they will shine their inner light at school or home through acts of kindness. We played games using fun poses such as snowball, snow angel, snowman, sled, tree, menorah, bear, fox, and owl.

In Dance, we continue to review and learn new steps as we build mastery, skill, and coordination. In celebration of the holiday season, we explored “The Dance of the Snowflakes” from The Nutcracker and learned some very basic ballet movements, including a plié and relevé. With the 5th floor, we also considered the idea of forming a “New Year’s Resolution.”

The holiday season can be full of excitement and joy, but it is also a time of spontaneity and changes in routine. The rhythm of consistency is indeed a gift, especially during the buzz of the holidays. Children tend to thrive on routines, as they provide a sense of security. Yet, the beauty of the holidays lies in the unique moments that break the ordinary day-to-day. How can we weave these seemingly opposing threads together? What simple acts of kindness can your family integrate into each day?

One way to create consistency during travels or “staycations” might be to start a gratitude practice at breakfast or dinner. You could also introduce simple breathing routines, such as box breathing, as a new part of your morning, midday, or evening rhythm. Another helpful tool for self-regulation is “naming 5 things” (five things you can see, touch, smell, hear, or taste). Even one small, repeated activity can provide the predictability that children thrive on.

Namaste and wishes of peace,
Ms. Ellen