I Can Be

I had fun talking to everyone at the local LICC conference.  It is always nice to hear how children are enjoying I Can Be.  I continue to be inspired by Moms who let me know that their children love the book.  I can only hope that  I Can Be will continue to touch children’s lives. 

It has been an interesting year.  The good news, both of my boys are healthy and strong.   They both enjoy yoga and karate, and my youngest is taking a special interest in I Can Be.   Last August, a virus attacked my heart, and I had to temporarily stop teaching yoga.  I am now getting back into yoga and feeling much better.  This event changed my focus quite a bit, and I found myself in bed writing and doing other creative projects.  I have a new blog: Angel Garden Guidance.  There, I will be sharing some guidance from my favorite authors and myself to enhance your spiritual life.  In addition, Q & J Bird Press will be releasing its new product on this site very soon.

Thanks for reading and have a beautiful day!

Christine

I recently returned from exhibiting at the Yoga Health Festival in Los Angeles.  I spent a lot of time at this event educating attendees on SPD.  Only 5 out of the hundreds of people I talked to had ever heard of SPD!  Thank you again to everyone who stopped by my table to chat.

At this event, I also had the pleasure of meeting Celina Miller, publisher of YogaMom Magazine.  This is a great new magazine that celebrates all YogaMoms trying to balance all aspects of their life as well as their yoga practice.  Please visit her website at  http://yogamommagazine.com/

Celina also wrote a beautiful article about I Can Be on her website under the heading YogaKids.  It was a blessing to meet Celina, and I am so honored that she took the time to write such a thoughtful piece.  Click here to read this article.

Namaste to Celina and all YogaMoms out there!

Today, I was thinking about our breath.  One of my first yoga teachers taught me that the state of our breath directly reflects the state of our mind.   Think back to the last time you were angry…were you huffing and puffing your breath?  How about the last time you were scared…did you hold your breath?  Anxious…was your breath rapid and shallow?  If we want to calm the mind, we need to calm the breath.

Here is a fun activity for kids from Marsha Wenig author of Yoga Kids. 

“Lie down on your back.  Place a rubber ducky on your belly.  Breathe gently in (your belly rises) and out (your belly button sinks down).  As your belly rises and falls like the waves, your ducky surfs the waves as you inhale (breathe in) and floats as you exhale (breathe out).  Give your ducky a slow and gentle ride with your breathing” (p. 24).

I often practice this exercise with my boys, but I use a  chameleon beanie baby.  They giggle and giggle when they inhale and see the chameleon. 

Here are some great links to gather more information on Sensory Processing Disorder:

The SPD Foundation

http://www.spdfoundation.net/

The Out-of-Sync Child

http://www.out-of-sync-child.com/

Michele Mitchell’s website

http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/index.html

Developmental Delay Resources

http://devdelay.org/

Anyone out there reading A New Earth by Echart Tolle? Echart states, “To love is to recognize yourself in another…The longing for love that is in every child is the longing to be recognized, not on the level of form, but on the level of Being…When another recognizes you, that recognition draws the dimension of Being more fully into this world through both of you” (p. 105-106).

Being that I just published a book for children called I Can Be, “being” is a central theme in my life right now. I want to be more aware and present when I am with my children. I want them to feel recognized and loved unconditionally. Any parent or caregiver knows that this can be a difficult task at times.

If you are watching Oprah’s webcasts, being is nothing new to you. Please share with me any ideas or experiences you have on bringing more presence and love into the relationship you have with your children. This can only make the world a better place and may give someone else a new idea on how to make this shift in their life!

Hope to hear from you soon!

Christine

Hello! I had my first book signing this past Saturday at Angel’s Toy Barn in the Westmoreland Mall. What a fun day! I enjoyed meeting everyone who came out to hear the book and practice yoga. Thank you for your support! Of course, the kids were naturals at all of the poses, and I loved watching them hop around and be free!

I would love to hear how the children in your life are experiencing I Can Be! If you have any fun stories to share about your child and I Can Be, please let me know by replying to this post! Tell me about their favorite pose or animal and any unique things you or your child (or loved one) are doing with the book.

Keep stretching and being who you are!

Welcome! I am so excited to share Q & J Bird Press’s first book, I Can Be: A Child’s Whimsical Introduction to Yoga, with you.

This book has been a true labor of love for me over the last year, and it has its roots deep within the story of my family. I wrote this book for my nephew quite a few years ago. My love for him and his love for animals inspired me, and I came up with the idea and text for this book in a matter of seconds while driving one day. I truly feel it was a gift from God. Interestingly enough, it would take me quite a few years to figure out what I needed to do with this gift.

Since my first son was born almost three years ago, I have been teaching him the postures and movements in this book. Of course, like all children, he was a natural at yoga. When he was 14 months, we were invited by our friend to a local high school to teach their preschoolers yoga. My son really got involved with teaching the kids. He was even my demonstrator for downward dog!

We continue to start each of our mornings by reading the book and practicing the stretches. It is a great way to start your day and bond with your child!I look forward telling you more about our journey, but that will have to be another day!