Tree Pose

What does yoga have to do with gardening? Well, it actually has a lot to do with gardening. We garden because we want to grow nutritious food for our minds and bodies. We also garden to take part in a community of people who value taking care of the earth and each other. Yoga helps us attain both of these things as well.

Yoga asana is the practice of different postures that can help balance the body and mind. Asana can help improve our strength, flexibility, and stamina. Anyone can practice yoga and our group of Kids Grow! participants proved just that.

Abbie Gardiner, a wonderful yoga instructor from The Yoga Shala guided us through a fun practice which incorporated breathing and postures that resembled various things we would find in nature. Each of us received a flower to remind us to breathe deeply, as if inhaling an aromatic bouquet, while practicing yoga. We became lions and butterflies, dragonflies and bees, and by the end of the practice we lay still under the warm sun and allowed our bodies to completely relax.

The focused attention required to practice yoga helps to cultivate a deep sense of awareness. This awareness can help us make better choices in life. It is often when we are not aware that we make bad choices about the things we say or do. When we don't pay attention, it becomes easy to treat our minds and bodies poorly. We may choose to eat something that might taste good at the moment, but will hurt our bodies and communities in the long run.

Practicing yoga can be an excellent tool young people cab use to develope focus and confidence. The constant bombardment of media, advertising, and technological stimulation can have detrimetal affects on young minds. Yoga is an effective way for kids to unplug, and restore.

Yoga can also be a great activity to share with family and friends, strengthen bonds, and build conscious communities.