Ocean Surf-ari Yoga

This week winds down the Wanna Play Summer Social Skills Camp. The theme of "Beach Yoga" worked so well the first week that I have used it  with all 4 groups for the entire 6 weeks. The children have responded well and for the most part have been very willing to interact with all the other children & other activities.

The format was the same each week to create a familiar routine: Get mats, sit down, take off shoes, practice breathing, "surfing" warmup, story or topic with poses, movement games and then finally an art project. The kids in my Tuesday class have been asking "Ms. Barb, are we doing art today?" for the last 3 weeks. The art has not only become a therapeutic outlet for self expression as well as a tangible symbol of the concepts they are being taught & shown, but also has become a motivator and a stress management tool.

Art has been used therapeutically since the 1940's. Art therapy is very different than other forms of therapy in that it utilizes and strengthens the creative process and is more accessable to everyone becuae we all, young or old, can be creative in some form or another! (See the article " Every Brain is A Creative Brain". ). Art therapy can be very beneficial to children as they have a harder time verbally expressing what they are expereincing & feeling as opposed to adults. They may feel "safer" and have an easier time expressing themselves through simple art projects.

Art can also aid a child in cultivating self-awareness, releiving stress or anxiety, integrating the sensory system & overcoming the challenges of learning disorders, autism, and other traumatic experiences. When a group art project (such as a mural) is planned, it can be a fantastic opportunity for refining social skills as well.

One of the first programs I worked with that recognized & embraced this concept of using art therapeutically as a form of communication & expression was the HeArts For Autsim Program.

This innovative monthy program is directed for children with autism and their siblings. Monthly activities are planned around a central theme and an art activity that is facilitated by volunteers.

I was asked to facilitate a yoga program for HeArts last year, and helped to establish the adaptive yoga program they are now using. We used the art activities along with yoga movement in a similar way that art is used in therapeutic environments, and it seems to be teaching skills and working in ways I never expected!

The other aspect of art is the unique interpretations and insights the children have. 

The Starfish project was a favorite-and can be used to teach many concepts. I used the imagery of a starfish-and the body in "Starfish Pose" (corpse pose or "savasana") as a relaxation technique. The starfish rests under the water-(weightless-cool) sinking deeper into the sand (safe-supported ) -where its quiet (rest-relaxation). Surrounded by beauty (visual processing-imagination) and kept company by other sea creatures (friendship-diversity) .

This week's Jelly Fish Project was well received too. I explained to the children that JellyFish are made of mostly water, have no bones, and no muscles so they are very floppy & can't move very well by themselves. They need to "suck in" and "blow out" the water to push them through and they need the Ocean currents to move them around-near food and shelter.




We rested in Jellyfish pose-Played Pass the Sea Urchin (a modified version of  'Funny Football" ) Played "The JellyFish Game" and made our own Art JellyFish to do the "JellyFish Dance" with.
I think I am all Jelly-Fished out!

Friday will be my day off-I am taking a trip with my daughter and some great friends to the actual beach. I am remembering the time that my (then 4 year old daughter) came running up to me excited by the "treasure she had found: to her it looked like a "tatoo necklace" so she picked it up and put it around her neck. I was horrified when I looked closer and saw that it was actually jellyfish tentacles! (Thankfully she was not stung-and we still laugh about this everytime we see "JellyFish Necklaces" at the beach!)

Maybe I will come up with some more beach adventures &  ideas for you while I am there!

Love & Laughter!

~Barbara


*Go to this link to order the complete beach themed S.M.Art Story™ curriculum: "Ocean Surfari"


Subscribe to S.M.Art Kids / Healthy Kids by Email




Contact: barbara@bodylogique.com



Related Articles:

Surf's Up!

Sand Dollar Shakers



.