The Yoga In My School podcast interviews Incia Palmieri, founder of Once Upon a Mat. We discuss embracing life's journey with grace, tools to promote mindfulness in children, the amazing Calm Me Box, and ways mindfulness can help families navigate the CoVid-19 world. Highlights: 1:14 Welcome to Incia 6:24 Impact of yoga in the classroom 9:44 Once Upon a Mat 11:02 the Calm Me Box, the idea and reality 13:00 The Rainbow Box (April Showers) 16:43 How mindfulness can help families 20:50 Yoga and min...
Apr 22, 2020•26 min
In this episode of the Yoga In My School podcast host Donna Freeman connects with Dr. Frank Sileo, psychologist and author. We discuss the power of loving kindness meditation, how to make it your own and use it during this particularly challenging time, tools for parents to navigate CoVid-19, and the beauty and power of learning to pause. Highlights: 2:00 Intro Dr Frank Sileo 4:35 Frank Sileo psychologist and author 7:45 Bentley Bee series and new release Bee Heartful 9:39 Loving Kindness Medita...
Apr 02, 2020•41 min
This special episode of the Yoga In My School podcast explores how kids yoga leaders and businesses are managing during CoVid-19. Joining host Donna Freeman are guests Lani Rosen-Gallagher (Full of Joy Yoga), Shari Villez-Blatt (Karma Kids Yoga) and Mary Burton (Zensational Kids). They offer frank and personal experiences how they are supporting their communities, undergoing a steep technology learning curve, reaching out to schools, providing for staff, and handling the challenges. 1:20 Lani Ro...
Mar 19, 2020•31 min
In this episode of the Yoga In My School podcast we delve into how best to support bereaved children. Our guest, UK based Sally Eccleston of Yoga with Sally, shares her expertise in childhood grief, our most important task to support bereaved children, and some yoga and mindfulness practices which help connect, heal and soothe. Highlights: 2:16 Sally Eccleston, Educational Psychologist, Yoga with Sally 5:51 How grief/loss manifest in different age groups 10:33 Most important thing to do for bere...
Mar 02, 2020•35 min
In this episode of the Yoga In My School podcast we talk with Britt Collins-Feist of Sensory Parenting about sensory processing, integration and sensitivity in our homes and schools. Discover how vital understanding of the sensory system is to help children calm and regulate Listen to the YIMS podcast audio and access the archives http://yogainmyschool.buzzsprout.com/ Highlights: 2:25 Britt Collins-Feist intro and background 4:28 Sensory Yoga for Kids book and other publications 5:54 Parenting f...
Feb 19, 2020•33 min
Welcome to the Yoga In My School podcast. In this episode we delve into the world of performing and yogic arts with Anita Mcfarlane of Circus Yoga Kelowna. Anita has spent her life in the theatre, performing, coaching, writing. She shares how yoga, meditation, and breath work play a vital role in harnessing and honing an artist's ability. Listen to the podcast or access the archives: http://yogainmyschool.buzzsprout.com/ Highlights: 1:55 Anita Mcfarlane - background 5:27 Yoga as a support for ac...
Jan 24, 2020•26 min
Welcome to the Yoga In My School podcast. In this episode we launch the new decade: welcome 2020. Founder and host Donna Freeman chats with Calgary based yoga therapist Kim McNeil about the concept of experiences versus acquisitions or doing vs having. Listen to the YIMS podcast audio and access the archives http://yogainmyschool.buzzsprout.com/ Highlights: 1:38 Kim McNeil background - yoga therapist, yoga for arthritis & chronic illnesses 4:57 Forbes article Dr Thomas GIlovich - https://www...
Jan 03, 2020•37 min
Yoga In My School founder, Donna Freeman, chats with Jennifer Cohen Harper, founder of Little Flower Yoga, about Jen's new book Thank You Body, Thank You Heart . We discuss how to use body scans and gratitude to create calm and foster self compassion, as well as the importance of routines for kids and amazing tips to help kids go to bed/sleep. Enjoy the video version here https://youtu.be/KscRYQztQFU Highlights 1:26 Introduction of Jennifer Cohen Harper 3:04 Jen's background, Little Flower Yoga ...
Dec 12, 2019•39 min
Kindergarten is an exciting year: ABCs & 123s, new friends, new routines. It is the beginning of formal education.More and more teachers are incorporating yoga and mindfulness into their Kindergarten classes. Is this helpful? Are they old enough? What's the best way to introduce these skills? What are the benefits and potential pitfalls?If you have Kindergarten aged children or are an early educator you'll want to listen in as host Donna Freeman chats with Alexa Simon, teacher, special needs...
Nov 05, 2019•30 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Mindfulness in schools is a hot topic. Studies prove its effectiveness at helping children reduce stress, self regulate and focus. Now available is a series of Mindfulness Moments board books to enable even the youngest child to cultivate skills to feel calm wherever they are. Musician, kids yoga expert and author, Kira Willey, joins us to talk about her latest endeavor to help children manage body, breathe and emotions. Support the show
Oct 18, 2019•29 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Delve into the amazing world of accessible yoga with Yoga for Amputees.Our special guest Marsha Terese Danzig shares her personal story and her amazing work bringing light and life to amputees through yoga and meditation.Discover how amputees can foster their body, mind and spirit through practices modified for specific needs. Yoga instructors will love the tips Marsha shares on how to safely and effectively adapt yoga practices as well as best practices when amputee participants are part of you...
Jul 18, 2019•30 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Changing jobs, moving house, letting go of one dream and embracing another: we've all experienced these things and have done so with varying degrees of distress and ease, upset and calm.Join host Donna Freeman and her esteemed guest Jodi Komitor as they discuss the art of letting go. Jodi is the founder of Next Generation Yoga, a premier kids yoga organization. Recently Jodi sold her company and after a transition period is now forging a new path. We'll talk about some of the challenges of the p...
Jun 21, 2019•29 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Join host Donna Freeman and special guest Susan Agrios to delve into Mindfitness.This unique term coined by Susan reflects the importance of mindfulness and movement to foster the mental fitness necessary to effectively meet the demands of our modern world.Each year a special beKind Mindfitness Triathlon is held. Susan will explain the purposes of the event and what makes it distinctive. Support the show
Jun 05, 2019•23 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Do kids you know suffer from anxiety and overactive thought patterns? Do you wonder how to help them?Join Donna Freeman, founder of Yoga In My School, as she chats with award winning author Gail Silver about her newest publication Mindful Bea and the Worry Tree. (release date April 16, 2019)Bea is anxiously waiting for her friends to show up for her birthday party. Discover how Bea's thoughts take over and what she does to find calm so she can enjoy her party.We'll discuss the rise in anxiety is...
Apr 12, 2019•32 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Are you looking for ways to help kids be calm, overcome anxiety, and live happy, healthy lives?Wynne Kinder shares her extensive knowledge on mindfulness for kids in her new book Calm. For years Wynne has been involved with developing amazing resources for schools and families to use to invite more mindful moments into their day. It's a delight to reconnect with her and highlight the amazing work being done.Join us as we talk all things mindfulness, ways to get buy in from reluctant participants...
Feb 20, 2019•31 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Kids have big emotions. Often they don't know how to manage these emotions, what to do, how to express themselves or how to find that place of calm inside.Today's guest on the Yoga In My School podcast is Sara Pletcher. Sara is a teacher and author passionate about helping teachers help kids. She writes about topics that lead to important conversations to foster awarenss, self regulation and integration. Her latest book, Ride the Wind, is a colorful exploration of feelings and thoughts.In her cr...
Sep 14, 2018•30 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Are you a coach, parent or teacher? Do you know teens who struggle with the demands of high performance on the field and in the classroom?Todd Corbin joins host Donna Freeman to discuss how student athletes can benefit from mindfulness practices. Discover tools to reduce stress, improve performance and manage the challenges of balancing athletics and academics.Todd has partnered with Gina Biegel, founder of Stressed Teens, to create an amazing, extremely useful mindfulness workbook for student a...
Sep 04, 2018•37 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Sept 21 has been designated the International Day of Peace or World Peace Day by the United Nations.Join host Donna Freeman as she connects with Jeremy Gilley, founder of Peace One Day, to talk about his crusade to create and celebrate this day of global ceasefire and non-violence.Discover some of the amazing work being done around the world by governments, organizations and individuals to foster hope and create peace within hearts, homes, communities and countries. Jeremy will share some of his...
Aug 09, 2018•31 min•Season 1Ep. 9
There is too much body shaming going on. Who hasn't stood in front of a mirror and only seen their faults and flaws? STOP IT! You are amazing, incredible and perfect exactly as you are.This is the message Dana Suchow of Do the Hot Pants shouts from the top of her voice and with her powerful social media presence. Join Yoga In My School founder Donna Freeman as she and Dana discuss this serious issue and how parents, teachers and caregivers can help prevent eating disorders before they start. Dis...
Jul 10, 2018•31 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Gabi Garcia is passionate about helping kids to be kind to themselves, to listen to their bodies and to their hearts. Join Yoga In My School founder, Donna Freeman, as she chats with counsellor, teacher, author Gabi Garcia about how we can foster positive self talk and emotional awareness in children.Gabi's beatuifully illustrated and wonderfully written books, Listening to My Body and Listening with My Heart, are for parents, teachers and practitioners who are helping children learn mindfulness...
Jun 07, 2018•30 min•Season 1Ep. 6
TeenSTAR is a unique program focusing on awareness of fertility patterns and cycles. With a focus on responsible decision and communication skills, this program fosters self understanding and self esteem. Join special guest Hanna Klaus, founder of TeenSTAR, as we discuss creating awareness of fertility cycles and how such awareness benefits teen girls. By teaching teen girls all over the world how to chart their cycles and what we can learn about ourselves through becoming mindful of our pattern...
Apr 02, 2018•28 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Wondering how yoga and occupational therapy can facilitate child development. We've received a number of requests for this topic.Join host Donna Freeman and guest Allison Morgan, founder of Zensational Kids and Occupational Therapist as we delve into how these tools work hand in hand to promote health and development. Support the show
Mar 26, 2018•31 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Recently I came across a blog post about how to teach yoga and mindfulness to children with hearing loss. Since I've worked at a school for the deaf for a number of years I was interested to discover what insights the author might add.Miss Megan of Learning Lotuses joins us for this episode to chat about yoga for children with hearing loss. She'll share insights on what to expect as an instructor and how to navigate some potential hurdles. We'll discuss sensory processing and sensory fatigue, th...
Nov 03, 2017•31 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Join Donna Freeman as she chats with author Susan Verde about her newest book I Am Peace. This beautiful book invites all to calm our busy minds by focusing on the here and now. With touching illustrations by Peter H. Reynolds I Am Peace shows a variety of ways to connect with self, nature and others through compassionate awareness.This empowering book provides children numerous mindfulness tools they can use to calm down and the peace that comes from enjoying simple pleasures. Support the show...
Sep 08, 2017•22 min
Recently while flipping through Instagram I came across @ZenPigBook. Intrigued by the quirkiness, delft illustrations and timeless message I contacted author Mark Brown. He send me a set of Zen Pig volumnes and I am in love.Zen Pig books are beautifully crafted stories that inspire all to lead lives of peace, fulfillment and thanksgiving. Join me as I chat with Mark about the books, the message, and the care that goes into each one and which each sale send out to the world. Support the show...
Jul 24, 2017•31 min
The Yoga Project brings mindfulness, yoga and self regulations tools to schools throughout York and Simcoe, Ontario.Join us as we chat with The Yoga Project founders, Vanessa Miniaci and Jessica Monkcom, to learn what has inspired them to share yoga in schools, some of the difficulties they have faced and how their passion and enthusiasm for youth mental and physical health inspires them to educate and empower kids and teens through yoga everyday.Watch here to see a video of the work being done....
Jun 22, 2017•31 min
Shakta Khalsa is known the world over as one of the grand mothers of the children's yoga movement.Join her as she looks back on 40 years of teaching children's yoga. From the early years at the ashram to founding Radiant Child Yoga, she has lead the charge to bring peace and joy to children the world over. Inspiring others to share the joy of movement, mindfulness and song with the younger generation, Shakta is a teacher, mentor, mother and an beautiful example of living radiantly. Support the s...
Mar 15, 2017•31 min
We are experiencing a crisis of health both physical and mental; obesity, asthma, anxiety and other mental health issues plague our youth.What is being done? How can schools become a service provider to improve the mental and physical well-being of our youth?Join us as we chat with Jordanna Snyder of School Based Health Alliance and discover innovative programs providing essential health skills to youth at their school.Find out how you can access resources and get the support you need to develop...
Feb 13, 2017•32 min
King Calm: Mindful Gorilla in the City, encourages mindful living through everyday situations.Join authors Susan Sweet and Brenda Miles as we discuss the purpose and goals of using literature to increase mindful living. Support the show
Feb 02, 2017•31 min
I started the podcast as a way of adding interesting content on my then blog back in 2009. The first few episodes were a steep learning curve as I dove into a unfamiliar format and technology. My first live guest was Abby Wills of Shanti Generation. Since then I've had the privilege of interviewing nearly 100 leaders in the yoga and mindfulness community with a distinct bent toward kids yoga and school yoga programs.A couple years ago I nearly gave up on this labor of love as I didn’t know if an...
Jan 05, 2017•32 min
