These are the books I have been exploring in class and on my own:
Nourishing Teachers Strengthening Classrooms-A Morning Of Yoga And Mindfulness
Book Review: My Amazing Day: A Celebration Of Wonder And Gratitude
Fall teen yoga session begins at the McAuliffe Charter School Framingham,MA.
I have 8 lovely students.
Happy Names
Class started with a focused breathing exercise just to get the kids sitting up, paying attention and focusing inwards. I calmly explained the activity I had planned, a silent activity, where they would write their name on a piece of paper and then decorate it with a happy face, a happy design, something that made them feel happy. Then, one at a time, we said our name and then went to the board and wrote down a word or phrase that answered the question
What is yoga?
“What is yoga?”
Relaxing
Happy
Stress relieving
Flexibility
Stretching
Balance
Strengthening your core
Meditating
Kinesthetic
I led them through a slow flow practice, naming prominent poses in both English and Sanskrit so that they become familiar with names. We balanced, strengthened, stretched to work on flexibility, we were observant doers, we laughed and after the second tree pose, the quiet and calm that filled the room was evident by all.
Lying down at the end. Meditation in the form of a focused breathing exercise: Just noticing the inhale (tip of nose, back of throat, chest, belly); just noticing the exhale (top of nose, back of throat, chest and belly); noticing both the inhale and the exhale. Letting thoughts come, as they too are a part of the meditation and then letting them gently dispel, like your finger stirring up still water and the ripples just floating away, coming back to stillness. Consciously cresting into Savasana. At the end, noticing which side of the nostril they are breathing more strongly out of and then rolling to that side, curling up like a baby, knees are bent at hip-height. Coming to a seated position. Focus through the brow point. Cross the hands right over left over the heart center in the center of the chest. This is called Garuda Mudra. Giving yourself a heart hug.
Feel your heart beat. Keep the chest lifted slightly.
Thank you-Namaste
.
Youth Flamenco on Wednesdays; Classes start Wednesday September 10th, 2014
@ The Dance Complex, 536 Mass Ave., Cambridge, MA
Youth Flamenco 1 (ages 5-10); 4:00PM The class is designed for children aged 5 to 11 with zero to 1 year of flamenco dance experience. This class includes basic technique of flamenco dance to include correct posture, hand, arm, and foot placement. The student will become familiar with basic flamenco vocabulary. The course will include exercises that will develop the clarity of the students’ footwork, develop their upper-body to lower-body coordination. Basic castanet playing exercises are practiced. Repertoire will be taught. Required attire: leotard or fitted top, castanets, flamenco shoes and skirt for girls. Castanets and flamenco boots for boys. Pre-Registration for Fall-Winter 2014 session, as well as Winter-Spring 2015, contact Eve Costarelli AdamAnt_Eve@hotmail.com for more information. No drop-ins.
Youth Flamenco 2 (ages 9-16); 5:00PM Two years of dance experience required. This class offers Flamenco technique to improve posture, hand, arm, and foot placement. Exercises that will improve clarity of the students’ footwork, upper-body to lower-body coordination as well as stamina and endurance are included. Medium to complex footwork and choreographic variations are taught. Required Attire: Flamenco shoes, flamenco skirt, leotard or fitted top, castanets. Other dance accessories may be required such as Spanish hat, mantón and fan, when necessary. Pre-Registration for this Fall-Winter 2014 session, as well as Winter-Spring 2015, contact Eve Costarelli AdamAnt_Eve@hotmail.com for more information. No drop-ins.
Inclusion Yoga (ages 6-10) and Tween/Teen Yoga on Thursdays: Classes start Thursday October 2nd, 2014
@ Open Spirit Center, 39 Edwards St., Framingham, MA
Inclusion Yoga (ages 6-10); 3:45-4:35PM This inclusion class will help children with Autism, special needs, and typical learners to feel comfortable with all people, noting that everyone is different and that’s OK. The class combines breath work, movement, guided meditations and a deep relaxation period to help children learn to be aware of their thoughts, emotions and what their bodies say. This specialized program is designed for typically developing children, and children with special needs, including but not limited to; Autism, ADD/ADHD, OCD, Anxiety, PDD, Sensory Processing Dysfunction, PTSD, CP and DS. Students must be able to take verbal instructions and follow along in a group setting with support. Pre-Registration for this Fall session, as well as other sessions throughout the year, are availablehttp://www.openspiritcenter.org/. Led by Eve Costarelli. $90 for the Fall session, no drop-ins.
Tween/Teen Girls Yoga (ages 11-18); 4:45-6:00PM This class brings older tweens and teens together to explore how yoga can help them better understand and appreciate their changing bodies, relationships, and lives. Yoga can help tweens/ teens move through these often-challenging years and emerge with healthy ways to address stress and find balance. Classes will help empower teens and inspire self-awareness and body confidence, and are fun, upbeat, and non-competitive. Yoga poses, philosophy, breath work, meditation and journaling will be explored. This class also presents a wonderful opportunity for tweens/ teens to come together, laugh, and build friendships within the Open Spirit community. Pre-Registration for this Fall session, as well as other sessions throughout the year, are availablehttp://www.openspiritcenter.org/. Led by Eve Costarelli. $90 for the Fall session, no drop-ins.
Privates are available, slots are filling quickly.
Flamenco and Yoga parties available for children and adults. Yoga Classes & The Common Core, Weddings and Corporate events available. Please inquire.
Eve’s other projects include:
Nourishing Teachers, Strengthening Classrooms Project @ the Framingham Public Schools; Framingham, MA
The Birth of Flamenco @ Young Audiences of Massachusetts; Greater New England
Yoga in the Park @ Ivy Child International; Worcester, MA
Core Yoga In Schools @ Brighton High School; Brighton, MA
Yoga Reaches Out: Kid’s Yogathon; Natick, MA
Tween/Teen Yoga
Thursday, 4:45 pm – 6:00 pm
@ Open Spirit Center, 39 Edwards Street, Framingham http://www.openspiritcenter.org/events/tweenteen-yoga-2014-10-02/
This class brings older tweens and teens together to explore how yoga can help them better understand and appreciate their changing bodies, relationships, and lives. Yoga can help tweens/ teens move through these often-challenging years and emerge with healthy ways to address stress and find balance. Classes will help empower teens and inspire self-awareness and body confidence, and are fun, upbeat, and non-competitive. Yoga poses, philosophy, breath work, meditation and journaling will be explored. This class also presents a wonderful opportunity for tweens/ teens to come together, laugh, and build friendships within the Open Spirit community. Pre-Registration is here!
Session Schedule:
Fall–Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; Nov. 6 [6 weeks] $90
Winter–Nov. 13, 20; Dec 4, 11, 18; Jan 8, 15, 22 [8 weeks] $120
Early Spring–Jan 29; Feb 5, 12, 26; March 5,12,19, 26 [8 weeks] $120
Late Spring–April 2, 9, 16; May 7, 14, 21, 28; June 4 [8 weeks] $120
To Register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1pO3PFvTySQDcRRX_u-s-gkx5i8123IZxWyQ_SC9YHoU/viewform
Cost: $90 for the Fall session; no drop-ins!
For More Info:
Instructor: Eve Costarelli
Instructor bio: Eve teaches yoga and flamenco dance in schools and community centers. She is a certified Stretch What Matters Yoga Teacher.
Inclusion Yoga 
Thursday, 3:45 pm – 4:35 pm — Fall session (Thursdays in October)
@ Open Spirit Center, 39 Edwards Street, Framingham, MA http://www.openspiritcenter.org/events/inclusion-yoga-2014-10-02/
Beginning October 2014, this inclusion class will help children with Autism, special needs, and typical learners to feel comfortable with all people, noting that everyone is different and that’s OK. The class combines breath work, movement, guided meditations and a deep relaxation period to help children learn to be aware of their thoughts, emotions and what their bodies say
This specialized program is designed for typically developing children, and children with special needs, including but not limited to; Autism, ADD/ADHD, OCD, Anxiety, PDD, Sensory Processing Dysfunction, PTSD, CP and DS. Students must be able to take verbal instructions and follow along in a group setting with support.
Pre-Registration for this Fall session, as well as other sessions throughout the year, are available by clicking here.
Sessions Schedule:
Fall–Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; Nov. 6 [6 weeks] $90 *
Winter–Nov. 13, 20; Dec 4, 11, 18; Jan 8, 15, 22 [8 weeks] $120
Early Spring–Jan 29; Feb 5, 12, 26; March 5,12,19, 26 [8 weeks] $120
Late Spring–April 2, 9, 16; May 7, 14, 21, 28; June 4 [8 weeks] $120
To Register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Ce6IoLUr0rx0ApE4ll6j63HmadyR64P1ukuMM5Fe7Wk/viewform
Cost: $75 for the Fall session; no drop-ins!
For More Info: 508-877-8162
Instructor: Eve Costarelli
Instructor bio: Eve teaches yoga and flamenco dance in schools and community centers. She is a certified Stretch What Matters Yoga Teacher.
| Arts Education Advocacy |
| U.S. House Designates Sept 12-18 “Arts in Education Week” |
| In July, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution designating the second week of September as “Arts in Education Week.” Authored and introduced by Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), this resolution is the first congressional expression of support celebrating all the disciplines comprising arts education. Read more about the resolution. What a great opportunity to inform our elected officials about how the arts are making a difference in young people’s lives in Massachusetts schools and communities. Have a great arts education story to tell? Check back here in mid-September for instructions on how to share those stories with the officials who shape education policy in our state. |
Teaching yoga to kids:
I have something I love to do. Teach yoga to kids. All kids! Both typical and non-typical kids alike. Although those “monikers” seem so irrelevant because all kids are typical and non-typical. I love working with kids. They are noisy and silly and try so hard to get it. They stretch their imaginations and I love their energy when they get a pose they have been trying so hard to get. True, sometimes I have to reign in their exuberance, but only a little, just to bring focus back to the class.
Today’s Yoga-Snack was delicious! I really challenged them and with bubbling energy, we experienced yoga together.
After a few warm ups on the floor:
1. 3 big belly breaths (with hands on tummies to feel the filling and release of belly)
2. 3 “Hun” breaths (like the word honey, without the “ey”, which provokes a resonance in the nasal cavity) breath in, hands over ears, breath out saying “hunnnnnn”)
3. Grind the coffee (sitting in easy pose, pretend to have a coffee bean under each butt cheek, hold knees, and make body circles while grinding the coffee beans in to the floor)
4. Easy seated side stretch (keep the coffee beans on the floor-in other words, stay seated)
5. Lean over crossed legs and lower body as close to floor as possible (repeat with opposite leg crossed in front)
6. Butterfly with song
Standing Sequence:
1. Mountain pose, press toes and heels into ground, like roots of a tree.
2. High Mountain
3. Tree-to-Dancer-to-Tree (repeat opposite side)
Flow Sequence:
1. Star Pose
2. Warrior I
3. Warrior II
4. Dancing Warrior
5. Side Angle Pose
6. Half Moon
7. Warrior II
8. Jump feet together-repeat other side
9. End second side with Child’s Pose
10. Reverse Table Top
11. Wheel
Cool Down:
1. Lying in constructive rest: Drop knees to one side, back stays on the floor, 3 relaxing breaths; Repeat other side
2. Savasana
Namaste!
Today I had the awesome opportunity to work in Ms. Sands Special Ed. Classroom. I worked with 5 students and a number of aides and Ms. Sands. Everyone was so receptive to my yoga class and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.
I started class by asking the students to tell me what they thought yoga was. They all agreed that yoga was exercise. I added that along with yoga being energizing, that it also had the ability to calm you down. I said in yoga it is important to breathe because life is breath and that proves that yoga and life go hand-in-hand. I explained that in yoga it is very important to keep a still body to allow us to focus our minds.
We started today’s practice by doing Belly Breathing while sitting in easy pose. For Belly Breathing, when you inhale through your nose, you fill your bellies up round and when you exhale through your nose (although sometimes the first few breaths do need to be exhaled through the mouth); you let your belly go flat. Three large belly breaths and the focusing began. I also had them do “Bumble Bee Breath”, which is where you breath in though your nose and then covering your ears with your hands, hum as you exhale through your nose. This is especially effect for blocking out too much external disruption because when your ears are covered and you are humming, that is all you hear and is very calming.
Onto hands and knees for table top, hands below shoulders and knees below hips, where we did Cat and Cow’s. Inhale and round your belly up and look at your belly button as you inhale, curve you spine down and pull your shoulders back as you exhale for Cow.
Curl toes under and press up into Downward Facing Dog Pose on a good exhale. We picked up one leg and then one arm at a time for different variations of 3-Legged Dog.
Curling back into Child’s Pose, we took three calming breaths.
Standing now in Mountain Pose, we raised our arms above our heads and looked up at our hands and then slowly curled down to touch the floor in Standing Forward Bend. We let our heads hang heavy and nodded and shook them to release any tension.
Standing upright again, we took Chair Pose, which is a very powerful pose and uses a lot of leg and abdominal strength. Arms up, we tried to make out bodies look like lightning bolts. And then with an exhale, we relaxed again into Standing Forward Bend.
Putting our right foot forward, bending the knee to as close to a 90 degree angle as possible, arms above head, Warrior I Pose; hands to heart center, open arms wide (facing sideways) Warrior II Pose. Repeat on left side.
Lying on our stomachs had and elbows on the floor by our chest, we pressed up into Sphinx Pose, which are a chest opener and a back bend.
Seated now with our legs in front of us, Seated Forward Bend and then one leg extended at a time (with the other leg bent into the straight leg to create a triangle), Seated One- Legged Forward Bend. This pose mimics the standing pose we did next of Tree Pose, as they got to visually see how there leg would be bent while standing.
We then stood for Tree Pose and with great stillness of body and concentration on a fixed spot across the room; we balanced on first one leg and then the other.
The final pose is Savasana (Corpse Pose) which I said was the most difficult yet the most rewarding pose in yoga. We lay on our backs, with our arms resting by our sides, palms up. We let our bodies completely relax for 3 minutes to reap the benefits of our yoga practice and to allow for stillness of mind body and soul.
Wiggling fingers. Rubbing palms together and placing our warm hands over our closed eyes, we opened our eyes to allow the light in slowly. Then curling up on the right side for a moment, we took a comfortable seated position. Hands at heart center to compete our own circle of energy, we said Namaste (The light inside of me shines to the light inside of you) to end our yoga practice.
Namaste!
Welcome to my new After School group-13 big this session! What a wonderful feeling to see so many smiling faces, some old some new, all eager to explore yoga! I am truly a lucky person!
Today started with me receiving a beautiful namaste necklace made for me by a student and her mom and then a yoga love letter from another student-the envelope repeatedly says I love yoga! And inside were a colorful paper mini-yoga mat, a class list and a note telling me how she shared the yoga experience with her sister-who by the way is now taking the yoga class too.
I am blessed for sure. I am on the road to eternal happiness!
I Am Uniquely Eve 