Integrating Connected Parenting Strategies into Your Family Yoga Practice

Family yoga can be a great way to foster attachment and bonding with your adopted child. Many of its principles and practices complement connected and trauma-informed parenting approaches. It can also be used as a vehicle for integrating these parenting approaches into your everyday family life. ... Read More

Mindfulness for Parents: The Awesomeness of Body Scans

After getting into bed last night, I lay on my back, my hands on my belly, and noticed my breath. For the next ten minutes, I brought my attention to my head, face, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, back, chest, belly, hips, legs and feet. I didn’t move except for breathing. Rather, I simply noticed ... Read More

Three Reasons why Mindfulness Benefits Parents

We hear a lot about mindfulness these days. At its core, mindfulness refers to the ability to bring conscious attention and awareness to one’s present experience with non-judgment, acceptance, and compassion. A growing body of researchdemonstrates its numerous physical, emotional, and mental bene... Read More

Yoga for Adoptive Families: Guided Meditations for Wellbeing and Connection

In my previous post (see part one, part two, and part three), I discussed mindfulness practices that you can do with your child to cultivate focus and embodied awareness. In many ways, guided imagery meditations and mindfulness practices often overlap and complement one another. When I ask studen... Read More

Yoga for Adoptive Families: Mindfulness for Children and Parents (Part Three)

In part one and part two of this post, I discussed several foundational mindfulness practices for children--mindful breathing, mindful listening, and mindful seeing. As you begin to practice these and other mindfulness activities with your child, it is important to keep their therapeutic needs in... Read More

Yoga for Adoptive Families: Mindfulness for Children and Parents (Part Two)

In part one of this post, I discussed the practice of mindful breathing and how it can benefit your child. For mindful breathing, children turn their attention inward and simply notice their breath and how their body breathes. In part two of this post, I discuss two basic mindfulness practices--m... Read More

Yoga For Adoptive Families: Mindfulness for Children and Parents (Part One)

Over the past decade, public interest in and enthusiasm about mindfulness has surged. So what exactly is mindfulness? Mindfulness has various components, and experts have defined mindfulness in various ways. At a fundamental level, however, mindfulness consists of paying attention to one's presen... Read More

Yoga For Adoptive Families: Let's Breathe! (Part Four)

So far, in this four-part post about breathing, I have discussed fun ways to help your child connect with their breathing, the importance of relaxed breathing, and strategies for conscious breathing during yoga poses. In this post's final part, I will discuss the use of breathing techniques to he... Read More

Yoga For Adoptive Families: Let's Breathe! (Part Three)

Welcome to part three of my Let's Breathe post! In part one, I discussed fun ways to encourage your child to connect with their breathing. In part two, I provided tips and strategies for helping your child learn relaxed breathing. In this third part, I will discuss strategies for breathing while ... Read More

Yoga for Adoptive Families: Let's Breathe! (Part Two)

In part one of this post, I discussed the benefits of breathing for adopted children and their parents. I also provided a list of fun activities that can help children get to know and connect with their breath. As your child gets to know and grows comfortable with his breath, two foundational bre... Read More