I love how JoAnna makes Yoga very kid friendly. She explained all of the moves and poses in a way that little ones can understand, follow, and still think it’s fun! My favorite instruction was for the kids to sit “criss cross yoga sauce!” Any school age child will know that.

I definitely enjoyed the video, and I know as my daughter gets a little bit older, she’ll become more interested in it. Yoga By The Dozen sells the DVD, along with T-shirts, yoga mats, and more! This is a must have for any parent trying to interest their child in yoga. Namaste!

First Impression: I was very excited when I opened up the package!  Not only was there a colorful DVD with cute kiddos doing poses on the front, we got a Yoga T shirt as well!  Yoga By The Dozen’s T-shirt has all of the organs that you use in Yoga to help the kids do the poses right, for instance - breathing from the lungs.  The DVD and T Shirt set would make an excellent gift!

Functionality: I was a little nervous popping the DVD in, anyone who has been around a three year old boy knows that getting them to do anything for an extended period of time can be challenging, especially something slow like Yoga.  Well, Yoga By The Dozen’s JoAnna Ross has nailed it! Not only did Gavin follow her directions, he was eager to go onto the .  She teaches the pose and the kids do it with her, then she has a student go into the center of the circle and model it, then onto the next pose.  Slow enough for the kids to attempt the pose, learn the word, but fast paced enough to keep your little one’s attention.

How it Promotes a Healthy Lifestyle:  Starting yoga for kids at such a young age is very beneficial, it will help them keep their flexibility, keeps them active (especially when weather is keeping them indoors), helps with posture, learning how to concentrate and remember… too many benefits to list.  My favorite is that Yoga By The Dozen is definitely something that we can do together.

Cons: The only con I can come up with is that watching the DVD is probably not as fun as being in JoAnna’s class!

BY Elena Brower

“Do you do yoga with your son?” I’m asked this question pretty consistently. The answer: yes and no. When I was asked to film a class with him for YogaGlo, I wasn’t sure. My work is to serve my students from an educated, experiential place, and I haven’t been trained to teach yoga to kids. Art for kids, yes. Yoga for kids, no.

Our attempts at practicing together essentially consist of me doing two sun salutations and a few standing poses, 4-year-old Jonah walking all over me, transforming my back into a pony ride and holding on for dear life as I lift from up dog back into down dog - both of us laughing all the way. Depending on the day, we may get in a flying angel and some handstands. We just do what we do. Then, once a week, the wonderful JoAnna Ross lights the path for him at New Field Yoga in New York City. He always comes back from JoAnna’s class happy, a bit softer, somehow, and with some new animal pose to show me. And (maybe best of all!) he always sleeps super soundly that night.

Yoga directly empowers children to engage in self-respect and respect for others. Kids who practice enjoy long attention spans, enhanced patience, self-esteem, confidence, refined motor coordination, better balance, more creativity and better concentration. From my own limited experience, my peers who were raised on yoga can claim all of these qualities, and perhaps more importantly, when they do falter emotionally or physically, their practice is there to unconditionally support their healing.

The most lasting impressions we make on our children relate to how we handle the unexpected shifts in our “plans” - how we navigate the terrain of any day with elegance instead of reactivity when things go awry. When we create space for acceptance, no matter what comes, we are practicing yoga. So even if our “plan” for a practice (or any activity) doesn’t quite materialize (an example of which you will see below), our task is to stay in our own hearts, accept what our children need, and try to speak to them where they are. Our intent is to make space for our children to be in their hearts more (sometimes), and to be in the moment - through breathing and enjoying their physicality. This should never feel like a chore. As you’ll see I managed that sometimes, and forgot other times, which is why I can speak about it so clearly (self-deprecating smile here).  To continue the article: http://bit.ly/aFMtEB

CONGRATULATIONS TO JOHN FOR WINNING A YOGA BY THE DOZEN DVD!

Did you enjoy the Olympics? Are you missing the games?   We would like to hear your thoughts.

Leave a comment and let us know Your favorite Olympic Moment and What you and your family do to stay healthy and be automatically entered to win a Yoga By The Dozen DVD.

Drawing will be Friday March 12th from all eligible submitted comments.  Winner will be notified via email.

JoAnna - I enjoyed watching the Olympics’ each night, recapping the night with my mom and watching Shaun White take snowboarding to a new level.  To stay healthy I teach and practice YOGA and eat organic.  

January is National Fitness Month. Many people are looking for ways to get into shape and have a healthier year than the one before it; myself included.Yoga By The Dozen   is a great way to get your kids involved as well!   

Yoga is a great way to achieve that goal and and some key benefits of Yoga include:     ·         Confidence, Courage and Self-Esteem

·         Balance & Coordination

·         Memory Retention and Concentration

·         Nurture Creativity and Self Expression

·         Respect for themselves and each other

·         Proven therapy for kids with ADHD and Autism

While we have not gotten our doctor’s opinion on the matter yet, my husband and I have been discussing whether or not Thomas may have some signs of ADD. The symptoms have always been there, but they seem to be getting worse as he gets older. We’ve been looking into some alternative remedies to help him focus and relax, Yoga is one of the methods we’ve looked into. Thomas is great http://bit.ly/7D4×5i 

at the Yoga exercises on the Wii Fit; that kid can hold the Plank position longer than me easy. I was so excited to come across Yoga By The Dozen. I was sent their Starter Kit to review and as soon as the box arrived I tore it open and put in the DVD for Thomas. He wore his T-shirt and flattened out his mat. The DVD is made for kids ages 3-6. Thomas is seven and loved it. He said it was hard and gave me THE. MOST. HILARIOUS. LOOK. when JoAnna did the bakasana pose and lifted herself upsidedown on just her hands… you’ll have to see for yourself. . I just said “I have no idea how she can do that. It takes lots of practice.”

I was a little unsure of how the younger ones (2 and 3) would take to this. It says ages 3-6, but do they seriously think they are going to keep my boys on a mat doing Yoga for 20 minutes? Yes they do… and yes they did!

When it was over I asked Thomas what he thought. He said he liked it. I asked what his favorite pose was and he said “all of them.” And even though he didn’t give me much of a review to go on… spoken like a real man with those short answers already, lol. I know he really enjoyed it and this is something we will be doing at least a few times a week. This is something I can do with the boys as well. They can all do the moves according to their age and ability.

I was a little unsure of how the younger ones (2 and 3) would take to this. It says ages 3-6, but do they seriously think they are going to keep my boys on a mat doing Yoga for 20 minutes? Yes they do… and yes they did!

Michael and Joshua loved this DVD. Joshua (just turned 2) did get distracted part of the way through and wandered off, but came back a few minutes later. Michael (3 1/2) was so proud of himself throughout and really tried his best to do all of the poses and hold them. He wanted to do it again as soon as it was over, but he was tired! “Mommy, I need WATER!”

 And can I just say that watching my boys do the Yoga By The Dozen was one of the most adorable things I’ve seen in awhile

Yoga By The Dozen has generously offered one of my readers their own Yoga By The Dozen DVD and a blue size 6 use your belly t-shirt!   

Enter to win at http://babysignswithelizabeth.blogspot.com/2009/12/yoga-by-dozen-review-and-giveaway.html

·         Increase Cognitive & Motor skills

My daughter was introduced to Yoga in her afterschool program last year and she really took to it. I was extremely disappointed that they did not offer the class this year,  since I am also a big fan of Yoga and the positive effects it can have on the mind and body.

Recently, I was asked to review Yoga by the Dozen. Yoga by the Dozen is an interactive DVD aimed at kids ages 2-6, created by JoAnna Ross. The DVD demonstrates a “dozen” fundamental Yoga poses that range from the standard “Warrior Poses” to the more difficult “Crow/Firefly Poses.”

I would say that the DVD provides an  excellent and well-thought out way of introducing Yoga to young children. After the beginning warm up in which JoAnna encourages the children to “promise to do your best,” she then demonstrates each pose, followed by one friend demonstrating the pose. Then all twelve friends get up to demonstrate the pose….  Read more at http://bit.ly/7S9uZP

 Young children can discover the fun and benefits of yoga by following along with the interactive DVD Yoga By the Dozen. Yogi JoAnna demonstrates 12 fundamental yoga poses with a dozen of her friends. In addition to learning about body awareness, strength, and flexibility, youngsters will discover an exercise that fosters respect, coordination, and self-confidence. JoAnna says that children are natural yogis because of their “in-the-moment attitude.” Practice along with your children so when they tell you to do the Pincha Mayurasana (Prep) or Vrksasana, you’ll know to do the dolphin or tree pose. For children 2 to 6 years.

Enter to Win a Yoga By The Dozen DVD 

http://www.njfamily.com/en/promotions/January_2010_NJ_Family_Giveaways.aspx?user=2587

As a former yogi himself, Don was in his element when he watched the DVD with Landon and helped him with his poses. Landon has since requested watching the DVD again and again, and he is very proud when he shows his daddy and me some of the poses. As a parent, I am exited that the Yoga By The Dozen products introduce Landon to yoga and its many healthy benefits at such a young age. It is too cute to see a three-year-old do the tree pose!

To read the entire review and sign up for Dagmar’s GIVEAWAY.

http://dagmarbleasdale.com/reviews-and-giveaways/