Rami's Blog

Like the Yin-Yang, Eastern Martial Arts and Western medicine are two halves of a whole. My mission is to preserve the ancient mind-body tools and pass them on to you.

 

Mind-Body Workout #7: Workout with the Kids

The kids are home from school, and you can't keep them at summer camp forever. That means, sooner or later, the family needs to find some activities to do together to release all that extra energy. So today, we're giving you a mind-body workout for the whole family (or just the kids) that is designed to be fun and keep everyone moving and involved.

Good Luck!


Mind-Body Workout #7: Workout with the Kids

Move like an octopus: This movement is good for a few reasons. First, the kids will have fun pretending their arms are little octopi, and the more they get into it, the better it will be for them. Second, I suggest you do this in the water, like at the beach or a pool. The water resistance keeps you from straining your muscles and moving too fast, and it makes the octopus game even more fun!

Legs like a windmill: This exercise is pretty intense, which is probably why the kids will love it. Just make sure they stand far enough apart so they don't accidentally kick each other. The parents may have trouble keeping up, but that's okay, let the kids get that energy out while the parents grab a cold drink.

Moving Meditation: This meditation (kind of like patty-cake) requires that the kids focus on their fine motor movements. It doesn't leave a lot of room for talking or watching TV or texting. Most young children are too active and excited to appreciate meditation that is quiet and motionless. Instead, give them this little clapping pattern to repeat, and watch as they slowly calm down. 

Funny Noises: Lastly, after the kids have sat down for the moving meditation, go ahead and do a vocal meditation. Have the kids focus on the sensations in the top of their head, their throat, and their chest as they change pitch and find their own sounds. This is an opportunity for kids to be a little loud without being disruptive. Have them take a big breath in before each round of noise making, and don't hold the notes too long: kids have smaller lungs than adults do, so they will run out of air more quickly.

Happy Stretching!