Rainbow Dreams and Art Blog

The theme for this summer, for me anyway, seems to be school. When the school year was coming to a close, I calmed myself with the thoughts of a summer “off” and maybe some time to relax and not think much about school. However, that is not the reality this summer, at least not for this home school mom.
I am now looking ahead to my daughters’ senior year in high school…preparing a graduation portfolio, completing our reading list, compiling our volunteer hours, and preparing my curriculum for this, the final year.  Nothing can be left to chance and all requirements must be met. This is the year I thought I was waiting for, but, in many ways it will offer some new challenges.
My son also has a summer school theme going on, getting help with math and English this summer. My daughters also spent the last two weeks brushing up on grammar skills. There is just no escaping it, and there is SO much to learn.   

Even I will spend some time in summer school of sorts. I am really looking forward to it! I get to do something new and different this summer, which I am sure will come with it’s own unique rewards and challenges…Camp Phoenix.

I love this YMCA Camp Phoenix mission statement:

Camp Phoenix strengthens the bond between families and learning through
individualized attention, exciting hands-on activities which embrace all styles of learning, and by providing positive life experiences in a non-exclusive, caring, multicultural atmosphere.

I could not be more excited about bringing my Storytime Yoga skills to YMCA Camp Phoenix!

Tags: Kids' Yoga, Storytime Yoga, Yoga by Lisa
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The theme for this summer, for me anyway, seems to be school. When the school year was coming to a close, I calmed myself with the thoughts of a summer “off” and maybe some time to relax and not think much about school. However, that is not the reality this summer, at least not for this home school mom.
I am now looking ahead to my daughters’ senior year in high school…preparing a graduation portfolio, completing our reading list, compiling our volunteer hours, and preparing my curriculum for this, the final year.  Nothing can be left to chance and all requirements must be met. This is the year I thought I was waiting for, but, in many ways it will offer some new challenges.
My son also has a summer school theme going on, getting help with math and English this summer. My daughters also spent the last two weeks brushing up on grammar skills. There is just no escaping it, and there is SO much to learn.   

Even I will spend some time in summer school of sorts. I am really looking forward to it! I get to do something new and different this summer, which I am sure will come with it’s own unique rewards and challenges…Camp Phoenix.

I love this YMCA Camp Phoenix mission statement:

Camp Phoenix strengthens the bond between families and learning through
individualized attention, exciting hands-on activities which embrace all styles of learning, and by providing positive life experiences in a non-exclusive, caring, multicultural atmosphere.

I could not be more excited about bringing my Storytime Yoga skills to YMCA Camp Phoenix!

Tags: Kids' Yoga, Storytime Yoga, Yoga by Lisa
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Another session of Family Yoga just ended, and although I am enjoying the short break, I can’t wait for the next one to begin. I love how Storytime Yoga methods have helped me reach out to touch families through yoga and story.
It was wonderful to see how the parents and the kids seemed to look forward to class each week. The girls in one family chose yoga class over a birthday party at a pizza place. They didn’t want to miss a yoga class, which made it even more of a privilege to teach them.
One of my favorite poses each week, was Community Boat, where all of us gathered in a big circle and held hands, and attempted to assist each other in getting all of our connected feet off the floor at once, as we laughed and breathed together.
One of my favorite story themes, was “The Roar of the Awakening,” when one five year old girl did Lion’s Breath pose and roared playfully another Dad. It was so cute, and we all laughed together. The sense of community, and the warmth of our hearts when we were together each week was something I will cherish for a long time.
I look forward to sharing Storytime Yoga with many, many more families in the days to come!

Tags: Art, Health, Storytelling, Storytime Yoga, Yoga by Lisa
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This has been a very cold winter so far, and my entire world is buried in the icy January snow, with more on the way!  I’ve certainly been particularly busy lately, and it seems I need to spend some time on my blog here!  I figure if I am going to get up to date here, what better time to do it then my birthday, which is in a few days (February 1st!)!

This New Year, 2009, has brought about many changes in my schedule and activities.  Every day seems to bring a new opportunity or idea.  I am most excited about a month-long series of Storytime Yoga workshops that I will be teaching in Ferndale, for a home school group of gifted children.  These are called Fill in the Blank Workshops; what a cool and creative idea!  I am very excited about this prospect and will begin teaching on February 11th.

I am now teaching two senior (age 50+) yoga classes at the North Oakland YMCA, held on Monday and Wednesday, and I truly enjoy working with my new students.  I truly enjoy their insight, enthusiasm, and joy at learning yoga, and I love seeing the positive changes taking place in each of my students.  One of my senior yoga students just gave me a beautiful hand-knit scarf as a gift, and she even noticed how I love hot pink, and this is the color scarf she knit for me.  I love it and have worn it every day since.

Beginning this week, I now teach two yoga classes at the Auburn Hills Community Center on Monday nights, at 6pm and 7pm.  I love teaching in the community center; the students are friendly and appreciative; the staff is very friendly and helpful.  The building supervisor even helps me carry my gear to my car!  I love being around positive, helpful co-workers.

I am most excited about my beautiful birthday gift that I am going to very much enjoy playing, and that is my new mandolin!  I thoroughly enjoy being artistic, and this is another way for me to dive deeper into my creative side.  I am looking forward to learning to play, and I plan to play my mandolin during my Storytime Yoga classes!  I can’t wait.

I will post more often, as I adjust to my new teaching schedule.  I also plan to include more of my artwork on my site.  My latest work involves sunflowers!

Happy Birthday to me and to my brother, who shares my birthday with me!

Lisa

Tags: Art, Creative Writing, Eischens Yoga, Storytime Yoga, Yoga by Lisa
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