Now's the Perfect Time to Remember Ancestors

My little gnome on Halloween

Reading Storytime Yoga's latest Kids Storybook kit, The Skeleton's Ball, it reminded me that "fall is the time when things are dying and passing away. It’s the time to recognize grief, remember ancestors and others in our life who have died."

On this Halloween night, instead of making up a story at bed, I decided to tell my almost 4-year-old son a little about how Halloween started. Then I told him how at this time of year, many cultures honor their relatives who have passed away. He then got to choose a story about one of our relatives who has passed away.

He chose my Grandpa Davey. It was so touching to tell my son about the sweet memories I have of my kind-spirited Grandpa Davey who lived a simple life as a farmer in rural Ontario. My stories led to more questions from my son's curious brain, such as: why did he have no hair? Why did he smoke? Why did he eat a fried egg everyday? Why was he healthy and lived a long time? Why didn't he have fast food where he lived?

Oh my, it was more educational than I thought! My sugar-crashed brain could barely keep up. But it was a sweet way to end a very memorable Halloween night with my family.

How to prepare my little blue ninja for the realities of life and death,
and the art of war that a good ninja must face

I agree with Storytime Yoga founder Sydney Solis that children need to understand that death is part of life. Too often in American culture, we tend to sugar-coat, and not give death and grief the proper acknowledgement and time it may need.

I want my child to be aware of the natural cycle of life and death, and know about the wide range of emotion that life may bring, so that he will be okay feeling those feelings, not repressing them, should those emotions fall upon him. 

I believe that nothing ever dies, because it was never born. I believe we are eternal.

I love the simple metaphors Sydney uses in her follow up activities in The Skeleton's Ball ebook to help children understand more about life and death. Like this one: Our body is like a car, we step inside it and move around in it for a while, then it wears out because it is of the earth, and we step out of it and look for a new one.

Or, we are like a light bulb. We are the light within the light bulb, not the light bulb itself that wears out.

I can't wait to read my son the two short, simple, yet touching stories included in The Skeleton's Ball kit. The stories are about two families that deal with a death. The stories are timeless and magical. They transport children to a different time and space where they are safe to explore the mysteries of life and death.

I highly recommend Storytime Yoga's Skeleton's Ball story kit, especially if you are seeking creative and engaging ways on how to talk to your child about the mysteries and realities of life and death. The Skeleton's Ball kit will be available shortly for purchase for $9.95. Or you can get it now if you sign up for their Kids Story of the Month Kids Club for $69.95.

Or click here for a chance to win a copy of the Skeleton's Ball story kit by simply leaving a comment on my blog!

The Skeleton's Ball GIVEAWAY!

Through song, stories and other activities Storytime Yoga's latest Kids Story of the Month kit, called The Skeleton's Ball, gets your bones moving! It's lively song, and other stories included in the kit will transport you and your kids, invoking their imagination and curiosity.

When I taught my son and his friends the folk song from Latin America called The Skeleton's Ball, I found myself talking about how skeletons move, and answering questions about joints. I also had to explain to the 3-year-olds that the word "ball" also means party - a big fancy party in a theater or big room. The kids got a kick out of imagining skeletons all dressed up and dancing at a big fancy royal party!

Sydney Solis, founder of Storytime Yoga, explains why it is so important to honor this special time of year: The earth’s energies shift at the Fall Equinox and call us internally to purify, renew, and prepare for the coming darkness of winter. 
There are many festivals at this time of year: The Jewish New Year of Rosh Hashana; the Muslim Ramadan;  the Mexican Day of the Dead; and Christian All Souls Day to name a few. 

By telling stories, practicing yoga and becoming aware of the season, we answer our soul’s yearning to connect to something deeper than the material life paraded before us. We yearn to connect to the energy and mystery of the world and the energy and the mystery that is in us. Humans always have the need to reconnect to source, and we do this by honoring the seasons and recognizing the change in our lives. We accomplish this especially when we invite children, the light of life, to celebrate with us to teach them the old ways and make them new again.  

Storytime Yoga has kindly offered a free Skeleton's Ball Storytime Yoga kit to one lucky Domestic Yogi reader!

This kit includes an e-book with two bonus stories and a parent/teacher guide for ideas and tips on how to bring story and yoga to the children in your life. It also has audio and video of the song, and flash cards to use.

What you need to do to enter the contest:
1- Like Storytime Yoga with Sydney Solis on Facebook
2- Post a comment here on The Domestic Yogi Blog OR on my Domestic Yogi Facebook page.

Winner will be chosen at random.

Yesterday Was Different

There I was yesterday poised in downward-facing-dog pose on my mat. But it was different. I was outside. But it was different. I was breathing and practicing in a circle of yogi's from other studios across my community. But it was different. There were even a few other mother and daughter duos. My baby daughter contentedly stood holding my waist for balance, while chewing on a gifted mala necklace so long it brushed the yoga mat. But it was different still.

Yesterday, we all were one body, one breath, practicing to connect within, practicing to connect to community, practicing to reconnect to the earth and the sun, and practicing to help five amazing causes globally, thanks to the Yoga Aid Challenge.

Yesterday was different. It was magical.

It just took showing up, and being present.

And it was if my baby daughter felt it too. She gracefully played on my yoga mat, soaked up the sun and the oddity of us all doing the same thing. I was so happy to be there, be in the sun and take part, I didn't mind the little nudging she gave me at times wanting to reconnect. I was happy to reconnect to her. Then happy when I could manage a pose or two.

Mid-way through, she seemed sleepy so I cradled her to sleep, and there she slept at the edge of the mat, nestled in her knitted sweater and wrapped in a blanket. Back to the yoga. All was right with the world.

I love witnessing the power of yoga as it unfolds in my life and others.

Thank you for the leadership in the global yoga community to put on this event, and to the leaders in the 35 locations across America that helped to organize in their community.


How can you help, check out the Yoga Aid site and see the amazing things they are doing. Participate next year!