Hello listeners! In this episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY, Kelly and Kristi interview fellow KAY teacher Lisa Schreiber, an adult and kids yoga teacher, children's book author, and mom. The interview dives into Lisa's inspiring journey into the world of yoga, her path into teaching yoga, and her inspiration for writing her first book, The Promise of Shabbat: Yoga Poses for Happy Kids. Kelly, Kristi, and Lisa also touch upon the long-debated question: is yoga a religion, each...

In this episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY, Kelly and Kristi interview the fabulous Juliann Hartley, aka Miss Julieann. Miss Julieann is a board-certified music therapist, nature educator, illustrator, and children's musician. She recently released a new album, The Resilient Child, which features songs about developing support systems, coping skills, emotional expression, and self-worth. In this thoughtful and authentic interview, Julieann shares about her journey and the driving...

Today we are reminded of the importance and power of giving thanks. In this re-release episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY, Kristi and Kelly dive into the profound impact and significance of expressing gratitude. They shed light on the gratitude practices implemented in their households and classrooms, aimed at helping children acknowledge and appreciate the abundance of blessings that surround them on a daily basis As yoga teachers, classroom teachers, and moms, Kelly and Kristi...

In this episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY, Kelly and Kristi engage in a soul-stirring conversation with Sara Dean, renowned coach, speaker, and host of the acclaimed podcast, Shameless Mom Academy. Together, they dive into the multifaceted layers of Sara's journey, exploring both her personal and professional growth and evolution. With thought-provoking insights and engaging stories, this episode serves as a guiding light and encourages us to find solace in silence, enabling us to...

Kathleen Egan first connected with yoga as a teenager in Australia and has integrated yoga practices into her daily life, growing her personal practice and establishing herself as a Vinyasa (E-RYT200), Children’s (RCYT95) Yoga Teacher and Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator (TCTSY-F) and YACEP. Kathleen spent her early adulthood working with at-risk children and families where she saw the need for an alternative to traditional therapeutic methods and interventions. Kathleen joins Kristi...

Show notes for Self-Care: Permission to say no In this episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY, Kristi delves into the art of self-care and empowers listeners to navigate the hectic pace of life with grace and intention. As we step into the bustling season ahead, Kristi invites us to reflect on the importance of self-care, reminding us that amidst the chaos, it is crucial to prioritize our well-being. Tune in as she shares helpful and simple tips for incorporating self-care into our...

"Stop crying, it's not that bad", said in the heat of the moment however its impacts may be lifelong. Shame is a complex emotion that often originates from experiences and messages from childhood. Shame can have profound effects on our self-esteem, mental health, and relationships. In this episode, Kelly and Kristi dive deeper into the complex and often misunderstood topic of shame. Tune in as they explore: What shame is and how it differentiates from guilt How it manifests in the...

Welcome back to Mindful Conversation with KAY! In this episode, Kelly and Kristi continue the discussion on the physical responses to emotions by diving into the world of tapping and shaking. Did you know that tapping and shaking offer numerous advantages for children, including: Promote blood flow throughout the body, helping children feel more energized and focused. Release muscle tension, promoting relaxation and reducing physical discomfort. Engage the body's sensory system,...

In this episode of Mindful Conversation with KAY, Kelly & Kristi continue the conversation about physical responses to emotions with a re-release of Episode 31: Somatic Work. Our bodies have evolved with a primal response system to perceived threats, known as the fight, flight, or freeze response. This response is a natural survival mechanism that activates when we encounter danger or stress — whether we choose it or not! By exploring the fight, flight, or freeze response, we can...

In this episode of Mindful Conversation with KAY, Kelly & Kristi begin a new month-long series on physical responses. They kick off the conversation by diving deeper into what emotions are, how they manifest in our bodies, the impact they can have on our overall well-being, and the role yoga and mindfulness play in understanding and processing them. Throughout this episode, Kelly and Kristi cover the following thought-provoking topics: The negative 'side effects' of not...

Deven Sisler has been teaching yoga and meditation to children and families internationally since 2005 as well as offering kids yoga teacher trainings since 2016. She loves sharing the tools of yoga with people of all ages and believes that everyone can benefit from investigating kindness, honesty, generosity, wisdom, and self-liberation. Deven joins Kristi and Kelly on this week's episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY to discuss her new book, The Yamas In Pajamas: A Guide to Yoga for...

“When little people are overwhelmed by big emotions, it's our job to share our calm, not join their chaos.” ~L.R. Knost From the moment they’re born, children need safe, consistent, and responsive relationships with the adults around them. Most often, the primary relationship is with a parent, however other adults, such as grandparents and teachers, play a crucial role in a child's overall development and well-being. Through stable relationships with caring adults, children are able to...

If you think back over the course of your life, you can probably name different friends from different periods of your life. You may even have certain friends that you rarely see but, when you do, it seems like no time has passed at all. And, if you're lucky, you are still in contact with a childhood best friend. Through school, sports, our neighborhoods, and more, we'll cross paths with many people and these people will have a tremendous impact on our wellbeing. This week, we continue our...

This week, we kick off a new series on relationships and the role of mindfulness in relationships. Kelly and Kristi begin the conversation with the most important relationship: the one we have with ourselves. Self-connection means knowing and accepting who you truly are, including strengths and weaknesses. It's about being in tune with your emotions and thoughts without judgment. It means developing self-compassion, self-acceptance and allowing growth. Young or old, having a deep...

Transitioning to high school is a big change for teens. As they enter another new building, with new teachers and peers, they'll gain greater independence and access to a wider range of classes and activities. They'll also be faced with more academic and social pressure as well as pressure to start thinking about the future (...ready or not!). Like the previous school transitions, you can expect feelings of both excitement and anticipation. As parents and caregivers, there are many steps...

The transition to middle school is a big step on the road to maturity. Regardless of what specific grade marks the beginning of middle school in your community, your child may be feeling both excited and afraid. (And you, too!) The transition is often complex. As young adolescents are changing school buildings they are also changing hormonally, mentally, and physically, but like all transitions, with some advance planning and open discussions, you can substantially ease your child's mind and...

The start of kindergarten is a major milestone in the lives of young children, maybe the biggest one! The start of kindergarten can be a stressful time for your child as they enter a world filled with new rules and routines. Longer days, academic expectations, eating lunch independently and navigating a new school building can bring about feelings of excitement as well as fear for children and families. In this episode of Mindful Conversation with KAY podcast, Kelly and Kristi share and...

Change is hard regardless of age, but children particularly struggle with transitions. Especially the big ones like heading off to preschool for the first time. They may be leaving you for the first time and entering a new space with a whole new set of rules and expectations. Exciting? Yes. Scary? Of course! As parents and caregivers, there are many steps we can take ahead of time to make this transitions as smooth and tear-free as possible. In this episode of Mindful Conversation with KAY...

Laura Bean, writing specialist, educational wellness consultant, and creator of Write to the Core curriculum, which integrates social-emotional learning with reading and writing joins Kristi and Kelly on this episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY. During this thoughtful interview, Laura shares more about her work which promotes self-reflection, empathy, compassion, and creativity while addressing Common Core Standards. Listen in as they discuss: How Laura’s mindfulness...

Jobs can be fun and rewarding. How do we know? Because we teach kids yoga! On this week's episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY, Kelly & Kristi discuss the business of kids yoga and their personal journeys offering yoga and mindfulness to children in a variety of settings. Tune in as they dive deeper: The different places they've successfully shared kids yoga Steps to becoming a kids yoga teacher What it looks like to teach kids yoga 'full time' Investments if...

or today's Mindful Moment, we will practice Soaring High Breath. This is a great breathing technique to refocus attention, get a full body stretch, and to encourage deep breathing. Let's try Soaring High Breath. Find a place to stand where there's enough room to raise your arms straight out to the sides and above. Begin by standing with the feet shoulder-width apart. Take a deep breath in through the nose and out through the mouth with your arms hanging down at the sides of your body....

Happiness looks and feels different for everyone, but how we get there is often quite similar: through a deep connection with ourselves. Maria Castelluci Moore, entrepreneur, writer, and mother of 4, joins Kristi and Kelly on this week's episode of Mindful Conversations with KAY. Their engaging interview dives deeper into the unique experience of happiness and how slowing down and paying attention to our surroundings can lead to a new, fresh perspective — at any age. Listen in as they...

To practice, we will focus very closely on a single object and let all of our other senses turn off and rest. Find a partner and sit facing each other. Look into each other's eyes very deeply. Blink when you need to but keep staring. Notice the colors that you see, the shapes and movements. We're going to keep looking into our partner's eyes for a few moments. Be still and quiet. Let the whole world disappear as you keep looking into your partner's eyes. After a few minutes, you...

Imagine a room full of preschoolers engaged in an activity. The teacher announces it's Circle Time. This shift from play to stillness takes a lot of effort and skill for these young children. As parents and educators, it is our job to support children in developing these skills and helping them learn how to control both their physical and emotional responses. But how? In this episode of Mindful Conversation with KAY, Kristi and Kelly dive deeper into the concept of opposites to teach...