Lions, and Camels, and Elephants … Oh my! If your house, like mine, can feel like a zoo, then you’ll love Wai Lana’s Little Yogis Kit. With this playful workout, kids will pretend to be cobras, bears, butterflies, and bridges as they stretch and strengthen their bodies, sharpen their minds, and improve their balance and coordination.
Little Yogis is designed for children three to eight years old and teaches the basics of yoga through demonstration and cartoons. The 60-minute video comes complete with a child-sized yoga mat, a tote with an extra pocket for water and snacks, and a large, full-color cartoon poster depicting all of the 21 poses from the video.
I tried this video out on my daughters Zoe, age 4, and Estie, age 2. (Tip #1: Never try to watch and review a video for the first time with both kids in the room!) Zoe took to the video immediately. Wai Lana’s description and the children’s demonstrations were very easy to follow and understand. The cartoons and songs in between were a creative way to break up the poses and keep kids interested. The girls loved the first pose “Balloon Belly” and the second pose “Butterfly,” but pose #3 “The Mountain” brought the video to a crashing halt when Estie decided it would be fun to topple Mt. Zoe and steal her yoga mat! (Tip #2: Two kids and one mat is never a good idea!) After making a “special” mat of blankets for Estie, the rest of the video was smooth sailing.
I, and most importantly, the girls, love this video. It has become one of our favorites. It is recommended for children ages three to eight, but my two-year-old really enjoys it as well. Estie only made it about halfway through and needed some help positioning her body but otherwise did just fine. I have found that it also helps calm my girls down and has improved Zoe’s ability to focus. I also took the kit to their playgroup and every mother wanted to know where to get one.
Wai Lana is one of the foremost personalities in the world of yoga whose television series is seen by millions of viewers on five continents. Wai Lana’s Little Yogis Kit is fun, challenging, and a great first step toward lifelong health and well-being—all without the kids even realizing they’re exercising. The Little Yogis Kit, as well as Wai Lana’s many other products, can be purchased from her website at www.wailana.com.
—Children of the New Earth, Spring 2004
