Commentary by Anne Johnson
Namaste! My name is Anne, and I teach kids yoga at Simply Yoga in Zionsville. Yoga helps us connect our breath with our movements to steady our minds. There is no perfect in yoga. It’s okay to look silly, wobble a bit and laugh. Now let me hopp-ily introduce Frog Pose.
When they are still, frogs occupy a tiny space. But when they spring forward and leap, they are surprisingly long. While they are small, frogs are strong. They must balance their power and control as they hop and land on floating lily pads.
Try to transform yourself into a frog. Stand with your feet wider than your hips. Bend your knees and squat low, dropping your bottom toward the ground. Bring your elbows to the inside of your knees with your hands at your heart.
Stay in your tiny frog squat and place your hands on the ground. Press down into your feet and hands to spring up with energy like a frog, lengthening your body out. Return to your squat. Hop as many times as you like, squatting low, then stretching long. Use your strong core to help you land without a sound.
Frog pose strengthens our legs, challenges our balance as we squat, develops our flexibility and gives us a burst of energy as we hop. It reminds us that while we might be small, we are very strong indeed.
Contributor Anne Johnson teaches kids, tots, expectant and new mothers yoga at Simply Yoga in Zionsville. As a 200 RYT registered yoga teacher, engineer and children’s book author, she enjoys writing and sharing “adult ideas” in a way that makes them accessible to children.
