#Imagine -- Dragons

 I shared the story of The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch at today's Storytime Zoom! When Princess Elizabeth rescues Prince Ronald from a dragon, he is NOT appreciative because she doesn't LOOK like a princess . . . but what about on the INSIDE??!!  That's the part you can be in charge of . . . make sure your heart is kind and caring, strong and confident, Cougars!💚💛💚💛

We followed up that story with Nancy Carlson's I Like Me!

This is my FAVORITE page in the book!

Read it with me!

When you wake up tomorrow and brush your teeth, don't forget to look in the mirror and say "Hi, Good Lookin'!" 

 Thank you for being Caring Cougars who are READERS!  "Cougars are READERS, Go, Cats, GO!"

Join me for YOGA on Tuesdays at 10:00 and Storytime on Thursdays at 2:00 -- zip, zip ZOOM! #mrsbroamhats #mrsbroamREADS #CircleOfControl #postiveattitude #useyourimagination #realbeauty

#Imagine -- YETIs

Do Your Efforts and Thoughts Inspire?  What can you do to make the world a better place?  I am writing letters to folks to let them know I care!📫  Have you got yours yet?📬 #mrsbroamhats #useyourimagination #CommunicationisLex1PowerSkill #ilovetogetmail

#Imagine -- Unicorns

It's a week to IMAGINE!  Turn on your IMAGINATION!🦄 The unicorn is one of my favorite imaginary creatures! I have taught several yoga classes about them!  Here's one: https://zipadeeyoga.blogspot.com/2018/11/thankful-for-unicorns.html

Try to be a unicorn with your body!  Stand on "railroad tracks," then take one toe out to the side and bend the leg.  Stretch the same side arm up to the sky for your unicorn horn.  This posture stretches the side of your body and creates space for good, deep breathing.  Make sure to work it on the other side of your body! #mrsbroamhats #mrsbroamMOVES #mrsbroamIMAGINES

Zebras Catch ZZZZZ's

In Zachary Shapiro's We're All in the SAME BOAT, zebras catch ZZZZZ's . . . and so should you!  Even though our routines are different, we should continue to get proper rest each night!  It's okay if your schedule is altered (we've always said to get to bed by 8:00), but you may not be getting up as early with our "new normal?!"  Make sure you rest well.  The National Sleep Foundation recommends 9-11 hours of sleep each night for school-aged children 6-13 years old.  

I created a bracelet to help me remember seven strategies for getting that good night's rest:

Clock Charm:  Get 9-11 hours of rest each night, establish a sleep schedule (try to go to bed around the same time each evening) 

Apple Charm:  Pay attention to food and drink.  Don't got to bed hungry or stuffed.  Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine.

Light Bulb Charm:  Create a restful environment.  Limit screen time before bed.  Make the room dark.  

I 💙 Yoga Charm:  Engage in physical activity during the day so body is tired at night.

Brain Charm:  Manage your worries and stress.

Butterfly Charm:  Do a little yoga--folding the body soothes a ramped up nervous system🦋

Spinning Charm:  If you're still spinning, "legs us the wall" is another helpful yoga pose!     

I also made this a bedtime yoga routine to correspond with the charms:

Clock Charm:  A clock has a face and hands and you do too! Seated with crossed legs, rub your palms together to create heat. Gently cup the hands over your face to relax your eyes. 

Apple Charm:  banana side stretch

Light Bulb Charm:  fold over the crossed legs, recross the legs and fold again

I 💙 Yoga Charm:  seated twist

Brain Charm:  switch breath

Butterfly Charm:  butterfly fold

Spinning Charm:  legs up the wall   

Dump the Grumps with GIVING

One way to lift your spirits is to GIVE!  The giraffes in Zachary Shapiro's We're All in the SAME BOAT were grumpy until they made gifts!  When you share with others, you focus on the bigger picture.  Sharing gives a bit of you, shows support, and conveys compassion and care to another!  I've decided to give in a NEW way on Tuesdays and Thursdays:

Tuesdays at 10:00 -- Yoga Time

Thursdays at 2:00 -- Stories for Sharing

These will be on Zoom!  The sessions will be 15 to 20 minutes.  If you'd like to participate, let me know, and I'll send you the code!  Dump the Grumps with GIVING!  What unique talents, skills, and expertise can you share? Take the bundle of strengths you identify and find a way to safely provide support for others, both near and far. #WeAreInTheSameBoat #mrsbroamhats #mrsbroamMOVES #mrsbroamREADS

Every Day is EARTH DAY

In Zachary Shapiro's We're All in the SAME BOAT, the camels complained . . . then they cooperated! As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day today, let's COOPERATE to take care of our planet, this one boat, the SAME BOAT, we all share!🌎

Mrs. Mitchum shared some great ideas for celebrating today:

-- Make a list of items that might be found in your yard, and invite your child to go on a Scavenger Hunt to find these items.

-- Play Outdoor I Spy. Our wonderful outdoors provides many things for your child to spy. You can even play this from your porch.

-- Read a book outside today. Maybe even enjoy a picnic outside today. Talk about our wonderful world!

-- Plant a garden.

-- Use items from nature to make a nature creation.

-- Gather some rocks and paint them.

-- Use bottle caps to make a picture or to make a border for a picture frame. Or, make a gameboard and use the bottle caps as game pieces.

-- Turn off lights when not in use. Your child might even want to make a sign to put under a light switch in your home to remind family members!

-- As a family, talk about ways you can recycle, reduce and reuse. Talk about what you as a family can do to protect our earth.

Have fun today appreciating our earth!

Open your heart to new ideas!  Camel is a backbending or "heart opening" pose.  Here's three ways to pretend to be a camel on HUMP DAY:

1/2 Camel

 

Full Camel -- when you need a little more bend

Supported Camel -- when you need a little less bend

Camel Pose strengthens the muscles of the back and improves spinal flexibility and posture. When you bend the back, you open your chest and create space, increasing your breathing capacity!  Yogis also say, "you dust the clouds off your heart!"🌩💙💚💙💚💙🌞

Guess what day it IS?  Guess what DAY it is? #EarthDay2020 #mrsbroamhats #mrsbroamMOVES #mrsbroamREADS

Upright Your Unbalance

In Zachary Shapiro's We're All in the SAME BOAT, the umbrella birds were unbalanced . . . then they uprighted themselves!  Upright your unbalance today!

Begin in "stork" position.  Balance on one foot while bending the opposite knee and lifting the foot. 

Next push the knee through and extend the leg like the tailfeather of a flying bird!

Bring your "tailfeather" back through and crossover the standing leg, setting up for Eagle Pose.  You can plug the toe into the ground as you bend the standing leg or wrap the foot around the lower portion of the standing leg as you bend.

So in Eagle Pose, use the same arm as the leg crossed over to tuck under the other arm.  You may wrap the arms and hands.  If the arms are less flexible, you can hold them side by side, hands together.  When you practice your balance, you improve your focus and concentration skills.  Take a balancing brain break for better learning! #mrsbroamhats #mrsbroamMOVES #mrsbroamREADS

Snakes S-t-r-e-t-c-h

In Zachary Shapiro's We're All in the SAME BOAT, the snakes felt squished, then learned to s-t-r-e-t-c-h!  S-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g helps you create space in your body and keeps your muscles flexible, strong, and healthy!  Flexibility is often a neglected part of overall health.  Here's a way to gently stretch your back: Lie on your belly, keep the face looking to the ground, and place your hands by your side body.  Gently squeeze the muscles in the back to lift the upper body.  Try not to force the stretch by pressing your weight into the hands, let your back do the work! If your snake would like "rattles," alternately bend the knees and slap the tops of the feet into the ground.🐍 When you pretend to be a ssss-nake, you ssss-tretch the muscles in your chest, ssss-houlders, and tummy.  You ssss-trengthen your arms, ssss-houlders, and bum.  It also increases your body's flexibility and elevates your mood! When you're feeling ssss-quished, give it a try! #mrsbroamhats #mrsbroamMOVES #mrsbroamREADS 

First Rain, Then Rainbows

We're All in the Same Boat by Zachary Shapiro makes me think quarantine quandaries are not new . . . When Noah built the ark to protect the animals from the rain, the animals were first excited, "A few days at sea sounds so thrilling!" But as time went by, the animals began to get restless . . . "The ants were antsy. The bees were bored.  The camels were complaining."  They all blamed Noah.  Noah's response, "WE'rE all in ThE SAMe BoAT!"  Then "the ants apologized and the bees behaved. The camels were cooperative."  The need to be at home now is OUTSIDE your Circle of Control.  What you do with this opportunity, INSIDE.  Will you BEE bored or BEEhave?  Will you complain or cooperate?  Will you nag or be neighborly?  You have choices. We're all in the SAME boat! Let's make the best of this "rain" by looking for and making some RAINBOWS!🌈

#mrsbroam #mrsbroamMOVES #makingrainbows

The World is a Rainbow

"The World is a Rainbow" by Greg and Steve

The world is a rainbow

That's filled with many colors,

Yellow, black, and white, and brown,

You see them all around.

The world is a rainbow

With many kinds of people;

It takes all kinds of people

To make the world go round.

Now you be you

And I'll be me.

That's the way we were meant to be.

But the world is a mixing cup.

Just look what happens when you stir it up!

The world is a rainbow

With many kinds of people,

And when we work together

It's such a sight to see.

The world is beautiful when we live in harmony!

La la la la la la

La la la la la la

La la la la la la

La la la la la la

Now you be you

And I'll be me.

That's…
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Gently touch fingertips and thumbs together.  Create a space between your palms.  You can hold in front of your chest or belly button.  This hand gesture is "Hakini" or "Whole World" Mudra.  A mudra is yoga for your hands.  As you hold, breathe and broaden your perspective, expanding your awareness in all directions.🌎

Find the Rainbow

"Making Rainbows" or Side Planks with your body strengthens your tummy, back, shoulders, and legs!  There are many variations of planks:  https://sites.google.com/site/zipadeebee/resources/planks Try one to add a little color to your day!🌈

Feeling Anxious?

When cleaning up today, I found a list my oldest daughter created . . .  Feeling Anxious?

read a book * talk to friends * go for a walk * make art * listen to a podcast * play a game * take a bubble bath * do some journaling * clean up * talk to family * watch something funny * meditate * breathe * listen to music * do a craft * drink water * take a nap * make your bed * sing * redecorate * volunteer * learn something new * dance * stretch * do something outside * get off social media

She concluded her list with:  IT WILL BE OKAY

Yoga on Friday is ALWAYS a good idea:

And if you're up for being creative, Lexington Medical Center needs cards for patients!  Because families cannot visit at the hospital, LMC is requesting "hope-filled" cards to share with patients:

Drop off the bags of cards at the South Entrance of the hospital at 2720 Sunset Boulevard in West Columbia from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. That’s the entrance at the front of the hospital complex along Highway 378. Upon arrival, call (803) 791 – 2901. A representative from Pastoral Care will pick up the cards from the car window.

 Let your worries work for making the world a better place!🌎🌟

Don't Be CHICKEN . . .

Try some YOGA!  Read some BOKs! BOKs! BOKs!

When you feel the sky is falling, try a WIDE LEGGED FORWARD FOLD!

Folds are naturally soothing to the body's nervous system.  Folding over may help you calm your jangly feelings!  In the story of Chicken Little,  Chicken panics and creates chaos.  What if the little chick had taken a deep breath and practiced a fold . . . would her feathers still have ruffled??!

SHOULDER STAND is one way to elevate the heart above the head.  Yogis call this kind of movement "an inversion."  There are many, many benefits to giving an inversion a try! It calms the brain, relieves stress, lifts your mood, increases circulation, energizes and reduces fatigue, alleviates insomnia, increases immunities, and much, much MORE!  

In SHOULDER STAND you're working to get your hips over your shoulders as you reach your feet high to the sky.  If Interrupting Chicken had worked an inversion, maybe she would have been a better listener! Her brain might have calmed down, and she might not have had so much to say . . .

BOW POSE is a heart opening pose.  Yogis feel these moves "dust the clouds off your heart."

Surfer Chick was discouraged when her focus was scrambled and her toes tangled.  When you are feeling low, bending the back and opening the heart is one way to lift your spirits.

In Big Chickens by Leslie Helakoski, the chickens are frightened about what could happen next.  Despite their fears, they bravely work through their challenges with "chicken power," "chicken brains," and "chicken guts!"

How do you increase your courage?  Sitting still and quiet is one way. Take some quiet time today to strengthen your power, brains, and guts!

Before your roost tonight in your TREE, 

What yoga or books will you try?

Mrs. Broam's reading recommendations in this post:

Chicken Little by Ed Emberley

Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein

Surfer Chick by Kristy Dempsey

Big Chickens by Leslie Helakoski

What other BOKs! BOKs! BOKs! do like to read about chickens?🐔📚

April Wisdom on April Fools' Day

Today's thought of the day is inspired by Mrs. Stasio!  Thank you for sharing this sentiment in today's PHES Faculty and Staff Video.🧡

So I'm thinking of my Circle of Control⭕ and looking for the silver lining (this hat is silver in case you can't tell) in this school closure cloud🌥 . . .

I am able to walk and yoga every day!🌳

I'm sending cards and notes to folks I miss.📩

Catching up on reading!📚

I'm cleaning and organizing spaces in my home that are long overdue for some attention.🧹 (I'm still working in this particular space😉)

I'm making bracelets!💎

I'm studying to be a water exercise instructor!🏊

What can you do? #mrsbroamhats #behealthy #stayathome @phescougars