"Yoga Storytime" at the El Sereno Branch Library

Shoes off! It's time for "Yoga Storytime!!"

Vivienne Khan, Children's Librarian at the L.A.P.L.'s El Sereno Branch Library, has begun an exciting "Yoga Storytime" program on Tuesday afternoons (twice a month) for 2-5 year olds.

Using a "Storybook Yoga" CD to structure the hour-long session with soothing music and verbal instructions, Vivienne also selects an appropriate picture book to inspire animal-based poses.

Warming-up.

Vivienne reads from Denise Fleming's Barnyard Banter. I love over-sized picture books, so that everyone can see!

As the story is read, children listen to the sounds made by different barnyard animals. When the story ends, children do poses of some of the characters in the story, including the mouse, cat, cow, frog, donkey, chicken, and pigeon.

Vivienne and another library employee demonstrate a familiar asana to yoga practitioners, the child's pose. In the context of "Storytime Yoga" and Barnyard Banter, however, it becomes known as the "mouse pose." Adapting yoga for use with children and books can be as simple as renaming a pose.

Here is the "donkey pose," before the right leg is extended backwards into a "kick."

Working on the "donkey pose."

Demonstrating part of the "pigeon pose." This one could work for any number of Mo Willems's books;)

More of the "pigeon pose."

Interested in experiencing some "Storytime Yoga" for yourself and your little ones? Check the El Sereno link above for times and more information. Don't forget stretchy clothes. A towel or mat is also suggested, along with a bottle of water.

****Warning, political message for Angelenos follows: If you think programs like this are cool and worth supporting, please consider making your voice heard and contacting your L.A. City Councilmembers. It's programs like these that are threatened by the current budget-cutting proposals. Contact Save The Library for more information on what you can do to help.