Below is a short video where Mira shares her "3 Essential Resources for Sharing Yoga with Children."

Yoga for Children

Yoga Education for Children by Swami Satyananda Saraswati. This traditional children's Yoga book has pose descriptions, games and philosophy.

Yoga for Children by Swati and Rajiv Chanchani. A classic children's Yoga book, it contains philosophy and mythology in simple terms. If you get only one children's Yoga book this is it!

Fly Like a Butterfly by Shakta Kaur Khalsa. A delightful book for younger children based on the practice of “Kundalini Yoga”.

YogaKids by Marsha Wenig. Colorful photos and simple directions make this a great introduction to the basics of Yoga for children.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Yoga with Kids by Jodi Komitor and Eve Adamson. This is a comprehensive review of Yoga techniques for children.

I Love Yoga: A Guide for Kids and Teens by Ellen Schwartz. This is a great practice guide for older kids. Ellen gives it to us in straight, simple language and relates the practice to real life.

Breathe, Chill: A Handy Book of Games and Techniques Introducing Breathing, Meditation and Relaxation to Kids and Teens by Lisa Roberts. This book focuses on the key aspects of Yoga that tend to have the most benefit – breathing, meditation and relaxation.

Um, Like…OM A Girl Goddess’s Guide to Yoga by Evan Cooper.  If you know a teen who is all about dating, fashion and friends, this book is for her!

Yoga General

Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha by Swami Satyananda Saraswati. This is a dictionary for Yoga poses and other practices. Sanskrit names, directions, benefits and other practice notes are included. This is one of my most well-worn books.

The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga by Swami Vishnu-Devananda. From the founder of the Sivananda Yoga Vendanta Centers and Ashrams worldwide. One of the first practical books on the practice of Yoga for today’s yogi.

Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar. Another modern resource for today’s practice.

Yoga Nidra by Swami Satyananda Saraswati. This is a practice for everyone. The book includes the science behind the practice along with practice scripts, including several especially for children.

Partner Yoga by Cain Carroll and Lori Kimata. These partner poses are great for partners of similar size as well as parents and kids.

Awakening the Spine by Vanda Scaravelli. The photos of the author, an older woman gracefully inhabiting intricate poses, inspire any practitioner. The writing is poetic and uplifting.

Real Men Do Yoga: 21 Star Athletes Reveal Their Secrets for Strength, Flexibility and Peak Performance by John Capouya. Young yogis will be inspired to practice by their favorite athletes.

Sensory Integration/Mood/Attention and Focus

Driven to Distraction by Edward M. Hallowell, M.D. and John J. Ratey, M.D. This is one of the first comprehensive books to be published on the modern epidemic of ADD. Clear and informative.

Scattered Minds: A New Look at the Origins and Healing of Attention Disorder by Gabor Maté , M.D. Dr. Mate is an expert on ADD, based on his own experience and years of helping both children and adults.

Please Don’t Label My Child by Scott M. Shannon, M.D. “Break the doctor-diagnosis-drug cycle and discover safe, effective choices for your child’s emotional health.”

Is It a Big Problem or a Little Problem?: When to Worry, When Not to Worry, and What to Do by Amy Egan, Amy Freedman, Judi Greenberg, and Sharon Anderson. This book offers advice on how to help a child thrive by creating an environment and routine that supports his or her temperament and learning style.

Yoga Therapy for Every Special Child by Nancy Williams. This book offers specific routines for a variety of conditions.

Yoga for Depression – A Compassionate Guide to Relieve Suffering Through Yoga by Amy Weintraub. As a Yoga therapist, I focus on children and families who are experiencing mental/emotional imbalances. This book is a great resource for me as it describes how the practice of Yoga can manage moods and bring about an experience of wholeness and balance.

Life Force Yoga by Amy Weitraub. In this beautifully produced DVD, Amy Weintraub takes you through a soothing, uplifting and balancing practice. The setting makes it feel like a vacation in the Sonora desert.

Be The Boss of Your Stress by Timothy Culbert, M.D. and Rebecca Kajander, C.P.N.P. A fun book for children on managing stress, by the director of the first complimentary medicine clinic for children in North America.

Creating a Cooperative Classroom

How to Talk so Kids Will Listen & Listen so Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish. This is a must-have for anyone who would like to enjoy better communication not only with their children but with spouses, co-workers and friends as well.

Speak Peace in a World of Conflict by Marshall B. Rosenberg, Ph.D. This book outlines the steps to non-violent communication. Also visit The Center for Nonviolent Communciation.

Connecting Across Differences by Jane Marantz Connor, Ph.D. and Dian Killian, Ph. D. A guide to compassionate nonviolent communication.

Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise, and Other Bribes by Alfie Kohn This book addresses the sensitive subject of praise head-on.

Supporting Material

Spinning Inward by Maureen Murdock. Full of simple guided visualizations, this book should be on every teacher's shelf.

Brain Gym by Paul Dennison, Ph.D. This handbook shows simple exercises to enhance whole brain learning. Based on "Educational Kinesiology."

Visiting Feelings by Lauren Rubenstein.  This book gives children and adults the incredible gift of showing them how they can welcome and explore feelings without judging or analyzing.

Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers - An Updated Guide to Stress, Stress-Related Diseases, and Coping by Robert M. Sapolsky. The title says it all. This is a fascinating book on the science of stress, laid out in layman's terms.

Creative Visualization by Shakti Gawain This fun little book from the ‘70s describes a treasure map practice we use in class, plus many other effective visualization techniques and exercises.