Testimonial from a 2 Hour Workshop in Burlington I taught a few months ago
Thank you again for teaching us today Heather!!
Today’s teachings will compliment our Montessori Peace Education which encompasses Grace and Courtesy.
Emotions and Mindfulness are brought up daily in our learning and today’s Mini Me Yoga workshop empowers me even more to helping and guiding my little friends to calmly embrace their feelings.
Enjoy the rest of the the weekend! ❤
I am VERY new the parenting scene, although I was a Nanny for many years and Special Education Teacher too. Even having an MEd didn’t prepare me. I know kids, but being a parent has been an adjustment.
Nothing prepared me for co-parenting two gorgeous little souls who were adopted.
I’ve learned a whole new language and awareness and sensitivity to things I had no concept of before.
One thing I do know, is that despite the fact that most children do, at times deal with anxiety, adopted children have a tremendous amount of anxiety in their lives.
As an Ambassador to #MiniMeYoga I realized my tool chest is a perfect fit for my new family! I have been using our tools with our kids with really positive success. As you know well, every child is different and their needs are different- as is the speed at which they heal anxiety.
Please check out the link and let me know how I can help! I’d love for you to be doing our Yoga and breathing with your kids.
Love and Light to you and your little ones,
Heather McCrae, MEd
As a Culture, we have a real opportunity to make changes from the ground up, and that means starting with our children. Countless studies have shown that Meditation has positive effects on both the brain and the whole body’s ability to deal with stress. This isn’t even bringing Spirituality into the conversation. Meditation is good for you. I am both the Mini Me Yoga Ambassador for Canada and a Certified Facilitator of The Max Meditation System TM.
I have stated in all the information I give to potential clients, that our program is a gentle, heart-centered program that is not rigid. We don’t want or need the kids to do “Perfect Yoga”. We want them to be able to enjoy it and feel safe exploring! For many children, Mini Me Yoga is their first experience with Yoga and we want them to enjoy it so the principles of deep belly breathing, relaxation and meditation stay with them!
I fell in Love with Mini Me Yoga when I first attended my Facilitator Training. I was relaxed, happy and open. I have giggled so many times, when adults have told me the same thing when I’ve taught Facilitator Classes. I’ve had requests for Adult Mini Me Yoga Classes! We have a Yoga portion, but also a Meditation portion too. Giving children a chance to gently connect to their bodies and souls is so important!
The reason our program isn’t rigid is that we are in the Love Business. We want our children breathing, and relaxing into their Hearts and bodies without fear, shame or guilt. We want the children loving and accepting themselves, just as they are when they come to class.
As you may see from my profile picture, I don’t have a “standard yoga body”-whatever that means. I am short and curvy, like many women and girls. Kate Bartram-Brown, our founder, is committed to Mini Me Yoga as a safe space for everyone to come and be exactly as they are, and know they are enough. I am on the same page as my good friend, Kate!
My Mission for Mini Me Yoga in Canada is the same as it is in 23 other countries around the world. We want kids relaxed, happy, joyful and loving themselves!
We also want the adults who attend Facilitator and Ambassador Training to know they are enough and just the right size, shape, and kind to teach Mini Me. What matters to us is that you are a Heart-Centered person. I will not train anyone who isn’t.
Hindsight, as they say, is 20/20…If I had known what I know now, in terms of skills and tools, I would have had a lot more to offer my at-risk students when I was a Special Education Teacher.
Children living in poverty have extreme behaviours, at times, because they are living in extreme circumstances. It is completely understandable for hungry children to be restless and hyperactive. This can also happen when they are exhausted from not sleeping.
There are some very grounded and practical reasons why I joined forces with Kate Bartram-Brown to bring Mini Me Yoga to Canada. I am a Mini Me Yoga Ambassador. I want all children-regardless of background and income, to feel Joy and Safety at school and at home. I train parents and educators both, on our core 15 minute program, because it’s important. I teach Teachers how to use Mini Me as a classroom management tool. There are very gentle ways to manage kids, especially little ones, that are fun and not stressful. If I had Mini Me when I was teaching, even with Middle School kids, I absolutely would have made use of it! Mini Me is modified Yoga. The poses are modified to be appropriate for growing bodies without stressing muscles or joints. There are games that absolutely are appropriate for a classroom setting, and can be used whenever there’s a last-minute schedule change or even at the end of a class period or the end of the school day. This is constructive fun. From a health perspective, Mini Me Yoga teaches healthy breathing and heart-centeredness.
The other important tool I offer is meditation. For all of you old school educators, you’re going to have to believe me, the kids are ready to learn and it helps so much in terms of classroom atmosphere. You may think this is totally crazy, but there is plenty of research out there about how meditation and yoga help kids. I have ADHD and trust me, I have used the Max Meditation System TM, among other tools, to manage it successfully and to get off medication completely. It is not only possible, it’s necessary. I have plenty of derivative tools I teach educators and parents. I teach the actual Max Meditation TM class in weekly in Oakville Ontario.
As parents and educators, it’s so important to stay relevant and also to seek out the most gentle and clear methods of classroom management. I have co-taught Mini Me Yoga to children with autism. Every child can learn and benefit. I taught mostly children with behaviour issues for 7 1/2 years. Alternative methods that are grounded and practical transform classroom settings, whether or not the children have learning or behaviour issues.
