Yogashibai PRO: Haz Yoga con tu Kamishibai

What is and why use the Yogashibai PRO?

The Yogashibai PRO uses the Kamishibai PRO Theater (BIG A3) as support to present a playful way to introduce kids to practicing yoga.

The Yogashibai PRO is made up of a series of story cards with illustrations of yoga poses. On the reverse, each story card includes an explanatory text about the correct way of executing the pose, as well as a text to explain the pose to the kids. Some story cards also include a tale. These tales, which are children versions of Buddhist traditional tales, facilitate a reflection on the main precepts of this oriental philosophy.

What is yoga and what are its benefits?

Yoga is a set of physical, mental, and spiritual practices derived from the Hindu tradition. The word “yoga” is a Sanskrit term that might be translated as “union”, and that refers to the union of the different parts of a person, or the union with the supreme being.

Yoga provides a series of methods and techniques aimed at improving general wellbeing, which contributes positively to health. The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of physical, mental, and social wellbeing, and not only the absence of afflictions or diseases”.

Practicing yoga regularly using the Yogashibai PRO brings kids multiple benefits and, of course, also to the adults that practice it with them:

• Improves the strength and flexibility of the main muscle chains.
• Contributes to the correct development of the spine, improving its alignment.
• Improves body consciousness and awakens an interest in caring for the body and physical health.
• Improves concentration by augmenting cognitive capacities.
• Increases consciousness and the management of one’s own emotions.
• Allows learning how to relax by contributing to developing a state of inner calm.
• Improves self-esteem thanks to the absence of competition.
• Through tales, it develops imagination, creativity, and critical thinking.

How to use the Yogashibai PRO

The Yogashibai PRO contains 21 numbered story cards, divided in three levels of difficulty:

Level A

• Recommended for children from 4 or 5 years of age.
• Recommended for all children when the time we will dedicate to the session is somewhat shorter.
• To practice this level all you need to do is discard the story cards for higher levels.

Level B

• Recommended for children from 5 or 6 years of age, who have already practiced level A more than once.
• You can start directly with this level with children older than 8.
• Level B includes all poses from level A and adds a few of greater difficulty.
• To practice this level all you need to do is discard the story cards for higher levels.

Level C

• Recommended for children from 7 or 8 years of age, as long as they have practiced level B more than once.
• You can start directly with this level with children older than 9.
• Level C includes all poses from level B and adds a few of greater difficulty. To practice this level you will need all cards.

The tales included in some of the story cards can be read while the pose is executed. You can also take a short break to read the tale before moving on to the next pose. You may also choose a tale to read upon finalizing the session and carry out a reflexive activity around it, such as a debate or drawing.

The story card number 01, on which there is a mandala, exposes the main precepts of the yoga practicer’s philosophy.