Paperman

"Disney has just released the six-minute short on YouTube. The beautiful black-and-white film follows a young man in his fruitless attempts to get the attention of a young lady he encounters on the train, and combines hand-drawn animation with CG for a unique and charming visual style. Paperman may be brief, but it manages to evoke more emotion in just a few minutes than most feature length movies do in two hours and it does so barely uttering a single word." by Andrew Webster

A Pep Talk from Kid President to You

Got this from MindBodyGreen website...too cute :)

"We can make everyday better for each other. It's everybody's duty to give the world a reason to dance."

The ballad of Milo & Izzy

Remember my previous story about Milo & Izzy ? It's been almost 1 month now. On the first day, Milo just stayed up in my room the whole day. But after that, with baby steps they're getting closer and closer hahahaha! I dedicate these pics to my late Eyang Putri & Opa ♥

:)

When you're smiling :)

Yesterday I volunteered for Habitat for Humanity Indonesia at Sentul, fun as always. I met this lovely lady, reminds me of one of my favorite songs "When you're smiling...the whole world smile with you.." :)

When you're smiling
When you're smiling
The whole world smiles with you
When you're laughing
When you're laughing
The sun comes shining thru
But when you're crying
You bring on the rain
So stop your sighing be happy again
Keep on smiling
'Cause when you're smiling
The whole world smiles with you

♥

KidsYogArts for January :)

Di.Lo.Gue's pic

Welcoming the new year with KidsYogArts with "animals in the ocean" theme More pics here. And this is the link and pics from the previous KidsYogArts. We had fun! Thank you all for coming, see you next month :))

8 Creative Ways to Share Yoga with Children

My pic, my little yogis with double boat pose :)

I like this article by Alexandra Moga....from MindBodyGreen website. Let me copy paste it for you.

"As a kid's yoga teacher, I get the chance to explore artistic, creative ways of sharing the practice and its benefits everyday. What’s more, working with the supportive and inspired team at Bent on Learning, NYC’s largest non-profit bringing yoga and meditation to public schools, has helped me develop way to share yoga more creatively.   

When sharing yoga with children, inviting creativity through the arts not only makes the postures come alive in more visceral and relatable ways, medical research shows making art, as well as appreciating art, engages kids’ developing brains, firing up regions related to decision making and feeling reward, building self-esteem and independent thinking.  

Kids also learn differently. Although there are three major learning styles: kinesthetic, auditory, and visual, there are further subtle ways children engage with the world to derive information and knowledge. The Multiple Intelligences Theory, first proposed by Howard Gardner in 1983 in his book Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, outlines eight ways people develop and express their intelligence: Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Visual-Spatial, Verbal-Linguistic, Musical, Logical-Mathematical and Naturalist.  

The great thing about yoga is that it holistically addresses all of these modes of expression; from partner poses, to chanting and singing, to learning about angles as they relate to the body and our bodies as they relate to the natural world.  

Here are eight creative ways that engage the various intelligences to share and explore yoga with kids: 

1. Draw Your Pose (interpersonal/visual-spatial) – Make yoga flash cards for use in future activities or use a large roll of paper for a banner of poses. This activity works great in a larger group of children but can also accommodate two kids, or one child and one adult. Have kids partner off and choose who will be the “yogi statue” and who will be the “yogi artist”. Statues pick a pose to hold for the artist to draw. When drawing is complete, switch. Make sure to balance out by taking the pose on the other side if it’s asymmetrical. Extra credit for using different colors for various lines found in the pose (e.g.: blue for vertical lines, red for horizontal lines, green for curves)!

2. Musical Mats (musical/bodily-kinesthetic) – This game works best in larger groups of younger children. In a circle, lay out one less mat than there are kids. Place asana index cards at the top of every mat. Press play on a fun, upbeat song and let kids dance (while singing along, perhaps) around the mats in a circle. When the music stops, kids take the pose of whatever mat they land on. Whoever doesn’t get a mat is out and can control the music for the next round, switching for each round. For older kids, and if they’re familiar with poses, after a few rounds, ask them to think about how a counter pose would feel and do that pose instead.

3. I AM (intrapersonal) – Bent On Learning teacher Jocelyn O’Shea practices this mantra meditation with 10th graders at a Brooklyn high school at the end of her yoga classes. It can also be used for younger children (and adults!), encouraging self-reflection, imagination and self-creation. Have kids lie down and take a few deep breaths while finding stillness in their bodies. Prompt them to think about a quality they admire, suggesting a few possible ones, like kind, smart, funny, caring, happy, peaceful, beautiful etc. to put them on the right track. Then ask them to repeat the mantra I am ____, inserting the quality they admire. Encourage kids to start and end their day with this mantra, choosing the quality on which they’d like to focus for that day.

4. Rain Game (naturalist/musical) – This game engages the senses to contrast with complete stillness when you’re done. It works more powerfully in a group but is also appropriate for a duo. Together, you’ll create sounds of a rainstorm. Begin with whooshing sounds, like the wind carrying in rain clouds. Then, thunder slowly rolls in as you begin to pound your feet, thunder stops and rain slowly comes in, snap your fingers. Then part of the group simulates lightening: clap your hands. The rain gets heavier, slap your thighs. Layer sounds for a veritable nature symphony using your hands, voices and imagination. Explore other sound-filled environments from the jungle to the city, the ranch and farm. Sit in stillness when done and explore the sound of silence.

5. Pose Detective (logical-mathematical) – Another game from BOL teacher Jocelyn O’Shea: Once kids are aware of some of the basic poses, call out different body parts that should be touching the mat and have them negotiate their body into a yoga pose that satisfies the request. With Pose Detective kids start listening to their bodies and moving into whatever pose they want or need to practice. I.e. "show me a pose with 2 feet and 2 hands on the mat only". This could result in: downward dog, plank, table pose, upward plank, upward bow, standing forward fold, or a new pose that they invent. It's quite popular with all ages of elementary school K-8. It gives students a chance to make their own choices and promotes creativity within the traditional asanas.

6. Scene of the Pose (verbal-linguistic) – In a larger group, have one child pick a pose for the group to take. The child to his or her right then begins to tell a story, describing the scene around the pose, passing on the scene when they’re done by locking eyes with the next scene-setter. Add points to the game by awarding one point per detail they use to describe the scene. Encourage them to use imagery related to poses and each time a pose-specific animal, plant or thing is mentioned, the group takes that pose.

7. Yoga Pictionary (interpersonal/visual-spatial) – Play this with teams of two or more members. The first team up chooses one member to be the ‘drawer’. Set a timer to 30 seconds. Start the timer when the drawer picks a card (use your asana cards or write the names of poses on pieces of paper). Draw clues without drawing the exact pose. 4 points for guessing before time runs out with an extra point if they guess within 20 seconds, 2 extra points if they guess within 10 seconds. 1 point goes to each of the other teams if they don’t guess before time runs out.

8. Yoga Song, Rap or Rhyme (musical, interpersonal) – Last year, while I was beginning to learn guitar thanks through a partnership with Guitars in the Classroom (side note: AWESOME charity), my class and I came up with a yoga song which we performed for the school at the annual potluck presentation. It went something like this: Yoga, it’s a life-long practice / and yoga – it’s not just poses, it’s loving, caring, showing and growing / smiling, learning, loving and knowing / that you and I are brothers / yea you and I are sisters / yea you and I are one – and the same. We’re all familiar with the power of music to not only bring everyone together with a shared melody, but to also help assimilate ideas seamlessly and enjoyably. Using a familiar melody kids already recognize (or make one up!) write a song, rap or rhyme together about sun salutations, a yogic theme (giving, forgiving, breathing, compassion) or even to breakdown a pose. Repetition of lyrics is especially helpful with younger children. As a bonus, when times get a little tough off the mat, bust out your tune to playfully remind kids about the good stuff.

Children and young adults hardly ever operate in isolation (no one does, really). Through their developmental phases, like seedlings needing external energy sources to emerge, they’re constantly picking up cues from their environment on how to think, speak, act and feel. WE are their environment. As a global family plugged into one another more and more each day, isn’t it is every single person’s responsibility to care for what goes out from us and into the environment as thought, word, action and feeling? And it starts with presence, actually being there and embodied in your own self in an intentional and interested way, as interesting role models. Because, whether or not we realize it or even have children in our lives on a day-to-day basis, we’re all modeling the world they’re stepping into. 

Taking the time to form and encourage habits that nurture children’s independent curiosity is crucial. This independent curiosity, naturally plentiful in growing children, is daily eroded by social rules, standardized testing, a want and need to fit in, and control mechanisms used to keep order in schools and at home. Spending time with children to help them develop tools with which to explore and engage beyond what they’re told to do and into what empowers self-directed growth is as essential as ever today. With yoga as the platform, and creativity as the intention, learning can take place along every step of a child’s development, giving them the keys to a self-fulfilled life outside of the text box and into themselves."

:))

Brown Rice with Peas and Cilantro

Got this recipe from Martha Stewart's website. It's been a month since I don't eat chicken. I guess...it's okay now once in a while, it's weekend anyway. Because I've been doing this Vegetarian Weekdays life...and it feels good. So my mom and I came up with this idea...to eat the rice with roasted chicken and plain salads. Let me copy paste the rice recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3/4 teaspoon whole fennel seed (we used cumin instead, because we didn't have fennel seeds)
• 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup instant brown rice
• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
• 1/3 cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. In a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium. Add fennel seed and onion; saute until soft, about 4 minutes. Stir in brown rice and cook 1 minute. Add 1 3/4 cups water and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, until water is absorbed, about 12 minutes. Stir in peas and cilantro, then season with salt and pepper.
   
   
   
   
   As for the chicken...just put the chicken on the oven pan...put some margarine...salt and pepper...and just put it into the oven (heat the oven to 200C ) for about 20 - 30 minutes.
   
   
   
   

TIME: 10 Questions for the Dalai Lama

Spirituality, a great sense of humour :)
"Do you ever feel angry?" | "yes of course, i'm a human being"
"I consider myself a citizen of the world"

Namaste :)

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

I think this is one of the most beautiful song I've ever heard :)

KidsYogArts :)

Come and join KidsYogArts :)

If you’re looking for a healthy, fun and creative activity for
your children (4 - 10 yo), join us for a fun filled 2 hours of
Kids Yoga and Recycle Art & Crafts. Allow your child to utilize
their creative mind and bodies to explore and expanding their
imagination.

Date & Time: Saturday, 19 January 2013, 9am - 11am
Place: Dia.Lo.Gue Artspace, JL. Kemang Selatan 99A, 0217199671

Rp. 275.000,- for 2 hours class.
Snack, drink and materials for art & craft are all inclusive.
Please bring your own yoga mat.

For more info:
0818805766 (Tina), 08129231376 (Raya), 082113131132 (Kyra)

Register to:
kidsyogajakarta@gmail.com & kutakatikartcraft@gmail.com

7 Tips To Raise Chill Kids Using What You Love About Yoga

my pic

Got this article from MindBodyGreen. 7 Tips To Raise Chill Kids Using What You  Love about Yoga, by Kerry Alison Wekelo.

Teaching yoga principles to kids gives them the tools to stay calm and in a chill mode of operation. Granted, these tips are for all ages, so you may have fun incorporating them into your daily routine.

1. Breathing. Teaching kids fun ways to breathe will help to ensure they remember in challenging situations, the foundation is to have them take their arms over their head breathing in on the raising of arms and exhaling on the release of the arms.  Fun imagery includes acting like a volcano, balloon or simply counting the breaths.

2. Mantras. Use hand movements and words help to focus.  Examples include Sa Ta Na Ma in which you touch your fingers and I am Happy by Shakta Khalsa. 

3. Dancing. Slow dancing using balloons and exaggerated movements gives them something to focus on while being silly and slow.

4. Relaxing Songs. Playing peaceful music calms our souls – try classical, spa, nature sounds and songs everyone can sing along to such as This Little Light of Mine or Peace Like a River. 

5. Settling the Mind. Discuss how thoughts are going to always go through your head, teaching that you can settle them by thinking of something happy, appreciating someone special, focusing your attention on a snow globe as the snow settles, pretending you are soaking in the sun. The options are limitless.  

6. Mandalas. These are intricate circles with shapes, these are good to color and given so detailed, it assists in settling down the mind.  Free copies can be found here. 

7. Candles/Fire. Use real candles or battery operated tea candles and make a pretend camp fire or if you have a fireplace make a fire. Just sit back and watch the light and melt into doing nothing but being in the present moment.

 

Weezer - Island In The Sun

One of my fave band, song and video.....wish I can play with the animals too :))

Esthero - Superheroes

One of my fave of all time :)

Little things do count :)

"Being kind and helping others is a reward unto itself. Not only does it make the people you help smile, but it gives you a happy feeling as well."

- Jasmine (Aladdin Series)

Milo & Izzy

I always wanted to have 1 cat and 1 dog in my house since I was a kid. I grew up a with a family who likes animals. Especially my father who loves animals, and I'm thankful for that. Oh and Opa & Eyang putri (Opa is my mom's father and Eyang putri is my father's mother) were an animal lover too. My father and his family used to have 13 dogs, 10 cats, goats, birds at their house (when my father was a kid).

I have Milo for about 6 years now...and now we have a new member in our house...Izzy the 2 months old beagle. Little things do count, my wish do come true.

Let's just hope they get along well...i'm sure they will :)

Happy New Year 2013

Here are my top two song to start my 2013:

Curtis Mayfield's This year

and

David Bowie's Heroes

What's yours? :)