Morning yoga with kiddos :)

I was volunteering for Desa YUM Cipanas Kids Day last week. And one of the activities was the morning yoga with the kids. I did it together with Vanessa, one of the Australian volunteer.  The kids were all excited to start the yoga.

Okay so we did it in a library...not that big of a space...but it has carpet on the floor....so it's safer for the kids. It was full house! I know...for a real yoga class it's not that appropriate if it's too crowded....but hey, it's for fun this time :)

Since we're talking about saving the animals (the first day)...Vanessa and I were thinking that we might as well talk about it too. So we asked the kids to join us...to used their imagination that they're going to the jungle...to protect the animals...

First we did the half lotus pose....we asked the kids to do some breathing. And then, we did the seated and twist pose. We told them that we have to do some warming up first before we go to the jungle :)

After that...we started with animals poses. We told the kids to used their imagination that they're in the jungle....and what animals can they find there. First they said, "lioonnn!!!!"....Okay so we did the lion pose with the sound of  "rawwrrrrrrrrr" while we sticked out our tounge. The kids were cute! Next, they saw some elephants...so we did the elephant pose. Then, we made baloon breathe for about 3 times. After that, they said...we made tree poses too. Then they found a cat....so we made cat pose with the sound "meeoow". And they found a dog...so we did the downward dog pose. And they wanted to see some cobra too.....so we did the cobra pose with the sound "sssssssssssssss..."..

After walking around the jungle...we asked the kids to do some breathing again. Then we made warrior pose...a warrior who's going to protect the animals in the jungle. After that....we did some lotus flower pose too and butterfly pose too...

Then we sat with our half lotus pose again...and placed our hands on the knees to do some breathing. This was probably one of the best feeling I've ever had...yes, you can call me cheesy hahaha. But it's true that "little things do count". I turned on the music "Di sini senang di sana senang" by Adithia Sofyan. I asked the kids to close their eyes...and just breathe in...breathe out. It turned out to be a very peaceful moment...one of the nicest feeling I've ever had...and I was very happy and glad to share that with Vanessa and the kids! 

It's cute that some of the kids were saying "ssshhhh we have to pray now..." :) I told them that we just have to breathe in...breathe out...listened to the nice words from the song...and relax :)

You can hear the song here..

After that...we placed our hands in front of the chest and said Namaste :) Yes...that was one of the nicest experience I've ever had...with kids too :)

PS: more pics here. 

Kids Day at Desa YUM Cipanas :) (2)

Day 2 for Kids Day at Desa YUM Cipanas :) We started our morning with fun yoga session with kiddos. I had the previledge to share my kids yoga session with my new friend that I've just met there, Vanessa. She used to be a volunteer at Desa YUM Cipanas for 3 months. So we did it together and it was full in the library :)

I have another post here for the yoga session :) After the yoga session, we had games from the Australian volunteers. The kids were all excited too! :)

And that was it....all the games and activities with kids....finished. Again, for me it was a tiring day but it was a happy day too. Especially when you see all the kids' faces....it's priceless...it's all worth it :)

Since it was my last day at Desa YUM Cipanas, I wanted to get some veggies to take home...so I walked around the organic farm...enjoying the place for the last day.....get my hands dirty, pulled some stuff from the ground hehehe....

Met a new friend....a creepy yet beautiful spider hehehehe :p 

And got my beeroots, mint leaves, horenzos, salads and a bit of this and that :)

So it was a wonderful experiences...would love to volunteer for them again for sure. Or I just come back to visit my new friends there :)

PS: more pics here. 

Kids Day at Desa YUM Cipanas :) (1)

Here we go, my story about volunteering for kids' activities at Desa YUM Cipanas. First day, Friday...there are some of Australians volunteer too from Ceres I think...so the more the merrier :) We took them to have a look around the place first.

And then we had lunch...did some decoration a bit...and after that...the kids were already lining up :)

For the younger kids, the girls were making necklaces from straws and origami. And s for the boys, they're making collages from crepes and colored pencils. It was a full house! We all worked together...me, YUM family and the volunteers from Australia :)

Some of the boys' artworks :)

Some of the girls with their necklaces :)

As for the older kids...they're all making simple shadow puppet! They're all very creative in their own way :)

Pic from Echa

I had so much fun and was really happy to see all the kids' creativity! And after art craft...we had talks about "saving the animals" for the kids.

After that, we had games games games! :) I was very happy to see the kids were happy and excited too..

Pic from Echa

Pic from Echa

I've donated these Bonekas for them. They YUM family told me that whoever wins the games, they'll get the Boneka.

Then we had dinner together with the kids too....on banana leaves :) It was nice and fun! We ate together on the floor with our hands.

Then...we had bonfire with corns, marshmallows and warm ginger....while watching the kids performed :)

And we're all dancing together and enjoying each other's company. It was a tiring day yet we're all happy. I know I was happy! So next post....the second day of Kids Day :)

PS: more pics here.

Desa YUM Cipanas :)

Last week I volunteered to help YUMIndonesia's for their kids' activities at Desa YUM Cipanas. I helped them to do some art & craft activities and yoga session for Kids Day there. They were having these activities for 2 two days, since the kids were all still on holiday.

Let me tell you a little story about YUMIndonesia firts, before I share the story about the kids' activities. So my friend Echa works at YUMIndonesia with her mom too. Desa YUM Cipanas is one of YUMIndonesia's projects and it's my first time going there. Desa YUM Cipanas used to be an orphanage but now transformed into a community center.

Many children there drop out of school because their parents are unable to pay monthly school fees or thetransport to school or to buy neccessary school books and stationary. If you want to help them you can contact YUMIndonesia's office.

Desa YUM Cipanas got this nice library too, open for kids around that place. You also can donate books for them :)

They also have this Vocational Training Centre, where the youth of surroundings villages get to learn english, sewing, computer for free. And also job seeking skills.

And at Desa YUM Cipanas, you can learn about organic farming too, mostly about how to harvest, clean it, get your hands dirty. They have a nice organic farm with pretty green houses. They harvested some herbs, carrots, beetroots, tomatoes, salads, etc. Got my self some veggies only for Rp.55.000,-...if you want some, check more info at YUMIndonesia's office, they can deliver it to your house.

So yes, that's a little story about YUMIndonesia. I spent 2 days 2 night there last week with 7 YUM's lovely ladies: Echa, Aris, Erna, Siska, Ibu Nori and Ibu Nani :) I like the place...need to say more? :) It's nice, simple and homey. It's a place where you can bring your kids too.
Pak Samsul, Kang Oleh and the rest of the people there were very nice too! 1st night there, got there around 8pm...had dinner and went to sleep.
I'll  tell you  more about Kids Day ( day 1 & day 2 ) on my next post :)

PS: more pics here.