Pokémon Yoga Sequence
Pokémon yoga is a huge hit for my kiddos. Children on the spectrum usually have very specific interests, and Pokémon is a big one. Integrating that special interest into a yoga session is a great way to involve ASD students. For this sequence we used Cottonee as our PEAK POSE and Krokorok as our COUNTER POSE.
Here is my process for Pokémon yoga:
1. Have the children give you a set number of cards. (You will need to do this in advance...)
2. Use the cards to create a yoga sequence using each character as a different pose.
3. Or you can create your own using your favorite Pokémon...
Here is the sequence we used this week:
WELCOME
Three deep breaths, review Pokémon used in the first sequence
WARM UP
- Pokémon: Castform
- Asana: Sitting side stretch (both sides)
- Explanation: Sitting side stretch with arms together in raindrop from (make sure to equal out both sides)
- Pokémon: Ralts, Kirlia, Gardevoir
- Asana: Modified tree pose, slow side stretch, full side swings
- Explanation: Modify tree pose with heel on tow, slow full body side stretch as you evolve into Kirlia, full bend twists and side swings as you evolve into Gardevoir
- Pokémon: Wooloo and Mareep
- Asana: Cat / Cow
- Explanation: Mareep as Cat / Wooloo as Cow
MAIN ASANAS
- Pokémon: Krabby
- Asana: Modified Goddess Pose
- Explanation: Let them sink into goddess and then make hands into crab claws
- Pokémon: Snover
- Asana: Seated Tree, leaning
- Explanation: We sat in a comfortable seated position and made tree tops with our hands, the wind blew is all directions activating the abs to keep our seat planted
- Pokémon: Cottonee
- Asana (peak pose): Bridge Pose
- Explanation: Begin seated with knees bent, lift rear to float like cotton
Pokémon: Krokorok
Asana (counter pose): Modified Childs Pose / Locust Pose / Corpse Pose
Explanation: We crawled in the grass to our stomachs into modified childs pose (hold to counteract arches), then engage core into locust pose like a crocodile, then we rolled over into savasana for resting pose
CLOSING
We took deep breaths thinking about what makes us most happy, including Pokémon. We then sent out well wishes to all the children of the world to find something that makes them happy, We sat in two minutes of silence with the zen music playing (depending upon the age/ability of you students you can adjust).
NAMASTE!