Ayalá

Restorative practices for home and school When I first began sharing yoga with children, more than two decades ago, the part I quietly struggled with was relaxation. Movement felt alive. Creative play flowed easily. Then I would begin to transition toward rest. And the children were everywhere. Rolling, whispering, adjusting, sitting up, rolling in their mats. The last thing they appeared to be doing was resting. For a while, I thought I needed better techniques. Clearer instructions. More...

Why regulation practices need to become second nature There is a moment I recognise well, both in myself and in the people I work with. A moment when something within you knows what might help, a breath, a pause, a grounding practice, and yet it feels just out of reach. The body tightens, the mind becomes busy, and what usually supports you feels distant. I notice this most clearly in everyday moments. Not in extremes, but in the small shifts that happen across a day. A slight tightening in...

Creativity has always felt close to children for me. Watching my own children when they were younger, I was often struck by how easily imagination moved through them. A scarf became a cape, a volcano, a hiding place. A room could transform in seconds. Nothing needed explaining. Creativity was simply there, alive and flowing. Over the years, while sharing yoga with children and families, I began to notice something more complex. That ease of imagination and self expression often softens as...