Putumayo Relaxes Kids In Yoga Dreamland

The concept of the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup was rather simple – mix two well-loved food substances and create a wholly new product. Putumayo Kids used that same methodology to create YOGA DREAMLAND, the label's fifth yoga and ninth dreamland CD. The merger produced exactly what you might expect, a collection of nine gentle pieces (I'm on the fence about referring to them strictly as songs) curated with the goal of soothing and recalibrating young minds.

One seldom gets to use the term "mind-numbing" in a positive way, but YOGA DREAMLAND serves as an entrée into basic yoga poses for beginners (with a 24-page companion booklet that can be downloaded if you choose to purchase the music via the Internet). The goal is to calm young, active minds at days-end and refocus children on tomorrow's programs and goals. 

As parents scrambling for more pandemic-centric home activities in 2020, yoga moved into the forefront. It's not like yoga for kids suddenly became a thing; in fact, Ben was participating in a yoga class when he was six years old (in 2006). A variety of livestreamed providers gives YOGA DREAMLAND a sweet landing spot in the public consciousness. 

Since 1999, Putumayo Kids has directed the company's world music concept for young audiences. YOGA DREAMLAND features  performers from the United States, Colombia, England, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Poland, and Senegal. The album was co-created by musician/yoga instructor Seán Johnson (of Wild Lotus Yoga in New Orleans) and Putumayo founder Dan Storper. The collection is a fascinating blend of pieces by authentic artists representing their country's works. Putumayo's roster is better spelled than pronounced, hence performers include Polish star Justyna Steckowska, British-Indian composer Nitin Sawhney with vocalist Jayanta Bose, Japan's Aiko Shimada, and the Mexican-American/German duo Mirabai Ceiba.

Don't put on YOGA DREAMLAND if you're planning on driving; it's music to stretch, decompress, and prepare youngsters for slumber. On the plus side, if they do fall asleep three songs into the CD, just relax. It will take that much longer to listen to all nine tracks. 

YOGA DREAMLAND is available on Putumayo Kids' website, Amazon, and Apple Music.

Here is the Facebook Live video with YOGA DREAMLAND co-curator, yoga teacher, and musician Seán Johnson, live from Wild Lotus Yoga in New Orleans:

Willey Mindful of Yoga for Kids

Yoga and kids music. What could go wrong? You're asking someone who isn't part of the equation.

I know people who do yoga. I know people who swear by yoga. My own son did yoga for several years (he stopped due to school time constraints and an instructor who subsequently relocated without letting ex-pupils know).

 There seems to be a mini-explosion of children's recording artists who double as yoga instructors. We are more commonly acquainted with Bari Koral (who hosts a "Yogapalooza" event), but there's also Bethlehem, PA's own Kira Willey. Selected PBS affiliates run Kira's yoga-for-kids interstitials. And at the urging of SiriusXM Kids Place host Mindy Thomas, she produced a series of "Backseat Yoga" exercises that run on the station.

Kira is releasing a collection of yoga "shorts" for short-attention-span children, MINDFUL MOMENTS FOR KIDS. For our older son, who leads a fairly stressed life (early wake-up for school, long bus rides, homework, and after-school activities, not to mention a hyper little brother who attaches himself to big bro), these exercises are just the ticket for a quick breather.

The 30 moments are broken into sections such as "Calm," "Focus," and "Energize." You get the basic concept from titles like "Count to Five," "Be a Bumblebee," "Imagine You're a Tree," and "Do Nothing Moment." The arrangements contain simple instrumentation and plain, spoken directions in a sweet, encouraging tone. Kira has the confidence from years of experience and tried-and-true technique and is delighted to share these meditations, whether families choose to use them in the home or on the road.

MINDFUL MOMENTS FOR KIDS closes with two songs, "Dance for the Sun" and "Just Be," which is close to an anthem for meditation, if such a thing is possible. And she's on the road, singing and leading yoga to receptive audiences in the PA/NJ area – just click through to Kira's site for upcoming events.

MINDFUL MOMENTS FOR KIDS is available on January 15 from Kira's website, Amazon, iTunes, and CDBABY.

Here is the video for Kira's PBS kid's yoga series, "Fireflies Musical Yoga":