The Story Behind the Panda

Lyn Russell, RYT-500, RCYT, B.Ed., Dip.T., ACOA Dip. (M.Nat.Th) • July 18, 2021

You may be wondering where the idea of a panda for our Mindfulness Programs came from.

Pandas and children have many things in common. In some cultures, the panda symbolises many characteristics that resonate with mindfulness and life skills that all children, young adults and adults need to thrive in our modern world.

The panda is one of the most adorable creatures on the planet, as well as one of the most powerful. The panda symbolises the importance of personal boundaries as well as physical and emotional comfort when times are tough. The panda also symbolises compassion, enjoyment and abundance. When we think of the panda it can help us to slow down and focus on one task, to help nurture the mind and body.

The panda can symbolise our ability to find a balanced path in life. When we have the skills to cope with difficult situations or worries we will have a more balanced life. The gentleness of the panda reminds us that there are some things in life that cannot be resolved with sharp words or brute force. Sometimes you need the words and skills to have a gentle but firm approach to make sure you are heard and understood, giving you power when you lack courage, confidence, or stability. The panda can help remind us to be firm but gentle and earn the respect of those around you.

Symbolising peace and good luck, the panda can show how having a positive outlook on life can make the world of difference. It represents the power of emotions and the importance of patience and moments of stillness.

The panda likes to have their own personal territories. Everyone needs a safe space where you can feel relaxed and comfortable. Having time in your day where you can be alone and rest your mind and your body is vitally important. Learning skills to calm and quiet the body and mind are life skills to help maintain a healthy mind and body.

We can use the panda to help remind us of the importance of being grateful for things we have in our life, teaching us to be more aware of our surroundings and helping us to find inner peace. Focusing on the positive and doing away with the negative, all the while being aware of what your emotions and thoughts are, but not focusing on them.

Using the panda to symbolise our Panda Mindfulness Program helps us to:

maintain a steady pace in life
move through life calmly and peacefully
be more comfortable about ourselves
balance the positive and negative thoughts in our lives. Go with the flow and don't forget to enjoy small things in everyday life
cope and thrive with challenges in our lives

Just remember, with the right skills you can accomplish anything that you set your mind to. Learning these skills and practicing daily will help build more confident, resilient, peaceful, calm and thoughtful kids and young adults and help them grow into the best versions of themselves they can be.

For more information on the Panda Kids 8 Week Mindfulness program click here

For more information on the 8 Week Mindfulness program for Young Adults click here

All of the amazing artwork for the resources for the Mindfulness Program were created by Red Brush Art.

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By Lyn Russell, RYT-500, RCYT, B.Ed., Dip.T., ACOA Dip. (M.Nat.Th) • October 14, 2022

Why is yoga and yoga therapy for older students so beneficial and why do they require special attention? When discussing the needs of older students, we are referring to those aged over 50. You may be surprised that we class 50 and over older, however these students present with a more unique history than our younger students. Therefore it is important to provide yoga sessions or yoga therapy that is suited to their special needs. Along with the usual intake steps that apply to all students, when looking at older students we need to pay particular attention to things such as: injury history and medical conditions lifestyle factors medications aims and expectations Injury history and medical conditions Injury history and medical conditions are important details that your yoga teacher should know regardless of your age. You may not know what is relevant to your yoga practice, so it is important to inform your yoga teacher or yoga therapist of your medical history, medical conditions and injury history. This allows us to provide practices that can support certain body or organ systems Lifestyle factors Lifestyle factors are extremely important to consider when planning a yoga practice for older students. Things to pay attention to include sleep quality, energy level and nutrition Medication Medication can have a huge impact on the type of yoga practice older students should be doing. Certain medications can change your balance, coordination and pain perception. Informing your yoga teacher or yoga therapist can allow them to provide a safe practice for your individual circumstances. Key Areas For Focus in Yoga We aim to maintain a healthy range of motion: Moving the body in different directions - forwards, backwards, side bending and rotation all encourage tissue elasticity, lubrication and circulation. Improve posture: As we age we tend towards flexion, which can create flow-on effects on bone loading, breathing, digestion, energy, and mood. Building the back body and posterior shoulder strength, as well as allowing time in 'neutral' positions of the spine is important. Postures such as chest openers and shoulder stretches as well as deep breathing is very beneficial. Working and strengthening under-utilised areas such as the back and posterior shoulders, the glutes, core and upper body Improving stability and preventing falls with poses that coordinate opposite sides of the body, standing and kneeling poses, foot awareness work and moving from pose to pose are key areas to work on as we age. Down-regulating the nervous system by emphasising the parasympathetic nervous system through mindful movement, Yoga Nidra, body scans, yin and restorative poses, Savasana, breath work and meditation. Cultivating acceptance of the stage of life we find ourselves in is extremely important. This may involve a gradual withdrawal from family and worldly life, to prepare for life as we age. Concepts from yoga philosophy can be helpful here - svadhyaya (self-study), vairagya (non-attachment) and santosha (contentment) There are many tools of yoga that can support the body, mind and emotions as we age. Why not give yoga or yoga therapy a try and see what it can do for you.