Yogaland Roundup
Back to school for all the humans
Please be sure to hit the little ❤️ button above if something in here resonates or inspires. This post is available to all subscribers. If you value this reader-only-supported work, please become a paid subscriber at the currently discounted rate of $40/year. This offer will end on Friday.
Hello there!
It’s back to school season over here — for both the kid (6th grade) and the husband (prepping to launch his 200-hour YTT soon). So, the theme permeates this round-up.
For Laughs
Let’s start here, with this Dad who nails the absurdity of going to school and parenting in the digital age:
Culture Study Meets Bama Rush TikTok
This insightful and lengthy breakdown of Rush Week at University of Alabama isn’t exactly funny, but WOW is it fascinating.
I got completely sucked in. I am new to Ann Helen Petersen’s Substack and appreciated the incredible detail and the straightforward delivery. It is, indeed, a culture study peering into this over-the-top world. Does it strike anyone else how strangely idiosyncratic and dogmatic this world is?
To Listen
A Masterclass in Executive Functioning
If you’ve got a kid with ADHD, autism, or is twice exceptional, don’t sleep on this episode of Tilt Parenting, A Masterclass in Executive Functioning, where Seth Perler talks through strategies to help your child plan, initiate tasks, and finish tasks without going completely off the rails. (No easy feat!!)
There are so many lightbulb moments here and not just for kids (she writes in a neon flashing sign). Two big reminders for me in this episode:
First: Emotional regulation is a core executive function. When there are executive function challenges, you are going to see out-of-proportion emotional responses to things. This is not intentional. Repeat: This is not intentional.
Second: He mentions that twice exceptional kids will often excel in certain areas and have severe learning disabilities in others. To parents and teachers this can be confusing: The child is so bright and talented that their challenges seem intentional or behavioral. The old demand, “If he would only apply himself…” comes to mind and only causes more emotional dysregulation, not to mention long-term self-esteem issues.
Asking for what we need
On this episode of Meditative Story, guest Kathryn Nicolai tells a story of when she learned to stop diminishing herself to please others while on a study abroad trip to Italy. I love the editorial approach and the dreamy music in this podcast — admittedly, sometimes I wish I’d thought of the concept myself!
8 Key Things to Look for in a Yoga Teacher Training
A practical, comprehensive guide to choosing a YTT that is worth your time, your attention, and your money. From two of your favorite people:
To Read
You Did That On Purpose
A nice reminder from Dr. Naomi Fisher to meet children where they are, meaning that they have developing brains and are not tiny adults.
Checking Email? You’re Probably Not Breathing.
I let out a deep exhalation while reading this New York Times article (gifted link here) about “screen apnea,” or the phenomena of unconsciously holding our breath while we read emails or receive a flurry of notifications.
It’s a pretty “soft science-y” article (as is my decision to make up that phrase), nevertheless it feels intuitively true and like a real good reminder to Take. Deep. Breaths more regularly throughout our screen use.
As always, I love to hear what you enjoyed this week. Feel free to share it in the comments.
See you soon XO,
Andrea
Offerings & Events with Andrea & Jason
Our next Yogaland Book Club selection is Wild Asana, Animals, Yoga, and Connecting Our Practice to the Natural World by Alison Zak. Grab it here on Bookshop or here on Amazon.
Mark you calendar for the Q&A session with Alison — it will be October 10th at 9am Pacific.
Jason will be hosting a free live webinar all about Yoga Teacher Training as Self-Transformation on August 31st. Save your seat here. (Yes, there will be a replay. Also, we’ll send you a discount promo code that you can apply on top of the early bird discount.)
With the webinar 'Yoga Teacher Training as Self-Transformation'... if I would like to see the replay (unfortuantely its 2am here when it is on and don't know if I will be committed enough to get up), do I register?
Thanks for the link to the master class on executive function!! Super helpful even in relating to and understanding my adult kiddos.