We invite you to read the interview conducted by Maria Krystman with Ola.

Many of us adults practice yoga and we know that it improves our bodies, allows us to relax and control our breathing. What does it give to kids?

Ola Puchała: In fact, the benefits of practicing yoga in children are the same as those of adults. Yoga can be fun for a child. It is also a great way and an excuse to spend time with your parents. Hence, it is very close to the concept of a happy child. A happy child is a child with a healthy, strong and fit body, aware of a calm, relaxed and alert mind; positive attitude. It is a conscious child, knowing what he wants, expressing his thoughts and feelings in a creative and expressive way – this is the educational goal we pursue. There is a proverb: “What the shell soaks when you are young, the smacks you in old age.” The knowledge and experience gained during yoga and meditation exercises will pay off very quickly in the future.

From what age of children can we start with home yoga?

It all depends on the child and its psychomotor development and ability to concentrate. My youngest and one of the most promising yogis was less than 2.5 years old. Generally, the proposed exercises are intended for children from 5 years up.

I like what you said, “Children are born yogis,” but I think yoga requires concentration. Do we also need this concentration from children in yoga?

Mindfulness is a skill that should be practiced, just like yoga, from an early age. Concentration is useful in virtually every aspect of our lives. Let our children be fully present in what they are doing, here and now. If they are in the top position, let them freeze in the asana, as if their body had been frozen. Let the winds, rains, snow, clouds come and go, and let the majestic mountain remain motionless.

Part of yoga is pranayama, or breathing techniques. What is your patent on it, so that the child does not quote the breathing exercises: “nuuuuda”?

Explain to your child what this breath is all about. It is the most important daily activity that provides the necessary energy and oxygen to each cell. You can live without food for a few weeks, without water for a few days, but only for a few moments without breathing. The breath oxygenates and nourishes our body; exhaling relaxes and removes toxins and unnecessary metabolic products.

Use simple breathing techniques during a stressful weekday situation, e.g. a quarrel with a child, an unfortunate toddler’s fall. This is the moment to catch your breath when both the child and the parent are mentally exhausted. Let’s sit close to each other, cleanse ourselves with tears and just breathe: inhale and exhale. The child will see for themselves that focusing on the breathing really helps.

And the breath in the child’s relaxation, such as a summary of movement exercises?

At the end of the class, a balloon breath with your favorite mascot on your stomach is perfect. The baby lies on its back and watches as the belly with the toy and the chest puff up like a balloon filled with air as they inhale and fall as they exhale. And anything can happen with a story that any parent can create – all you have to do is activate your imagination.

Suppose we have a quiet, shy and hyperactive child at home, who is everywhere. Can we serve the same two exercises in a family group?

Yes, the same exercise may have different effects on each child and their body. An example is the above mindfulness exercise. It can trigger expression in a withdrawn child and at the same time soothe nervous and hyperactive children. By learning to do this exercise, both children experience how to cope with their problems, such as persistent thoughts that I am not very good and cool in a shy child, or the need to constantly move around in a hyperactive child.

Can yoga be an alternative to – attention, unpleasant slogan, no fun – corrective gymnastics?

Yes, yoga can be and is an alternative to corrective gymnastics. Conducted consciously by a qualified yoga teacher with anatomical preparation and knowledge of movement physiology, it is a great complement to traditional physiotherapy. It is also worth for a yoga teacher to cooperate with rehabilitation specialists, manual therapists or kinesiotherapists, then the action is comprehensive. The difference between yoga and corrective gymnastics is that it can’t be boring. We replace boring exercises with asanas, repetition with expressive fun in the form of, for example, a movement story.

Exactly – asanas, or given yoga poses, often refer to the names of animals, such as a cow, cat or the famous dog with its head down. This can encourage children! What asana would you recommend for those who are just starting their yoga adventure?

I would start with the position we begin with in our Good Wood yoga tutorial, namely the lotus flower. It is the queen of all asanas and helps you concentrate. It causes us to cut ourselves off from the outside world and focus on our interior. Contrary to appearances, however, this is not a simple setting of the body and mind. Hence, we proposed earlier exercises to relax the muscles, prepare for the lotus. For more details, check out the Downloadable Good Wood Yoga Cards here .

The yoga exercises you recommend for kids in these cards , are performed on the brilliant Good Wood rocker – if we don’t have one, can we also exercise at home?

We can always, but with the rocker it will certainly be more interesting. The child, losing himself in play, will not even feel that he is jogging. It is as if we are adopting poses on a natural wooden playground. Items limited only by our imaginations.

ps You can buy printed yoga cards here .

The material was created in cooperation with the Ładne Bebe portal.

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IMAGINATION

The Good Wood rocker for children can be a ship on stormy water, a spaceship, a pirate’s nest, a galleon, an inaccessible prison, a racer, a theater, a huge castle … new places, vehicles and hiding places. And you? Do you remember your childhood games? Haven’t you built your lookout? I’m sure you can! Now you know that a rocker can be a perfect frame for such a structure. What else can be used in this type of games? Almost everything! A pillow, blanket, mattress, rug and stuffed animals will come in handy. Home appliances such as a colander, a wooden spoon, a plastic bottle may also be helpful. Best of all, everything is at hand! What about the inhabitants of our building? Princesses usually live in castles, and terrible pirates sail the ships. You surely know perfectly well that kids love to change. Maybe you have old clothes in your closet that could be used as a princess’ dress or a mantle of a dangerous corsair?

MOVEMENT

Another type of play with Good Wood is all kinds of physical activities: rocking, rocking, balancing, climbing, sliding, crawling. For this type of play, not only a rocker, but also a ladder will be useful. You can invent games endlessly. With the help of Good Wood, you will create a home playground for children and satisfy their need for exercise (adults can also play!). You can create a completely different obstacle course every day. In addition to our equipment, cushions, a rope and a piece of floor will be useful. An interesting proposition to support the motor coordination of your children will also be all kinds of ball exercises, e.g. tossing it while rocking or scoring goals at a goal made of a rocker. This is a great challenge for older kids, bursting with energy and the need for constant movement.

EFFICIENT HANDS

This is not the end of Good Wood’s possibilities. The child not only feels the need to move, but also naturally strives to develop manual skills. Kids want to exercise the efficiency of their fingers and therefore they are happy to reach for everyday objects. Fun to clean up? Nothing easier! Hang a piece of string between the rocker skids, add clothespins, and your toddler will be happy to hang the laundry. Rockers and a table top make the perfect table for a small artist: you can stamp, paint, draw, cut, paste, color on it … With this type of play, we not only support the development of fine motor skills, but also exercise creativity. You will certainly need colored sheets, glue, scissors, markers, chalk, old newspapers or paints.

YOGA

Another, a little more sedate idea for great fun and development is yoga. Yoga with Good Wood will be great fun not only for the child, but also for the parent. Here you will need a rocker, a ladder and (absolutely!) A comfortable outfit. Yoga includes stretching and breathing exercises, among others. You don’t have to be a yogi, our guide ( www.goodwoodpoland.pl/joga ), where you will find photos and descriptions of exercises that the child can do (alone or with a parent). Let it be your time together – moments spent on building relationships, and most of all having a GOOD FUN.
The toddler exercises, and at the same time is a butterfly, a tree, a warrior … He uses his imagination. Remember that a child does not have to assume perfect positions – nothing is forced! The most important thing is that it draws from the natural inner resources of joy. Have fun together, enjoy it!

INTELLECT

Finally, a few more words about play and its impact on the youngest. It may not be obvious, but playing with the rocker also has a positive effect on the intellectual abilities of our children. Why? During free play, the child learns to set a certain goal (for example, reaching the top of a rocker) and strives for it – this is how he shapes his will. He makes a decision, acts, and finally achieves what he wanted by conquering his little Mount Everest. It gives the toddler joy and satisfaction, and shapes his self-esteem. Spending time actively (preferably outdoors, and when it is not possible, for example with a rocking chair), the child oxygenates the brain. This has a positive effect on memory and the ability to concentrate, and thus supports intellectual development.

We already know that a rocker is a great idea for fun. We know that play is a big little thing and can have a wonderful impact on our children’s development. If, however, I were to answer the question of how to have fun, I would simply say “okay”! (Because the most important thing in all this is joy).

You can find our proposal of games with the use of a rocker here:
inspirer

Joy in motion!
– Magda

The post About fun (and why it’s so important) appeared first on GoodWood Poland.

In every child, sooner or later, there will be a “period” for movement. The child then shows a great need to experience, learn and experiment. It’s worth taking advantage of this and encouraging them to exercise. Unfortunately, we know from experience that it is often difficult to get our children to exercise. That is why exercise in the form of play is such an excellent solution.

We hope that thanks to our guide you will also feel that it is worth exercising and that you will start doing it together with your child.

Let it be your time together, joy, building relationships and developing your imagination. We strongly encourage you to do so!

Below you will find activities that have a great impact on shaping the correct figure, and at the same time make you happy. [currently available in polish only]

-> DOWNLOAD OUR CARDS< –

JOY IN MOVEMENT!
– Magda & Michał

The post Movemen activities appeared first on GoodWood Poland.

We undertook an ambitious task – we created a guide with yoga exercises using a rocker – for both children and adults. As far as we know, it is the first publication of this type in the world.
In it you will find:

1. photos and descriptions of asanas / exercises
2. exercises for children (also for a child + parent couple)
3. information on how yoga affects a child’s development

We want to promote a healthy alternative to a computer, smartphone, and TV. Let this guide be a help for you, thanks to which the time spent together will focus on building relationships and, above all, having fun. In the age of the Internet, telephone and a sedentary lifestyle, our guide may turn out to be the best recipe for health. And all this while being a butterfly, a tree, a warrior … while using your imagination. All the exercises presented should be treated as fun and in this form we encourage you to spend time together.

Click on the picture below and download our cards (currently polish version only):

If you like our idea – please pass our work forward Thank you!
– Magda & Michał

ps, we would be glad if you share your opinion about our little project on fb.
ps2, of course, all the games we offer can be performed without any additional equipment .

The post Yoga cards appeared first on GoodWood Poland.

ROCKING AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

From birth, or even before, movement becomes an inseparable part of our everyday life. From an infant, a child learns his body and then goes through the process of changing position, which is associated, among other things, with learning to maintain balance. These changes require not only muscle development, but also the maturity of the areas in the cerebral cortex responsible for movement, and the integration of all body parts, senses, and balance-coordinating functions. The GOOD WOOD rocker supports general physical fitness and its ability to perform all activities related to movement. In short, the rocker helps to wisely educate and improve the child’s motor skills, which has a positive effect on the child’s sensory integration.

According to research, by providing a child with independence, free movement and the experience of achieving a goal independently – for example reaching the top of a rocker – builds confidence in the child’s own strength and competences. A child who is allowed to move freely without restriction is more careful and learns how to fall safely. In this way, it gets to know its abilities and learns safe limits for it.

MOTOR SKILLS

Remember that children shape the brain through movement. From the point of view of evolution and nature, motor skills (movement) are obviously more important than all school knowledge. If children are left free to act, they will naturally seek opportunities to move. It is easy to notice that children naturally strive to develop motor skills. Movement games are their favorite activity. We must remember that if we want to raise happy children, we should allow them freedom and not limit their physical activity.

The question is – what happens when a child grows in need of exercise? This means that it is in a MOVEMENT-sensitive period All muscles are working. The child improves gross motor skills, but not only. For example, grasping the rungs of a rocker, the hand works – the child also improves fine motor skills. The development of fine motor skills is preparation for writing.
Satisfying the need for exercise is particularly important for the proper psychomotor development of a child. It is worth knowing that spending time actively contributes to the proper development of bones and joints. As a result, children are less likely to be injured and more agile.

This is not all that keeps children moving. During physical activities, the child develops a vestibular system known as the sense of balance. The rocker is a brilliant support for the development of balance. This is called The “sixth sense” plays an important role in the development of motor, sensory and mental functions. Thanks to the balance, the child distinguishes between the right and left sides, top and bottom, and we receive information about spatial relationships.
Moving and overcoming obstacles, the child is extremely effective in practicing bilateral coordination, i.e. it engages both sides of the body and activates the proprioceptive system. This system informs where our body is located in space and how its parts are arranged in relation to each other, how much and how fast our muscles stretch and with what strength they work. It also affects the proper muscle tone and motor coordination. Underdevelopment of any of the systems – vestibular and proprioceptive, may result in difficulties in learning, concentration, emotional disorders and hyperactivity.

INTELLECT

During free play, the child learns to set a certain goal for himself, thus shaping his will. He decides to act – for example, reaching the top of the rocker. He learns to make decisions and develops his will. Determining the distance, for example, between the rungs of a rocker is nothing more than learning orientation in space. A child becomes convinced that if he wants to achieve a goal, he must develop perseverance and consistency to achieve it. Achieving the goal gives the child joy and satisfaction. In this way, the child builds self-esteem. Spending time actively – preferably outdoors – and when there is no such option, for example with a rocking chair, the child oxygenates the brain. This, on the other hand, has a positive effect on memory and concentration, and thus the child learns more effectively.

Determining the distance, for example, between the rungs of a rocker is nothing more than learning orientation in space. A child becomes convinced that if he wants to achieve a goal, he must develop perseverance and consistency to achieve it. Achieving the goal gives the child joy and satisfaction. In this way, the child builds self-esteem. Spending time actively – preferably outdoors – and when there is no such option, for example with a rocking chair, the child oxygenates the brain. This, on the other hand, has a positive effect on memory and concentration, and thus the child learns more effectively.

In summary, motor skills are not given to us from birth. We have to educate it through free movement and controlled actions, thanks to which the general efficiency of the body and intellect improve.

We cannot expect a child to write his name neatly until he learns to cross the footbridge, overcome an obstacle, or has mastered his balance.

I wish you and myself beautiful moments in motion with our loved ones!
– Magda

The post Physical activity – what is it needed for? appeared first on GoodWood Poland.

Are you wondering from what age the rocker will work? Well, it can serve children (and others) from birth. Get to know the functions of the rocker.

CRADLE

The obvious use of the rocker is the cradle function. Mom and baby can swing on the rocker, but when the baby is bigger, you can put it alone.

Gentle rocking calms down, calms down, helps to soothe crying, and puts the baby to sleep. The rhythmic movements of the rocker remind the little one of the time spent in his mother’s belly – that’s why babies love rocking so much. Rocking a rocker is an alternative to rocking your baby in your arms. It is also worth mentioning that rocking has a positive effect on the development of the child’s nervous system, namely the vestibular system. Research shows that rhythmic forward and backward movements adequately stimulate the vestibular system of the infant’s brain, which is responsible for proper muscle tone and body posture, balance and the ability to concentrate, and additionally supports perception. Thanks to this, the child will develop better in the future.

BABY GYM

Another function of the rocker for children is the EDUCATIONAL FRAME – the so-called “Baby gym”.
Thanks to the wide spacing of the rocker’s skids, it is stable and will not restrict the baby’s movements in any way. The design of the rocker makes the frame made of it safe and durable, and at the same time not overwhelming. Contrasting, but mild colors of the frame stimulate the baby’s eyesight, and the possibility of hanging pendants on it will encourage the baby to move its hands and feet, which affects the development of its motor skills.

What’s all this for? From the very first moment, the child focuses on development. The first important challenge of every baby is to reach the toy hanging over his head. This task requires practice, hundreds of attempts until it is successful. Pull the handle in the right direction, reach far enough, hit the toy with your hand, close your hand at the right moment and finally grab the toy you want. It’s just work! During this time, a permanent trace is formed in the child’s brain – a neural connection that the child will use every time he reaches for something.

We believe that wisely supporting the development of a child intended by nature is the best thing that can be given to him. That is why GOOD WOOD was created!

The post Good Wood for the little ones appeared first on GoodWood Poland.

Good Wood rocker through the eyes of a physiotherapist and sensory integration therapist.

“In my work, I try to make the time that children spend on very hard exercises be for them, above all, fun and a form of fun. I don’t like the usual tedious exercises done on a mattress from cover to cover. I perfectly understand that often, after school or after remedial classes, kids don’t have the strength. That is why I try to make the time spent on rehabilitation a springboard for them and exercise in the form of fun. During rehabilitation classes and sensory integration therapy, I use various types of equipment that make the kids’ time pleasant and make us all have fun during exercise.

Today I would like to write about a modern wooden rocker that can be used in rehabilitation clinics, but not only.
The GOOD WOOD wooden rocker is a balancing platform, a slide, a mini climbing wall, but also a coffee table or a hanger for toys for an infant. It all depends on what we need to use. The rocker was created with children in mind. It is refined in every respect, starting from design, through the safety of children and ending with the quality of workmanship. Nothing is a coincidence here.

How can the rocker be used during rehabilitation classes or AI therapy?
It all depends on what we want to achieve with the child during classes because GOOD WOOD means:

ROCKER – a great solution for preschoolers and older children.

When the inside of the rocker is covered with a soft material, you can swing the baby in it for a moment, sitting children can rock for any length of time. While rocking, in other words rocking, we stimulate the vestibular system, part of the nervous system that affects the regulation of muscle tone and the organization of attention. Rocking is a great way to extinguish anxiety, regulate the hormonal balance, affect the breathing and ventilation mechanisms as well as the cardiovascular and metabolic systems.

CLIMBING LADDER – while climbing, all the muscles of the feet, lower limbs, and the whole body are working. While climbing, the child learns how to measure distances, works on the sequence of movements and their alternation.

BALANCING PLATFORM – forces the body to work on full coordination. During the classes, the child has to swing and maintain himself by moving his body weight alternately. The whole body of the child works during balancing, shaping the balance reactions and feeling of the ground, orientation in space and smoothness of movement.

At what age can the rocker be used?

The GOOD WOOD rocker can be used in a child’s room, even for the youngest.

Baby – lying under the rocker, can play with the toys hanging on it.
Lying on the back, the child learns:

• take symmetry
• connect the handles in the midline of the body
• turn sideways
• raise the pelvis
• grab the elbows / feet
• rotate from back to belly

Older child climbing and rocking:

• stimulates the vestibular system
• strengthens the balance
• works on gross motor skills, which are extremely important in the child’s development

Gross motor skills it is the general physical fitness of a person and his ability to perform all activities related to movement. The development of motor skills is very important for the proper physical fitness and general functioning of the child. If it runs smoothly, it is an excellent basis for learning to write and read, concentration, spatial orientation, eye-hand coordination.

Thanks to Good Wood rockers, we can stimulate the development of gross motor skills from the very beginning through free movement and activities, thanks to which the mobility of the body improves. Big motor skills affects the development of general mobility.

THIS KIND OF EXERCISES, THROUGH FUN, REDUCE THE INCORPTION OF POSTURE DEFECTS, HELP IN THEIR HEALING AND, ABOVE ALL, PREVENT THEM.

GOOD WOOD rockers are a great solution for rehabilitation clinics as well as for arranging the space at home. ”
– Magda Zujewicz

You can read more about the impact of our products on the development of a child here: Physical-activity-and-what-to-do

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