And, just like that it's Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, mainly because PECAN PIE! Thanksgiving has many components from the food, to family and friends, to Black Friday shopping. Fall weather is at its peak and it sort of marks this transition into the holiday season.

At the same time, Thanksgiving can be stressful. Now, I'm not talking about the stress that, we as adults, face when dealing with friends and family over the holiday season. I'm talking about the stress of having children home from school while you are trying to set the table that one of your kiddos just decided to color on while your other kiddo just put more than enough salt in the mashed potatoes that all you'll be tasting is the salt!

In my experience in working with children, I find that they want to do what other adults or their peers are doing. So, why not take a break from cooking, grab some yoga mats, and have a family yoga session, Thanksgiving Themed? Not only will your children have fun and get some energy out but you may even be able to relieve some stress!

Yoga Poses

First, we must prepare the Thanksgiving meal. Feel free to change the poses around to reflect the foods that your family enjoys on Thanksgiving.

Salad

Because, we always have to throw in some nutritious leafy greens!

Collect the Veggies (Modified Power Breath): Stand in Mountain Pose. Take a deep breath in through your nose and reach your right arm up to the sky. Pretend to grab a vegetable for the salad (tomato, cucumber, lettuce, broccoli, etc.). Let your breath out as you reach your right arm back down by your side. Repeat on both sides up to 3x.
Mix the Salad (Sprinkler): Sit in Pretzel Pose. Place your right hand on your right shoulder and your left hand on your left shoulder. Twist from side-to-side as you mix the salad. Start off slow and then start to twist faster.
Mix in the Dressing (Hip Circles): Stand in Star Pose with your hands on your hops. Take a few hip circles to mix in the salad dressing.

Turkey

Because, no Thanksgiving is complete without turkey!

Turkey (Chair Pose): Come into Chair Pose. Hook your thumbs together behind your back just below your hips. Take baby steps around the room as you gobble to each family member.
Cook the Turkey (Forward Fold): Stand in Mountain Pose. Reach your arms up to the sky and then reach down to touch your toes as you place the turkey into the oven. Repeat this pose to take the turkey out of the oven.
Eat a Turkey Leg (Rock the Baby): Sit on your mat. Grab your right foot and wrap your right arm around your leg so that your knee is almost touching the inside of your right elbow. Hold your right foot with your left hand. Cradle your right leg and rock side-to-side as you eat your turkey leg. Repeat on both sides.

Apple Pie

Because, not everyone likes pecan pie as much as I do!

Apple Seed-to-Apple Tree-Apple Pie Story

Make your body into the tiniest shape you can think of to become an apple seed. Maybe, Child's Pose? Imagine you are a tiny, little apple

seed snuggled beneath the ground. You are so very still and just waiting for a bit of rain to come so that you can start to sprout. (Go around the room and gently pitter patter your fingers on each child's back to resemble rain.) When you feel the rain, slowly start to sprout out of your

seed. First, one little shoot, then another, slowly standing up, coming into Mountain Pose. Now come into Tree Pose to grow your apple tree.

Begin to reach your arms up as you grow your branches.

Roll the Dough (Ball Pose): Lie on your back and hug your legs into your chest. Wrap your arms around your legs and roll side-to-side to roll out your pie dough.

OR

Roll the Dough (Ball Smoosh): Lie on your stomach and reach your arms out to the sides and rest your head on one cheek. An adult will come around using a giant exercise ball to roll on top of your back to roll out the "dough."
Cool the Pie: Lie on your back to let your "pie" cool from baking in the oven. An adult will come around using a scarf to fan over your body to cool down the pie.

Animals

If you have any animals that are also part of your Thanksgiving family, feel free to do the following yoga poses!

Downward Facing Dog
Cat Pose
Cobra Pose
Rabbit Pose
Fishy Face

Breathing Exercise

Feather Blowing

Give everyone a feather. Either place the feather on your palm and blow it or place the feather on the floor and blow it. Practice breathing by flowing the feather around the room or maybe even to one another.

Games

Gratitude Ball

Have everyone sit in a circle. Pass a ball around the circle. Whoever has the ball must say something for which he/she is grateful for. Continue passing the ball around the circle until everyone has had a chance to share.

Note: This can be played on the day of Thanksgiving with your family and friends!

Crafts & Mindfulness Activities

Practice Gratitude

Supplies

Writing Utensils
Pre-cut paper feathers (green, brown, yellow, red)
Tape
Foam Turkey

Have everyone write something for which he/she is grateful for on the paper feather. Tape each feather onto the foam turkey.

Note: This can be done on the day of Thanksgiving with your family and friends!

Mindful Coloring

Print out this fun Thanksgiving coloring sheet. Take a few minutes to mindfully color in the picture and then use the pictures to decorate the Thanksgiving table.

I Am Thankful Meditation

Sit in Pretzel Pose.

Say, "I," touching the thumb and pointer finger.

Say, "Am," touching the thumb and middle finger.

Say "Thank," touching the thumb and ring finger.

Say "Ful," touching the thumb and pinky finger.

Thanksgiving Snacks

Now, I'm not saying that you'll have time or even want to make the time to cook more on Thanksgiving day. BUT, these snacks may be fun to make in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving when you have more time, are less stressed, and more willing to let your child(ren) "play" around in the kitchen.

Edible Turkey Legs

*Adapted from Culinary Envy

Ingredients

Bag of caramels
Bag of Honey Wheat Braided Pretzel Twists
Melted chocolate
Chopped nuts, optional

Directions

Unwrap the caramels and melt until just softened.
Use your hands to mold two caramels around the lower end of each pretzel to look like a turkey leg.
Dip in the melted chocolate and place on waxed paper to let dry.
Sprinkle with chopped nuts if desired.

Super Sweet Sweet Potato Bites

*Adapted from Learning Lift Off

Ingredients

Sweet Potato
Large Marshmallows
Pecans

Directions

Cut the sweet potato into slices and cook in the oven.
Cut the marshmallows in half.
Place the halved marshmallows onto each sweet potato slice. Cook in the broiler for a few minutes until the marshmallow has melted a bit.
Take the tray out of the oven and press a pecan into each toasted marshmallow.

Trail Mix- Thanksgiving Style

*Adapted from T he Novice Chef Blog

Ingredients

Cinnamon Chex Cereal
Pretzels
Candy Corn
Mellowcreme Pumpkins
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Melted Butter
Brown Sugar
Vanilla Extract

Extra Fun

"Gobble" Up a Book

The Thankful Book - Todd Parr
Being Thankful - Mercer Meyyer
Give Thanks Each Day - Steve Metzger
There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Pie - Alison Jackson
Run, Turkey, Run! - Diane Mayr
Giving Thanks - Jonathan London
A Turkey for Thanksgiving - Eve Bunting
Thanksgiving Treat - Laura Stock

Turkey "Trot" to Music

A Turkey Dance - The Learning Station
Five Little Turkeys - The Learning Station
Turkey Dance Freeze - The Learning Station
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving - George Winston
Over the River and Through the Woods - Dog on Fleas
Thanksgiving Song - The Uncle Brother

Turkey-Asana

Sara Gottfried

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