Like a Fish in Water: Yoga for Children [Paperback]

Isabelle Koch (Author)

Book Description

• A playful introduction to the practice of yoga for the health and well-being of your child.

• Includes step-by-step instructions for more than 20 postures, as well as information on breathing and relaxation exercises.

• Each posture is demonstrated by a child whose image is magically woven into full-color illustrations.

• An invitation for children, ages three and up, to experience the healthy benefits of yoga.

In this exuberant and colorful book, author and illustrator Isabelle Koch introduces children to hatha yoga, inviting them into a world of good health and vitality through her use of playful analogies and whimsical illustrations. Like a Fish in Water provides step-by-step instructions for more than 20 yoga postures and the basics of breathing, as well as a variety of relaxation exercises. Each posture is demonstrated by a child whose image is magically woven into the brightly colored backgrounds and accompanied by text that clearly and simply guides the child through the movements, using language accessible to everyone.

Daily yoga practice can provide an island of calm in today's hectic world in which children are continuously bombarded with stimuli. Yoga fosters both physical and emotional health, sharpens focus, and improves attention span. Like a Fish in Water offers parents a perfect opportunity to spend time with their children, while engaging in a healthy and enjoyable activity. So whether it is used to get the day off to a positive start or to wind it down toward a peaceful end, Koch's book and the instruction it offers is ideal for parents, teachers, and, most importantly, children.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I never thought that children could really practice Yoga, but Isabelle Koch has found how to speak to them and how to interest them."
(Laurent de Brunhoff, creator of Babar )

"This simple yet profound stroll through basic principles of hatha yoga engages children in movement and imagination. This wonderful book begins young readers on a journey where they will contemplate thanks towards life; where they may realize that they are very small when compared to the universe; and where they can experience in a gesture the joining of the masculine and feminine energy in all of us."
(Hallie Love, Independent Publisher, November/December 1999 )

"This wildly colorful, thoughtful, and fun book is a perfect introduction to yoga for children."
(Mara McLoughlin, YOGANorthwest Magazine, July-August 2002 )

"This is an artful and empathetic introduction that is sure to engage the imagination and curiosity of many a child and lead them to the joys of yoga."
(Yoga Journal )

" . . . a means for a parent or older sibling who has some basic knowledge of yoga to help the younger family members learn about the many benefits and fun of yoga. However, it would work just as well for both a parent or sibling to learn along with a child." (
Nora Caterino, Circlesoflight.com, May 2009
)

About the Author

Isabelle Koch was born in Paris and studied dance at an early age at the Mudra School of Maurice Bejart. She has traveled widely throughout India and Southeast Asia. The mother of a ten-year-old daughter, Koch performs contemporary dance for children. She is a graduate of the French Federation of Hatha Yoga and teaches yoga in Paris.

Product Details

• Paperback: 56 pages
• Publisher: Inner Traditions (September 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892817739
• ISBN-13: 978-0892817733
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,374,957 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My son was entranced!, January 2, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Like a Fish in Water: Yoga for Children (Paperback)

I have to admit I was a little disappointed when I first looked at this book. But as all too often happens, we adults fail to see the true joy in something simple. The pictures of a child doing yoga instantly entranced my son, and the hand drawn backgrounds lend a sense of playfulness. My son who is four has been mimicking my yoga poses since he was around 10 months old, but this is the first time he has seen someone his own size in these poses.

I found he lacked the patience to listen to the descriptions that accompany the pictures, but would talk about the pictures, ask questions, and willingly try the poses himself, often holding a pose for 30 or more seconds. Anyone with a 4-year-old knows that 30 seconds is an eternity. My 19-month-old daughter wasn't interested in the book but enjoyed copying her brother.

My son has been asking to practice with me more often lately, bringing his own mat when he sees me setting up for my practice. He asks for his favorite poses by name or by finding them in the book.

This book has also deepened by own yoga practice. My children have reminded me that yoga does not have to be so serious. It is okay to giggle about tipping over during tree pose or to stop for a quick hug after triangle pose. I had forgotten these simple things as I worried about getting my poses just right.

This book lacks this warning, but remember to let the child lead you. While I expect an hour or more of myself, I have found my son seems to lose interest after 15 or 20 minutes - but that is fine. Instead, I will continue to cherish the time he practices with me but I also get a little more time when he curls up and goes to sleep beside me on his mat while I finish my practice each night.
--Reviewed by Teresa Burgess

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Like an Adult with Creaky Joints . . ., September 13, 2000

By 

Debra Rosenthal (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Like a Fish in Water: Yoga for Children (Paperback)

I bought this book in desperation after finding that it was taking me longer and longer to lever myself out of bed. I looked at the pictures and figured if the kid could do it, I could do it. The book is fun, assessible, visually interesting for children and adults, and includes a good set of beginning asanas. My only reservation is that the postures are not presented in a sensible order. This would be a good gift. A child could easily navigate this book on his or her own; the vocabulary is straightforward, the illustrations clear--very charming.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book, August 2, 2006

By 

K. OConnell - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Like a Fish in Water: Yoga for Children (Paperback)

This book is beautifully illustrated, and very clear. My four-year-old enjoys it a lot, and does not have trouble following the "instructions."