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Butterfly breath- 3 ways

Butterfly breath is a fun, kid-friendly way to add some deep breathing to your preschool day. I have three ways for you to try it so you can have peace and calm all spring and summer long.

 

Use butterfly breath to calm big physical energy. The gentle wing movements will release energy from the body leaving it feeling relaxed. The deep breathing will also help to calm big emotional energy, like any anxiety or anger. Have them close their eyes if they are willing for a deeper experience.

 

RELATED: Tiny Bubbles Guided Meditation for releasing unwanted emotions

 

I know you want to practice more deep breathing and mindfulness in preschool but don't have the time (and probably energy) to spend looking for more and more kid-friendly activities. So, I made it easy for you. Just add these deep breathing exercises to your butterfly theme and done! Easy peasy.

 

Standing Butterfly Breath

Practice standing butterfly breath when you want to release big energy. The gentle wing movements will give that physical energy somewhere to go and leave feelings of peace and calm.

 

Standing Butterfly Breath 1

1. Stand with your feet slightly apart and your arms down at your sides.
2. As you begin to take a deep breath in, lift your arms out to the sides gently and slowly. Connect your arms with the breath and move them gracefully like they are light as air and flowy.
3. Lift your arms until the inhale is complete and then lower your arms back down while you exhale slowly through your mouth.
4. Repeat two more times.

 

Standing Butterfly Breath 2

1. Stand with your feet slightly apart and arms extended out in front of you. Have your palms touching each other.
2. As you inhale a great deep breath in very slowly, open your arms to the sides, opening your heart and the front of your body. Connect the movement of your arms to your breath. Keep your arms loose and light.
3. When you reach the top of your inhale, begin to exhale slowly and move your arms back together to the front of your body.
4. Repeat two more times.

 

Related: Three Simple Steps to Deep Breathing

Five, Fun Breathing Exercises for Kids

 

Sitting Butterfly breath

Use sitting butterfly breath before a quiet activity to invite calm and focus.

1. Sit with your bottom on the floor and bend your legs at the knees so the bottoms of your feet come together creating a circle shape with your legs.
2. Move your knees up and down gently like the fluttering wings of a butterfly in flight.
3. Take a deep breath in very slowly and count to three and then exhale slowly counting backwards from three to one.
4. Repeat two more times.

You can find more instructions and a picture at Kids Yoga Stories.

 

Small spaces butterfly breath

Try this version when you don't have a lot of room or when you need something quick in the moment.

1. Give your hands a little shake to loosen them up and get rid of any tension.
2. Bring the palms of your hands together in front of you.
3. Open up your hands keeping the pinkies together so your hands look like a book opening or like butterfly wings opening up.
4. Connect your inhale as you open the wings and connect your exhale as you close the wings.
5. Repeat two more times.

 

related: Flower garden yoga

How to create a flower mandala in preschool

 

Butterfly Breath Discussion

Here are some discussion questions:

• what color are/were your wings
• do/did your wings have any patterns or shapes on them
• what do/did you notice most about your butterfly
• do/did you see/smell/hear/taste/feel anything while breathing like a butterfly
• how does/did it feel to be a butterfly (which emotion)
• does/did connecting your arms to your breath help you relax more than breathing alone
• how do you feel now after butterfly breath compared to before
• was/is there anything else you noticed
• when might you use butterfly breath to help you calm/balance emotions/focus your mind
• which butterfly breath is your favorite

There are so many ways to practice butterfly breath. Try them all and let me know your favorite in the comments.

 

Related: Mindfulness art activity for spring

Growing kindness- a moving meditation

 

And, if you're looking for even more deep breathing and mindfulness activities to add to your preschool day, look no further than The Mindfulness Library for free, 24/7 access to meditation scripts, activity packets, deep breathing printables and more.