#034 Raising Happy, Healthy Kids: The Microbiome, Vagus Nerve, & Gut-Brain Connection with Dr. Elisa Song
Release Date: 06/22/2025
#059 Mindful Monday - Just Be Meditation
The Kids Wellness Podcast
In this special Mindful Monday, Giselle guides you through a simple yet powerful practice to help you 'just be' with the moment. Whether you're an educator, parent, or anyone working with children, this meditation is a perfect way to prepare, focus, and manage the day ahead. Take a deep breath, settle in, and let’s begin. 💛
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#058 How to Teach Culturally Responsive SEL with Dr. Dawn Brooks DeCosta
The Kids Wellness Podcast
Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Dr. Dawn Brooks DeCosta, co-author of "The Change You Want to See" and Deputy Superintendent of Harlem Community School, as they explore how mindfulness, cultural responsiveness, and social-emotional learning (SEL) transform school communities. Drawing from her 30 years as an educator and leader in Harlem, Dr. DeCosta shares her personal journey and practical tools for creating schools where every student feels seen, heard, and valued. Some highlights: • How "The Change You Want to See" emerged from leading through the pandemic •...
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#057 How to Lead Large Group Yoga Assemblies in Schools with Lauren Chaitoff
The Kids Wellness Podcast
Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Lauren Chaitoff from Yogi Beans as they discuss the ins and outs of conducting yoga assemblies in schools. Lauren shares her expert tips and advice on how to engage and teach large groups of kids effectively. Some highlights: - The benefits of working with larger groups in school yoga assemblies - Tips for structuring and organizing large group yoga activities - Handling behavior management and maintaining engagement in a large assembly setting - Advice for yoga teachers who are considering venturing into large group assemblies ...
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#056 How to Cater to 3 Lesser-Known Sensory Systems in Kids Yoga Class with Claire Heffron
The Kids Wellness Podcast
Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Claire Heffron from The Inspired Treehouse as they talk about the importance of understanding the three lesser-known sensory systems. Claire, an Occupational Therapist, shares insights on proprioceptive, vestibular, and interoceptive sensory systems and provides practical tips for teachers and caregivers. Some highlights: -Claire's occupational therapy background and work with The Inspired Treehouse and developmental play clinic. -The differences between occupational therapists and physical therapists in child development and sensory...
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#055 Mindful Monday - Feel Good Meditation
The Kids Wellness Podcast
In this special Mindful Monday, Giselle guides you through a simple yet powerful practice to help you bring more feel good moments. Whether you're an educator, parent, or anyone working with children, this meditation is a perfect way to prepare, focus, and manage the day ahead. Take a deep breath, settle in, and let’s begin. 💛
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#054 How Occupational Therapy Enhances Social Emotional Learning in Schools with Heather Greutman
The Kids Wellness Podcast
Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Heather Greutman, founder of Growing Hands-on Kids, as they discuss how to integrate occupational therapy (OT) into social-emotional learning (SEL) programs. Discover practical strategies for enhancing classroom settings and supporting students' wellbeing and development. Some highlights: -Understanding the role and significance of OT in educational settings. -Differentiating between occupational therapy and physical therapy for a comprehensive approach. -Adapting classroom environments to support all students. -Practical OT tools and...
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#053 School Trends 2025: 75% of Children Struggle with Self-Regulation with Margaret Rice
The Kids Wellness Podcast
Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Margaret Rice, founder of Your Therapy Source, as they unpack the results of a nationwide survey with over 1,000 school-based therapists and educators. The findings reveal a growing crisis in self-regulation among children and highlight the urgent need for movement, mindfulness, and play in classrooms. Margaret shares surprising insights from the survey and practical strategies to support children’s focus, behavior, and resilience. From calm corners and movement breaks to co-regulation and play-based learning, discover tools that can...
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#052 - How to Create an Inclusive, Accessible, & Trauma-Informed Yoga Class with Larissa Noto
The Kids Wellness Podcast
Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Larissa Noto of The Lovely Little Lotus Yoga as they talk about an important topic for our community of yoga educators: "How do we ensure that our kids yoga classes are inclusive, accessible, and trauma-informed, so that all children feel seen, heard, and understood?” From her unique experience as a lawyer and a yoga therapist, Larissa specializes in teaching trauma-informed kids yoga classes to ensure that the experience is accessible to all ages and abilities. Larissa explains what “trauma-informed yoga” means and why it’s...
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#051 Mindful Monday - Love & Acceptance
The Kids Wellness Podcast
In this special Mindful Monday, Giselle guides you through a simple yet powerful practice to help you bring more love and acceptance to your life. Whether you're an educator, parent, or anyone working with children, this meditation is a perfect way to prepare, focus, and manage the day ahead. Take a deep breath, settle in, and let’s begin. 💛
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#050 Be Unapologetically Impatient: Create Change with Courage & Compassion with Dr. Christina Cipriano
The Kids Wellness Podcast
Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Dr. Christina Cipriano, author of "Be Unapologetically Impatient" and Director of the Education Collaboratory at Yale, as they explore what it takes to create meaningful change—at home, at school, and in our communities. Through personal stories and practical tools, Dr. Cipriano shares how emotional intelligence, mindful communication, and compassion can turn discomfort into action. Some highlights: • The Universal Studios story that led to systemic accessibility changes • How to cultivate courage and speak up with compassion and...
info_outlineDiscover the keys to raising happy, healthy kids along with Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Dr. Elisa Song, a Stanford-, NYU-, UCSF-trained integrative pediatrician, pediatric functional medicine expert. Learn practical tips and science-backed strategies for optimizing your child’s microbiome and overall wellness.
Some highlights:
-The difference between integrative, functional, and conventional pediatrics, and how each approach supports children's health.
-What the microbiome is, why it matters for kids’ physical and mental health, and how it affects the gut-brain connection.
-The biggest disruptors of a healthy microbiome—like antibiotics, stress, and ultra-processed foods—and what you can do about them.
-Simple, actionable steps to improve your child’s gut health, including label reading, the “three Fs” (fiber, phytonutrients, and fermented foods), and mindful supplementation.
-Special tips for supporting neurodiverse children, reducing sugar cravings, and empowering kids to own their health choices.
Where to find Dr. Elisa Song:
Book: https://www.healthykidshappykids.com/book/
Website: https://healthykidshappykids.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthykids_happykids(@healthykids_happykids) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrElisaSongMD/
🧘🏽♂️🧘♀️🧘🏿♀️ Kids Yoga Stories, a mom-run and mom-operated business, was founded in 2012 by former classroom teacher and certified yoga instructor Giselle Shardlow. During her travels and time teaching grades kindergarten through fifth grade in Guatemala, Australia, Canada, and the United States, Giselle witnessed the need to address childhood illiteracy, obesity, and stress. She blended her passions of yoga, mindfulness, and education to create books, card decks, and educational resources to provide classroom teachers, school staff, coaches, and parents with the tools to bring yoga and mindfulness to children everywhere.
Connect with us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kidsyogastories
Website: https://www.kidsyogastories.com/
Shop: https://shop.kidsyogastories.com/