What Others are Saying:

Reviewer: Elayne Blythe, Film Advisory Board President

"... an award-winner! Charming, with beautiful scenery. Great for children—but adults who are newcomers to yoga can benefit from this video as well! Great exercises for all ages! What a beautiful tape. It's her best! It's great! It's so sweet with the children. It's great for adults too. For someone just starting out, it can't hurt them. They can't overdo themselves. Tell Wai Lana we loved it."




—www.parents-choice.org

Reviewer: The Dove Foundation, November 16, 2003

Synopsis: Children will enjoy working out with Wai Lana, the world's most-watched yoga teacher. With her warm and personable style, Wai Lana easily inspires her little yogis with a fun game of yoga. She has chosen poses that will entertain and delight children while stretching their growing bodies and muscle groups.

Dove Worldview: Wai Lana's soft, almost purring voice is enough to put most children into a mode of doing what she's showing them in the video. The children are delightful to watch as they stretch their bodies and relax in the sunshine. Cartoon character animals are used quite effectively to get her message across to the children and hold their interest. This is recommended for children 3-8 years of age. I can envision a school/nursery school using this in their curriculum on an ongoing basis.

Content Description: There are no objectionable elements in this video. In the event some parents might find the concept of yoga out of their range of experience, there is nothing of the mystical to be found in this video.

Dove Family-Approved. Suitable for all ages.



Wai Lana’s Little Yogis Kit
Reviewer: Dr. Toy (drtoy.com)

This unique yoga kit is based on a PBS series that encourages children to take up yoga. The kit includes a 60-minute video and yoga mat. It is designed to be a safe, easy, and fun way for your child to learn yoga. Pretend to be a cobra, bear, butterfly, bridge, tree, bow and arrow, and other fun things. The Yogi Mat has little cartoon yogis in action. It also comes with a convenient carrying bag and has an extra pocket for water and snacks. There will also be a CD coming out shortly; a collection of 21 songs that will encourage your child to dance, practice yoga, and relax as they ready for naptime. This kit is great fun and will help encourage your child's concentration and relaxation methods. It is a great tool for developing their bodies, focusing their minds, and improving balance. They will be exercising without realizing that it is one of the most important activities that they can engage in. This product is of the highest quality and is definitely a contribution for any time of the year.






Reviewer: The National Parenting Center, Spring 2004

Wai Lana, one of the pioneers in the world of instructional yoga, has brought her skills to the younger set with this all-in-one kit. Bundled together are a yoga mat, an instructional video, and a poster that illustrates positions and exercises. Testers really liked the feel and texture of the mat and were eager to get started. Wai Lana is accompanied in the video by children who appear to really be enjoying themselves. This enthusiasm rubbed off on our testers, who picked up on the instruction quite rapidly.


Reviewer: Coalition for Quality Children’s Media

Wai Lana’s Little Yogis DVD, Volume 1

Description:
Introduces the whole family to yoga. Kids stretch and strengthen their growing bodies, sharpen their minds and improve their balance and coordination. These are healthy habits with life long benefits.

KIDS FIRST!™ Adult Juror Comments:
Very imaginative, relaxing, and fun! Addresses breathing and physiology. Well organized, flows well. Short segments good for this age. Adults enjoyed participating as well. Beautiful setting.

KIDS FIRST!™ Kid Juror Comments: Fun. "I like to exercise. It's good for your body." "I liked the animal stretches; the Beetle and Butterfly were my favorites." "I like the songs, especially the snake one.”

"Endorsed Title" rating: 2 stars

Wai Lana's Little Yogis DVD, Volume 2

Reviewer: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 8, 2003

All year we've been reviewing fitness videos. We've come away sore, energized, and sweaty from some; confused and disappointed by others. Here are our picks for the best as the year winds down and you start thinking about videos as gifts.

Best Workout for Kids: Wai Lana's Little Yogis

This playful workout has kids pretending to be cobras, bears, butterflies, and beetles as they stretch and strengthen their growing bodies. It's not going to wear out your kids, but they'll have fun playing along and the video may help them develop the habit of exercise.



Top 15 Toys for Kids
Reviewer: Canadian Parents Online, November 2003

Something for everyone on your list

With so many toys to pick from at this time of year, it is hard to know where to start. Do we buy the latest fads, or do we encourage our children to fill their lists with the kind of toys we think will last long past the Christmas holidays and into the new year? A good combination of the two is the way to go—especially if the "fad" is a toy you know will still be in the mix the day after Christmas.

To help you find some of the best toys of the season, we played, we talked, we listened, and we explored. The result is a list of toys we think you will find helpful. Not only are many of these items heirloom toys that are meant to be played with, but toys to encourage development and family fun. Yoga for a New Generation
Reviewer: Children's Digest, November/December 2003

Check out Wai Lana's Little Yogis video—an hour of pure fun. By pretending to be different animals like cobras, bears, and butterflies (as well as other fun things like balloons, bridges, and trees), you will stretch and strengthen your body, sharpen your mind, and improve your balance and coordination—without even knowing you're exercising. There's also a kit that includes a mat, poster, tote bag, and the video.



Reviewer: SanityCentral.com, November 2003, January 20, 2004

It's no secret that the fitness staple of the Hollywood set—YOGA—has swept the general adult populace. Once the domain of lithe lovelies like Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna, and Jennifer Aniston, yoga classes are springing up as quickly as Starbucks franchises, and people are running to them like lemmings to the sea, or rather like downward dogs to the mat.

That there are also endless videos available for those who wish to achieve their inner peace and awkward positions in the privacy of their own homes is no surprise. I was, however, a bit skeptical when a children's yoga video made its way to our review desk. Children? YOGA? Right, I thought—the only way a child is going to stay interested is if the instructor is SpongeBob SquarePants!

With apologies to both Wai Lana and SpongeBob—was I ever wrong.

Using my own three children as yogi guinea pigs, I popped the video in after school. Clad in comfy clothes and bare feet, we hit the PLAY button and began ...

Wai Lana—an accomplished instructor and star of the world's most-watched yoga television series—has combined the elements of animation, music, rhyme, participation, and fun in this highly enjoyable video. Surrounded by children, against a tropical background of surf, sun, and palm trees, Wai Lana's quiet yet commanding voice leads both children and adults through one position to another.

Yes, I said adults. I was right there between my kids, totally enjoying achieving and holding each pose. We all giggled together as we became balloons, bridges, and even trees. When the video was over, the girls all chorused their approval and something even more surprising—a desire to do it again the next day. Since that first day, Little Yogis has become the afternoon staple in our home. Forget Nickelodeon—we are NickelYOGIing!

Their gymnastics instructors have pointed out increased balance and stretching abilities in each of my girls, and their soccer coaches have noted increased stamina and coordination. I have noted an increased sense of calm and well-being (in ALL of us)—not to mention a wonderful afternoon date with my children each day.

So give your children the gift of health, harmony, and a heck of a great alternative to just sitting and watching TV! Would make a great holiday gift for ages 3 to 8!
—SanityCentral.com, November 2003


Top Pick.
Reviewer: EdutainingKids.com, November 2003

We can all benefit from some techniques to reduce tension in our lives—even our kids. The recent popularity of the timeless art of yoga is proving itself to be more than just a fad. Wai Lana, a master yoga instructor who has her own PBS series, teaches children some yoga basics in Wai Lana's Little Yogis, a mesmerizing video that has proven very fashionable with our kid testers. We've owned the video for approximately a month, and my own children pop it in almost daily after school. They love learning the different poses, especially the ones in which they "become" animals.

The video's customized yoga exercises are explained and demonstrated by Wai Lana, and a group of children follow along. Happily, the kids are quite natural and don't always perform perfectly—they look like they are having fun. Animations, and often songs, introduce each new activity and pose, such as Making Cake, Relaxation Pose, and Daydream Pose. Kids trumpet like elephants, blow an imaginary flute, and roar like a lion as they learn to get in touch with their bodies and their minds. There are plenty of opportunities to practice balance and coordination. The camel vignette begins with a special stretch as Wai Lana discusses camels with the kids. The Roly-Poly Bear pose involves lying down on the back and rolling slowly from side to side. Kids pretend to be a bear getting ready for his big sleep—hibernation. This exercise would be an excellent pre-bed exercise for kids—it allows kids to stretch and relax as the pose loosens the neck and strengthens the stomach. Helpful tips for better living are included in addition to general suggestions for getting the most out of yoga. The video is available as a stand-alone product or in a kit along with a sponge yoga mat, video tote, and a colorful poster.

The basic yoga poses help children (and any adult following along!) release tension, strengthen their growing bodies, improve their balance, and develop coordination. We are thrilled with the video and feel it belongs in every family's home. Both the physical and musical backdrops create a relaxing mood and setting, although the video is not without its share of fun. Children can do a yoga dance, roar like a lion, and bake an imaginary cake, for example. Outstanding!
—EdutainingKids.com, November 2003


Reviewer: KidsAndKaboodle.com, November 2003

Here at KidsAndKaboodle.com we get quite a few products sent to us for review on the site. Recently we received a product that I was very excited about. It's Wai Lana's Little Yogis Kit for children. The kit includes a children's yoga mat, Little Yogis video, asana poster with different exercises, and a cute tote to store everything.

I have to admit I was a little skeptical when I first looked at the video in the box, so I put it to the test with my 5-year-old son. We absolutely loved it!!!! We both did the entire hour-long video that night. The video is broken down into many different exercises, each introduced by an adorable, catchy animation. Wai Lana does an excellent job of keeping children's attention while showing them some great exercise in the process. One rainy day I decided to take the video to work (I teach preschool to 16 three-year-olds). We broke the children up into groups of five and did the video. I couldn't believe how interested they were in watching and participating!

I was so thrilled with Little Yogis that I emailed the company and told them how much I liked their product. They kindly supplied us with three yoga kits to give away for the next three months! Little Yogis is targeted for children ages 3 to 8 years old, but I have to say I think I enjoyed it as much as they did! The Little Yogis Kit would make a great holiday gift for any child.


"Little Yogis" Introduces Children to Yoga
Reviewer: Metro Augusta Parent, November 2003

In the last few years, yoga has become a mainstream exercise trend, with exercise studios cropping up in even small-town America and yoga instructional videos filling the shelves of even big-box retail giants. So it was just a matter of time before the kids asked to play, too. Wai Lana, one of the best-known yoga instructors in the world, has released a new video, Wai Lana's Little Yogis, which is a real treat. Children learn yoga positions through play, pretending to be lions, bridges, cobras, bears, and trees, coached by Wai Lana's soothing voice and contagious enthusiasm. Most enjoyable are the children in the video, who act, well, just like kids. They make occasional mistakes, sometimes get distracted by other things around them, and make this a charming way to introduce your family to yoga. Adult beginners may also appreciate this fun approach to stretching and strengthening the body.
—Metro Augusta Parent, November 2003


Reviewer: barebabies.com, November 2003

Wai Lana is a master yoga instructor who has had her own PBS series for many years. In this video she teaches kids yoga basics that will help your child stay fit and also provide them with a means of relaxation they can use for the rest of their life. The video is full of animations and songs that assist in demonstrating the various yoga techniques featured. Through these poses kids can practice being a multitude of different animals, which will not only engage their creativity, but also provide a fun way of practicing balance and coordination as well as releasing tension and strengthening their bodies. The Roly-Poly Bear pose will be especially helpful for those times when parents have difficulty getting their kids to bed. Kids will be able to pretend being a bear going into hibernation, which allows them to stretch and relax so that they can get the most restful sleep possible. The video combines informative information with all-out fun activities that will keep your child entertained for years to come.
—barebabies.com

Reviewer: New Times Naturally, November 2003

Wai Lana's Little Yogis: Video that fulfills every parent's dream. Here's a safe, fun, challenging, and healthful activity that benefits all of the kids in your life ... even big kids like you. A fun game of yoga. The poses Wai Lana has chosen for Little Yogis will entertain and delight your kids while working to strengthen their growing bodies. For ages 3 to 8.
—New Times Naturally, November 2003


Wai Lana’s Playful Yoga Video Is a Good Introduction for Kids
Reviewer: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 29, 2003

Wai Lana, longtime host of the PBS series Wai Lana Yoga, designed this program to bring the body-toning benefits of yoga to kids, with just enough fun to keep them interested.

The video begins with a question-and-answer session with questions only kids would ask, such as “What if I have to go pee-pee?” during the workout.

Then an animated segment introduces each move with a catchy song, sung by Wai Lana. After that we see Wai Lana surrounded by children in a park with the ocean in the background, teaching them the moves and doing them several times so the children can perfect them.

Wai Lana teaches in a very interactive way; for instance, she has kids blow up a balloon and slowly let the air out of it to show them how to breathe correctly while doing the poses.

This playful workout has kids pretending to be cobras, bears, butterflies, and beetles as they stretch and strengthen their growing bodies.

As we hear more reports of the growing obesity of children, it seems important to get kids moving in any way possible. Wai Lana’s Little Yogis is a great way to introduce fitness to your kids.
—St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 29, 2003

Worried about your kids becoming unhealthy couch potatoes? Give them an early start in yoga with Wai Lana's Little Yogis. The PBS host has released an hour-long tape that serves as a fun introduction to yoga techniques, perfect for parents to do with their kids. (It's also available as part of a Little Yogis Kit that includes a yoga mat and poster.)

The video takes viewers through several poses, many based on animals (a kid favorite). But just because it's for kids doesn't mean it's easy. Parents following along should take Wai Lana's advice early in the tape to heart: Don't overstretch, and if it hurts, don't do it. Remember this when trying the Camel, Bow, and Roly-Poly Bear especially (I speak from experience).

Wai Lana doesn't just teach positions, she also engages viewers and the kids in the video with her questions and interesting tidbits (the Lion supposedly will help stave off a cold). Find it at www.wailana.com. GRADE: A-
—The Detroit News, October 2, 2003

While adults are practicing their yoga exercises, this video will provide some healthy activity for the children in the family. Yoga helps children develop strength, balance, flexibility, and concentration and encourages a more focused, peaceful approach to exercise. Children ages 3 and older will enjoy simple and safe positions shown in the video. With the current emphasis on children's weight control and exercise, Wai Lana has come up with the perfect solution to changing our lifestyles.
—Parent’s Guide, September 2003