The Kids Wellness Podcast is your hub for creating happier, healthier lives for children. Hosted by Giselle Shardlow M.Ed., founder of Kids Yoga Stories, this podcast features inspiring guests from all areas of children’s health and wellness. Whether you’re an educator, pediatric therapist, yoga instructor, counselor, parent, or anyone working with kids, each episode offers practical tools, engaging stories, and expert insights to help children thrive emotionally and physically. Join us as we explore easy-to-implement wellness practices to create calm spaces, foster resilience, and support young minds and bodies.
Absolutely Love It!
“Absolutely love Giselle’s new Kids Wellness Podcast! I have been listening on my way to and from work for about a week and a half. The guests provide enriching information and heartwarming methods. Today I was pleasantly surprised to hear #11 is a Mindful Monday edition! I found it so relaxing and brought happiness to my heart to think of all people with gratitude. It recentered my attitude for arriving home.
I can’t wait to listen to the next podcast, as I drive to work tomorrow. Bringing to this community has enriched my soul. Thank you.”Felt Energized!
“I just wanted to let you know that I tuned in to your podcast for the first time today to listen to the all-boy yoga class info. First, I want to tell you how welcoming and uplifting your voice is as the host. You were born for such a platform!!! I immediately felt my energy rise by the time you finished your first two sentences. I was drinking in all of the information from your guest. I totally agree with her observation that kids really want and need to be heard. Thank you for enlightening me on this important consideration when working with our students. I look forward to listening to all of the podcasts.”
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#069 Helping Children Befriend Their Worries with Catherine Cook-Cottone
Discover how to help children understand, manage, and even befriend their worries using mindfulness, movement, and self-awareness. Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Catherine Cook-Cottone, licensed psychologist, yoga therapist, and professor at the University at Buffalo, as they explore how anxiety shows up in children’s bodies, thoughts, and behaviors, and how we can support them with practical, research-backed tools.
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#068 Mindful Monday – Power of the Mind
In this special Mindful Monday, Giselle guides you through a simple yet powerful practice to help harness the power of the mind. Whether you’re an educator, parent, or anyone working with children, this practice is useful for exploration.
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#067 How To Teach SEL To Young Learners with Vanessa Levin
Social-emotional learning (SEL) is crucial for young learners, but navigating the current landscape can be overwhelming for educators.
Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Vanessa Levin, founder of Pre-K Pages, as they discuss actionable SEL strategies, insights from her years of experience, and practical resources from her Seeds of Success curriculum.
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#066 How Yoga Support Sensory Processing and Self-Regulation with Nicole Koleshis
Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Nicole Koleshis from Seattle Kids Yoga as they talk about how yoga transforms sensory experiences for children. Learn practical tips and get insights into integrating mindfulness and movement into your children’s lives from an experienced occupational therapist.
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#065 Mindful Monday – Mindful Writing
In this special Mindful Monday, Giselle guides you through a simple yet powerful practice to help you tap inside through mindful writing. Whether you’re an educator, parent, or anyone working with children, this practice is useful for exploration.
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#064 How To Help Children Thrive in the Digital Age with Rob LoCascio
Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Rob LoCascio, founder of KidCo.ai, as they explore the complicated relationship between children and technology. From Rob’s journey building a multi-billion-dollar AI company to walking away and creating a safer AI device for children, this conversation dives into addiction, values, balance, creativity, and how we move…
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#063 Strategies for Teen Mental Health from Clinical Psychologist with Emily Gordon
Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Emily Gordon, a seasoned clinical psychologist, as they discuss the intricate world of teen mental health. Explore successful strategies and shed light on what truly makes a difference in the lives of teenagers today.
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#062 Mindful Monday – Release Meditation
In this special Mindful Monday, Giselle guides you through a simple yet powerful practice to help you release and let go. 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.
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#061 How to Build an Emotional Toolkit with Jaime Amor of Cosmic Kids Yoga
Discover how yoga, mindfulness, and storytelling help children build emotional regulation and resilience with Cosmic Kids Yoga founder Jaime Amor. Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Jaime Amor, founder of Cosmic Kids Yoga, as they explore how yoga, mindfulness, and storytelling help children understand and navigate their emotions. Jaime shares her journey…
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#060 How to Create Play-Based Learning Experiences in Your Yoga Classes with Amy Nielson
Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Amy Nielson from Planning Playtime as they talk about the vibrant world of play-based learning. Discover practical insights for teachers, parents, and caregivers looking to ignite a love for learning in children in classrooms and kids yoga classes. Some highlights:– Amy Nielson explores the use of…
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#059 Mindful Monday – Just Be Meditation
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.
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#058 How to Teach Culturally Responsive SEL with Dr. Dawn Brooks DeCosta
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.
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#057 How to Lead Large Group Yoga Assemblies in Schools with Lauren Chaitoff
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.
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#056 How to Cater to 3 Lesser-Known Sensory Systems in Kids Yoga Class with Claire Heffron
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.
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#055 Mindful Monday – Feel Good Meditation
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.
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#054 How Occupational Therapy Enhances Social Emotional Learning in Schools with Heather Greutman
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…
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#053 School Trends 2025: 75% of Children Struggle with Self-Regulation with Margaret Rice
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.
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#052 – How to Create an Inclusive, Accessible, & Trauma-Informed Yoga Class with Larissa Noto
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?”
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#051 Mindful Monday – Love & Acceptance
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.
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#050 Be Unapologetically Impatient: Create Change with Courage & Compassion with Dr. Christina Cipriano
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.
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#049 Sugar, Autism, and Whole-Child Wellness with Dr. Joel Gator Warsh
Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories and Dr. Joel Gator Warsh, a board-certified pediatrician, as they discuss integrative pediatric health, focusing on finding balance between conventional and holistic approaches for children’s wellness.
From sugar and autism to the importance of open conversations, this episode covers practical strategies for supporting children’s health in today’s world.
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#048 How to Make Your Class Multicultural with Leanna Guillen Mora
Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Leanna Guillen Mora, founder of All Done Monkey and Multicultural Kid Blogs, as we talk about a popular topic that we hear from our community:
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#047 Mindful Monday – Greet the Day
In this special Mindful Monday, Giselle guides you through a simple yet powerful practice to help you greet the day. 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.
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#046 How to Create an After-School Mindfulness Club with JaTorra Commodore
Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and JaTorra Commodore, of Commodore Coaching, as they talk about an interesting topic: “How do we create a successful after-school mindfulness club?” JaTorra shares her story of how she created an after-school mindfulness club after leaving her position as an elementary school teacher after 20 years. With…
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#045 Exploring Mindfulness-Based Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in Education with Athea Davis
Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Athea Davis, a leader in Mindfulness-Based Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Co-Secretary of the Coalition of Schools Educating Mindfully (COSEM), to discuss the transformative power of mindfulness in education.
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#044 How to Reduce Anxiety in Early Childhood Classrooms with Colleen Smith
Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Colleen Smith of ChildLight Yoga as they talk about an important topic for our community of kids yoga teachers and early childhood educators: “How do we reduce anxiety in the early childhood classroom (with simple yoga and mindfulness activities)?” In this interview, Colleen Smith from ChildLight Yoga and BeLive Yoga shares her expertise on reducing anxiety in the early childhood classroom.
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#043 How to Add Picture Books to Kids Yoga Class with Jodie Rodriguez
Join Giselle Shardlow, founder of Kids Yoga Stories, and Jodie Rodriguez, founder of Growing Book by Book, as we talk about a popular topic that we hear from our community: “How do we capture the focus and attention of children while reading children’s books during a kids yoga session?”
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#042 Mindful Monday – Seize the Beauty
In this special Mindful Monday, Giselle guides you through a simple yet powerful practice to help you seize the beauty. Whether you’re an educator, parent, or anyone working with children, this meditation is a perfect way to reset, refocus, and manage stress.
