In the fall, winter and spring, my yoga practice means solitude.

My girls are in preschool and I have some alone time.

In the summer, yoga is a family event.

We take yoga outside to our patio, to Veterans Memorial Park or to our living room. Everyone has a mat. And like the perfect summer supper, we keep our practice light—nothing too serious. Laughter is the new “om.”

Yoga poses totally lend themselves to family fun, and you don’t need to be a yoga expert to pull together a fun practice. Take downward facing dog pose—it could be a dog that barks, walks and wags his tail. Or cobra—you can slither and hiss right on your mat, or even around the room. Warrior II becomes a surfer. Warrior III becomes Superman.

Meditation becomes a game of who can be still and quiet the longest. And savasana—well, we all become cooked spaghetti with limp arms and legs.

The best yoga poses are the ones my girls make up. Like a variation on cobra which my oldest calls the Little Mermaid (you flap your fin) or slow walking while in downward facing dog which becomes the famous Haddonfield dino, Hadrosaurus.

Family yoga truly becomes an exercise in creativity.

And the bonus: We are all in tune. We are all relaxed. We are all together.

All family yoga requires flexibility in mind and body. Your practice won't be quiet with kids along for the ride. But there is a calm that comes from being united together in one common activity.

If you are already a yogi (or yogini), invite your kids to practice with you. Give them a mat and teach them a sun salutation. Show them your favorite (and least favorite) poses. Invite your children to rename the poses.

Another great way to get kids moving and thinking is to grab their favorite story book and retell the story with yoga poses.

My favorite is The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. This story lends itself to all sorts of poses. You can cocoon in child’s pose, inch along in cobra and fly like a butterfly in bound angle. (For more tips on this book, read about Bug Yoga here).

If you want more direction, there are many great books and DVDs. One of my favorites is the Gaiam Kids: YogaKids collection which include "Yoga ABCs"—26 poses all inspired by each letter of the alphabet. Do the video with your children—it is a workout.

And the most “yogic” part—you are together, united in breath and movement all summer long.

Namaste.