Taran-osaurus Teaches Techniques Through Stories

Third-generation Montecito resident Taran Collis, a certified Yoga Therapist and Ayurveda Wellness Counselor, spent almost two decades teaching yoga and wellness to adults at La Casa de Maria and the Montecito YMCA before the debris flows from the Thomas Fire and later the pandemic interfered. 

What also changed things was having a son. Within a few years, she realized that you can’t ever really start too early with mindfulness techniques. 

Collis began volunteering at Cold Spring School over the last few years, teaching meditation and mindfulness every week with her son’s grade. 

“Within the first year, it was apparent how quickly they were picking up these practices and how they were utilizing them in their daily life,” she said. “Adults don’t implement the practices as much because we’ve got so many things in our toolkits. So when we learn something new, we think, well, I might try that. But kids in elementary school are just learning these emotions for the first time. They’re starting to actually feel what anxiety is and what it’s like to understand being angry.” 

Inspired by the kids, Collis created Mindful Adventures for the Family, a three-book series tailored not only for young readers, but also their parents and educators. The playful books serve as a guide for all ages through mindfulness techniques that instill calmness. 

The mindfulness practices and self-affirmations are woven through adventure stories, with the techniques showing up more organically to help children create pathways to emotional resilience, focus and inner peace. 

“It’s not a tutorial because they’re sort of hidden in the story,” Collis said. “The goal is to have fun, go through an adventure and end up experiencing the techniques in the process.” 

The protagonists in each of the books are dinosaurs. The reason is fairly obvious. 

“So many kids just love dinosaurs at age four or five,” Collis said. “My son is no exception. And it’s set up so that the kids are the sound effects in the story – they roar for the dinosaurs or make the sounds of a storm. And getting up and moving is also encouraged, which is also good for our health and well-being.” 

The last section of each book gives more information about each of the practices for the older kids and other family members. 

“The goal is to ultimately allow everyone, from the little kids to grandparents or teachers, to be reading the stories together so that everybody’s learning the practices at the same time,” Collis said. “Even teachers or educators can take a moment to learn the self-regulation techniques. Parents are actually sometimes equally appreciative of learning the tools.” 

Dinosaurs Have Big Feelings Too, the first book in Mindful Adventures for the Family, published earlier this year, embedded point holds to manage emotions. Book two, Dinosaurs Do Mindfulness Too, Mindful Techniques to Help You Chill Out, as its title suggests, focuses on five mindfulness techniques, including a smiling meditation, cooling breath, diaphragmatic breathing, and others. 

The book will be the focus of an afternoon story time event at Tecolote Books on September 13, where the story will be read aloud with lots of audience participation. 

“We’ll meet under the oak trees right in front of their store, which is such a beautiful place,” Collis said. “There’s a fountain and it’s really peaceful, which is perfect. I hope to get multi-generations to come out.” 

While all three books – which Collis wrote, illustrated and designed – are already available in electronic formats, the third installment, Dinosaurs Do Yoga Too: A Yoga Adventure to Manage Emotions and Build Self-Esteem, is still forthcoming in physical form. 

Later in the fall, Collis, who currently offers Yoga Therapy – merging the ancient practice of yoga with modern scientific research practice – will return to leading practices for groups of adults back at La Casa de Maria with a full-day Wellness Retreat slated for November 8. Those sessions will mark Collis’ first time back in that space since the mud flows devastated the beloved retreat center. 

Building an EPIC Board

EPIC Impact Society’s International Summit, which was held the last few years in Santa Barbara, went on hiatus this year. The Summit will return in 2026 in a new location of Rancho Tajiguas in the foothills above Goleta, once again gathering the collective community of international professionals from a cross-pollination of industries who empower creative leaders and inspire social change. In the meantime, however, EPIC’s Dennis Baker, a Montecito resident, has penned a new book, Building Your Board of Directors for Life, due from an imprint of Simon & Schuster. The book was written as a practical guide to cultivating a trusted group of mentors and advisors to support both professional and personal growth.

In an evening of inspiration, conversation, and community at The Well, 1505 East Valley Rd, in Montecito, Baker will engage in conversation with Dr. Steve Ralph, president of EPIC (Experiential Learning, Pause, Ingenuity, and Community Engagement), about the inspiration behind the book. They will discuss how the principles apply to leadership, mentorship, and living with purpose, and how curating a group of personal stakeholders in your life can help you become your best self. Light refreshments will be served, and signed copies of Building Your Board of Directors for Life will be available for purchase. The event takes place 5-7 pm on Wednesday, September 10.  

Visit https://thewellbybdantiques.com or www.yourboard4life.com.