“The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout to ask the universe what it’s all about. The stars in the sky said, ‘Life is great,’ so the itsy bitsy spider went home to meditate.” Sounds like one cool spider. He must live in Austin.
As a matter of fact, he does . . . In the children’s yoga classes at Austin’s “locally om’d” Yoga Yoga where babies learn these words to a traditional rhyme (my daughter is confused by the “real” version) as they dance, play, and get their yoga on.
Have you ever done yoga yourself? If you have, you know the bliss of rockin’ a challenging asana, or chilling out in a relaxing savasana. Yoga Journal published an article on the effects of yoga in children, pointing out how it counters so many of the pressures on their often over-scheduled and busy little lives. In the article, Marsha Weinig writes:
Children derive enormous benefits from yoga. Physically, it enhances their flexibility, strength, coordination, and body awareness. In addition, their concentration and sense of calmness and relaxation improves. Doing yoga, children exercise, play, connect more deeply with the inner self, and develop an intimate relationship with the natural world that surrounds them. Yoga brings that marvelous inner light that all children have to the surface.
At Yoga Yoga, there are four types of children’s classes offered at different times and locations throughout the week. Depending on the age of your child, you can choose from Postnatal (6 weeks old to crawling), Crawlers and Toddlers (up to age 2), Parent and Child ages 2-4, and Children’s yoga ages 5-8. (Kids 9 and up can accompany their parent to an adult class with a signed waiver).
What do these classes actually look like? Well V and I have been going since she was 7 weeks old, so can only personally tell you about the two younger classes (Postnatal and Crawlers/Toddlers). These teachers segment their classes into “mommy yoga” and “baby yoga” sections, so don’t think you aren’t going to work your own asana! For example, local singer and yoga teacher Hannah Williams focuses on getting moms back into shape after childbirth by leading sun salutations with a charming animal rhyme that enchants the children, while DeLora peppers her classes with Kundalini breathing and movements to help mamas with the burdens and stresses of new motherhood. (The Wall Street Journal even reviewed Yoga Yoga’s postnatal classes alongside two New York yoga studios and a YogaKids DVD in 2010.)
What’s nice about these classes is that they don’t expect your child to be anything other than what he is. Yes, Delora invites the kiddos to ring a gong bowl and shows them how to do “tree,” but there is an understanding that kids are kids and that kids cry, run around, and create general havoc. As Delora often says, a kid’s yoga class is often the best place to practice yoga because it is just a microcosm of our lives as mothers: in the midst of the chaos, we have to somehow keep our balance and remember to breathe.
If you have older kiddos, you can sit more on the sidelines as they take over their own practice with songs and stories, and can even stay in the lobby for a moment of peace and a glass of Yogi Tea during a 5-8 class. Maek, who teaches a 2-4 class, shares stories and songs, often playing for the children on his Native American flute or even playing “Magic Carpet Ride.” Jenny O., who teaches a 5-8 class, takes kiddos a bit further into their yoga practice and even begins to introduce them to meditation.
I know that our weekly classes at Yoga Yoga will be one of the biggest things we miss when we leave Austin although I may just be a bit biased because I used to work there. . . but when I look at how naturally flexible V is as a baby, I just want to keep her that way with every “toes to nose” exercise we do. And when she sings and moves along to the sun salutation song, I know that soon enough she will have the strength and ability to do entire sun salutations herself. Kids run around doing yoga almost every minute anyway, so it is natural to channel that into these songs and activities they can take with them throughout their lives, and Yoga Yoga does it every week at a studio near you. (Oh and PS, you can be late to any baby class and still get in, and without any dirty looks! They’re just as happy as you are that you made it out the door with your little one). 😉
So do your kids do yoga? Where do they take class? (A review of the kids classes at Kula Yoga is coming soon– stay tuned!)
