When I came to Alysha’s children’s class at Yoga Village, I expected kids to be running all over the place and just playing games. I was surprised to see children imitating an easier, animal version of actual yoga poses. The children would first do the pose, then embody the animal and act out its characteristics. The energy and joy I witnessed during her class inspired me to sit down with the instructor, Alysha Tree-Stalsworth, and get an idea of why kids love yoga.
Q. What made want to start teaching children’s yoga especially?
A: I am a ceritified English teacher, K-12, and theatre teacher. So, I kind of fell into it after I went into teaching yoga and I had other instructors who knew I was in the school system and had asked me to teach children’s yoga with them. I continue doing it because I find teaching very fun and inviting and I love working with the kids.
Q. What do you think the kids enjoy most about the yoga classes?
A: I think kids like moving their bodies and exploring what their bodies can do. They find a lot of fun in imitating other animals and other people, making funny noises, or just acting silly. Anything goes in a kids yoga class; the boudaries are pretty open. Sometime we use toys or play games and it gives the kids a chance to just be themselves. They can be quiet with themselves and howl like monkeys (laughs).
Q. Why do you think the parents like puttitng their kids in children’s yoga classes?
A: I think that varies a lot. I have parents who bring their autistic children and they have really seen a change in attitude with their kids. [The autistic children] have become more alert and they have also learned how to take better direction and control themselves when they get upset. I have also seen the kids gain more confidens and gain a comfortability in moving their bodies and having fun.
Q. What are the main changes you see in kids after doing children’s yoga classes?
A: The kids become more focused and more physically and mentally flexible. They are so creative and are always saying “Let’s do this” or “Let’s make this pose”. They want to create their own poses and new shapes with their bodies, which also translates into creating ideas for themselves in school or at home.
We also sometimes do story yoga where we teach messages about peace and love and we talk about the ideas as a group and children are able to talk experience these concepts as a group. Then they go home and they actually take that knowledge and apply it at home. I’ve heard some really wonderful stories from parents about how their kid would just walk up to them randomly and say “I love you”. It’s awesome.
Thank you so much again Alysha! For more information, check out Alysha’s website.
Teaching kids to do yoga is good!
By: Guide to yoga on December 20, 2011
at 4:58 am