Kids Summer Yoga Workshop
Yoga teaches children stillness, equanimity, joy. The asanas and the philosophy behind them develop strength, flexibility, coordination, focus, and open-heartedness. In kids classes, we explore yoga asanas, breath awareness, meditation/visualization, stillness, vocalization (through sound effects, song, and chant), and playful games ~ all in a supportive environment emphasizing connectedness.
Dates> July 16-August 20, 2008
Time> Wednesdays 2-3pm
Where> Playtime Safari 5470 Nave Drive, Novato, CA 94949
Tuition> $95/ 6 week series due by first day of class (nonrefundable) or $18 Drop In (includes playtime at Playtime Safari that visit)
Registration> To pay with credit card or Paypal, please visit http://kidsyogasummer08.eventbrite.com To pay by check, please email wiseorchid at gmail dot com for address. A registration form with signed waiver is required for participation and will be emailed to you; it will also be available at class. Thank you!
About the Instructor
Antonia Kao is a certified yoga instructor who has been practicing yoga since 1990, working with kids since 1992, and teaching yoga to kids and adults of all abilities, including those with specific challenges such as visual impairment, since 2003. Antonia has studied with many veteran teachers including, at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore, India, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and his grandson Sharath Rangaswamy. She has completed teacher trainings at Avalon Yoga in Palo Alto and Sacred Movement in Los Angeles. In the past few years, she has worked with kids at the yoga studio Yoga is Youthfulness, the award-winning preschool Kindercourt, Bapuji Children's Orphanage in India, and the Santa Clara Emergency Housing Consortium.
Resources
Here's a link to Yoga for Youngsters (San Jose Mercury News, 31 July 2006) that features YiY kids yoga students and me.
Here are a few of my favorite kids yoga books for both parents and kids:
What, Where, When, How, Why, and Who to Remember to Be Happy by The Divine World-Teacher Ruchira Avatar Adi Da Samraj ~ a beautiful book for kids and adults about the namesake of the book. The illustrations in and of themselves offer a doorway to sensing "the Mystery"
My Daddy is a Pretzel by Baron Baptiste ~ written for kids with charming illustrations and an accessible storyline
Born Yogis by Susie Arnett, Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa ~ sweet photos of babies in yoga poses accompanied by inspiring and informative passages from classic texts
Here's a great overall resource for parents and older kids:
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Yoga with Kids
