Family and youth yoga
Some local studios that offer family or youth yoga classes:
Day Yoga (Dayton and Vandalia): www.dayyogastudio.com/
Inner Dance Yoga Center (Oakwood): www.innerdanceyoga.com/
Indigo Yoga (Beavercreek): http://indigoyogadayton.com/
Child’s pose takes on a whole new meaning during Mommy and Me yoga class.
“All little kids do ‘down dog’ as part of their natural development, this calls attention to that movement,” Inner Dance Yoga instructor Jennifer Mesaros said. “It’s about keeping the yoga we are born with alive and giving it a name.”
Sure, a giggle might interrupt the tranquil music from time to time and certain poses might pose a problem for some of little yogis, but that’s OK.
“We relax expectations here,” Mesaros said of her toddler/preschool yoga series.
That’s not to say it’s a free-for-all.
“It’s not chaos. If it was it wouldn’t work,” Dayton mom Elizabeth Herr said. “Jennifer has a wonderful way of keeping the mood and atmosphere light, but also help the parents and kids stay focused.”
Inner Dance Yoga Center, in Oakwood, is one of several local studios that offer parent/child yoga classes.
“It has always been a dream of mine to offer a strong family program at the studio and Jen has been a big part of its growth,” said Debbie Stirsman, owner and instructor at Inner Dance Yoga Center.
From infants to preschoolers, yoga studios and recreation centers offer classes where caregivers practice side-by-side with their child. Beyond the family classes, studios like Indigo Yoga, in Beavercreek, and Day Yoga, in Dayton, also offer yoga classes for kids and tweens. So it’s easy for young yogis to get their “Om” on.
Me time
Sleepless nights with newborns and the trying terrible twos, the exuberance of preschoolers and the angst of teenagers – parenting can be a full-time job and then some.
“One of the biggest things, for many of moms, is that we don’t make time for ourselves,” Herr said. “This class is good for us and our kids.”
Kettering mom Marcela Shirley always looked forward to her yoga time with daughter Sophia, 2.
“One of the biggest things was that I could relax, even with my baby by my side,” Shirley said.
That is one of Mesaros’ main objectives.
“Motherhood is an exciting and fun time, but it’s also a challenge,” Mesaros, a mother herself, said. “I want this class to give them a chance to be calm and present even when they have their child with them.”
Parent-child classes can also lay the foundation for a lifetime of fitness.
“The more a child sees their mom taking care of herself, the better off they will be,” Mesaros said. “Something like yoga can become part of the family dynamic.”
Child’s play
From breathing to bending, the benefits are numerous for young yogis.
“A great benefit for the kids is creating an awareness of their breathing,” Herr said.
Amy Anslinger, a Childlight certified yoga instructor who has been teaching kids yoga classes for three years at the Creative World of Montessori in Miamisburg and Beavercreek, agrees.
“They can use the basic breathing technique to calm themselves down,” Anslinger said. “Yoga also improves strength and flexibility and creates body awareness.”
The noncompetitive nature of yoga can also beneficial.
“Letting go of competition and not putting any expectations on yourself can be a good thing,” Anslinger said. “It’s not about who does it best, it’s about listening to your body.”
Yoga can also be a coping mechanism for dealing with emotions or stress.
And then there is the socialization.
“The other babies, they became like family,” Shirley said. “It was really nice for both of us to be a part of the class.”
The rewards for the instructor are also plentiful.
“I have a blast,” Mesaros said. “And as long as I can get a 2-, 3- or 4-year-old to sit still and breathe deeply, I’ll keep teaching this class,” she said with a smile.
About the Author