Turning Your Kids Into Downward-Facing Dogs

"Children do not respond well to a typical, adult yoga class. They love to jump, play and run around. So the challenge is finding ways to integrate playfulness into a calm 'yogi' environment," Allison Schubert, co-founder of the new Hastings Yoga Camp, said. "I've also found that the challenge in getting kids to be quiet and focused simply lies in the teacher's ability to be calm, flexible, and willing to go wherever the kids want to go."

Schubert and co-founder Michele Rafferty are hoping that where the kids will want to go is to their summer yoga program, Hastings Yoga Camp, located at the San Ken Ryu Karate School in the historical Moviehouse Mews on Warburton Avenue. The two instructors bring a wide range of experience to the camp. Rafferty, who has been teaching yoga for eight years, currently teaches kids yoga at the Hastings Farmer's Market. Her background is in dance, and she trained at the prestigious Laban Center in London.

"I consider myself a movement specialist," Rafferty said. "I do gymnastics, yoga, and dance."

Schubert, meanwhile, in addition to teaching yoga to kids all ages since 2006, has experience as an actress and a singer, and is trained in yoga for special needs children. She currently runs a "Mommy and Me" yoga class for children ages six months to three years.

Combined, the mix makes for a  unique and innovative camp experience. "The important thing about this yoga camp is that I have a performance background, a singing background," Schubert said. "And Michele dance background . Coming together, we're going to bring the yoga, dance, and some arts and crafts. Also, because of my other job where I teach violence prevention, we're going to bring add cooperation games."

At first glance, the thought of asking a bunch of 5, 6, or 7- year-olds calmly to bend and flex their bodies into the crane position may seem a bit daunting. Not so, said Schubert. "What's interesting about the human body is that as we begin life, we naturally come into these poses. I'm sure you've seen pictures of little kids and babies automatically coming into downward dog. It's a very natural thing for them in the beginning."

In fact, young children can get a lot out of yoga. There are the obvious benefits of greater flexibility and strength, of course, as well as improved hand-eye coordination and other motor skills, but perhaps the greatest benefits are more internal. "Yoga provides a way for children to connect with themselves and others," Schubert said. "Students of yoga improve their core strength, which helps to build self-confidence and the ability to make decisions."

Which is not to say that teaching yoga to young children is easy. Kids bring their own challenges to the art, particularly with regards to their shorter attention span. "You do spurts of stillness and then spurts of movement," Rafferty explained. "I incorporate dancing and movement into the yoga… because it's hard for kids to stay still."

"What I like about teaching kids is that they're very open--they'll try anything and there's no preconceived notion or thought about what we're going to do," Schubert said. "I think the only challenge is maintaining a focus, depending on what the activity is, but I think that's the normal thing for teaching anything to kids."

For even younger kids--aged 2 to 5--Rafferty's class at the Hastings Farmers Market is a great introduction to yoga.  Every Saturday in the patch of grass next to the band, Rafferty coaxes even the tiniest tots to balance, bend and follow directions.  The class begins at 9:15 a.m. and runs for about an hour, although it nearly always goes a little longer because the kids aren't quite ready to quit. 

The next camp dates are July 19-22, from 9am to 12pm for children aged 5 to 9. Optional early drop-off and late pick up are available. For more information, click here.