Take a breath… or two, or three!

01/17/2015

Guest Blogger: Jessica McIntyre, Studio Blue Yoga

Our fast paced lives give few opportunities for us to slow down, take a breath and reflect on the events or the emotions of the day. The same is true for our children. A typical day for a child could include a pre sunrise wake up, a 6 hour school day, followed by copious extracurricular activities, late night dinners and even later bedtimes – leading to tired and over stimulated toddlers.

Yoga is a holistic approach to offsetting the stress of our busy lifestyles, through breath, movement, stillness and relaxation. Kids Yoga, at Studio Blue Yoga, is practiced in a nurturing, stress free and supportive environment to encourage children to build self-confidence and self- love / acceptance. Yoga is not about perfection or competition, there is no winner or loser – it is about learning to be accepting of others and of ones self.

The following are a few key principles that yoga can teach or cultivate in our children:

Nourish creativity
Improve strength and flexibility
Increase self-confidence and self-esteem
Help to balance body and mind
Build coordination and balance
Increase body awareness
Teach self-acceptance and self-love
Increase awareness of breathing
Help to build concentration
Teach how to relax and reduce stress
Is lots of FUN!!
And more!

Parents Say:

“The 10:30am class time is perfect, a great way to start the morning. Sabine is 3 years old and I love the pace of the class, starting with fun games and playful poses, and ending with some brilliant meditation and calming techniques for toddlers and preschoolers. We especially love the ‘stars in a jar’ and the breathing exercises with the aromatherapy flower, which we now use at home when a tantrum is coming on.” – Ana Yuristy, High Park and Roncesvalle

“We lead busy lives and so does our toddler! She goes to daycare 5 days a week, has swimming lessons and practices gymnastics. To be honest, we weren’t sure whether or not our family needed yet another activity. Our lives were already so busy! But toddler yoga isn’t just another activity; it’s something so much more.” – David Fair, Long Branch

“At yoga, Evie is learning the art of calmness. Teaching a toddler to breathe, stretch and be still, yet strong, is quite rare. So many activities focus on running around, jumping up/down, shouting out songs, whereas yoga is teaches our toddler to focus, be peaceful and find that awesome connection between her body and mind. We spend a whole hour together, being totally present and calm. She absolutely loves it… And so do we!” – Tracy Saunders, Etobicoke

As you can see there are many benefits for children who do yoga. It is also advantageous for parents to be present so that they can not only spend quality time with their toddler, but they too are learning skills as well as new strategies to help their toddlers cope with stressors that are bound to arise throughout each and every day. This year, stop to take a breath or two with your toddler and reap the benefits of yoga in 2015.

About Studio Blue’s Kids Yoga

Studio Blue’s fun and playful Kids and Parent classes, led by Trunk To Tail Music & Yoga for Children, are filled with group activities including songs, games, mild postures, and partner activities. The Parent and Toddler (ages 1-3) class is offered every Sunday from 10:30am – 11:15am and NEW Kindergarten and Parent class (ages 3-5) will be offered every Sunday from 11:30am – 12:15pm, starting on January 25, 2015. Visit www.studioblue.co/about/ for class schedules and descriptions.

More about Jessica and Studio Blue Yoga

Conveniently located in Toronto’s Dundas West area, Studio Blue Yoga offers a variety of Yoga classes for all levels from Foundation Flow for beginners to more challenging Yoga, Yoga Camp (Yoga + Bootcamp), Ballet Yoga Fusion and even a yoga Class set to Hip Hop music. Studio Blue is dedicated to offer playful, positive and vigorous group exercise classes with certified instructors that channel their inner child in order to deliver nurturing and challenges classes for people of all physical fitness levels. Founded by Jessica McIntyre, a businesswoman turned yoga instructor, who completed a 500 hour intensive Moksha Yoga Training in Kerala, India and has been guiding people through her own practice ever since.