UK YOGA MAGAZINE ARTICLE

Yogakidz – bringing yoga to the children. By Sarah Swindlehurst

Yogakidz is a young company based in the North West of England (aka South Lakes) which aims to introduce yoga to children in schools, before and after school clubs.

The children of today are facing more physical, mental, emotional and spiritual challenges than ever before. The world of technology is upon us and picking up at a pace which leaves many behind. The pace is quickening and we are trying to keep up – yet our beautiful bodies were not designed to sustain us at such a fast pace. Now more than ever is an important time for all of us to slow down a little and take it all a bit easier. If we continue to rush about like headless chickens we are certainly heading for burn out and dis-eases. Many adults go to yoga classes in order to de-stress and relax, so it seems our children also require a way of relaxing. Children today are under a lot of stress; homework, pressure to compete with other children (sport and academically), endless after-school activities, over-scheduling -- it all adds up. And just like their parents, children today are starting to turn to other modalities like Yoga to help them relax.

I had been practising yoga for 13 years and teaching Hatha Yoga to adults for over four years, when I felt a strong calling to teach my passion to children. Over the years yoga has helped me through many life challenges. I have submerged myself in the incredible practice of yoga and through it have become stronger physically, mentally and spiritually as a growing person. It was whilst I was pondering on my life and my purpose that I knew that I had to teach yoga at grass roots – yoga had always been the one thing that helped me through the toughest of times and knowing the power of practising yoga I knew that I wanted to introduce it to as many children as possible so that if they needed it, they too could find solace in yoga (and so in themselves).

Yogakidz was born one and a half years later in September 2007. The idea of Yogakidz is to show children not only how they can use the natural tool they were born with – their body and breath in order to maintain their health and aid their development into young adults, but also to provide them with the tools to deal with the issues they may face growing up. Yoga can help a child understand their individual development, mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Yoga practices and disciplines may help a child to develop better body awareness, self-control, flexibility and coordination. These children can then carry their new found skills beyond class and into their daily routines. Yoga can also help a child to feel secure when the world around them seems scary and difficult to understand.

Having taught children in and out of schools for over a year now I have been so happily amazed at the success it has brought in the community. These children of all ages (0 – 16) are really benefiting from the classes and it is such a joy to bring my passion into the school environment where I know and believe that the children are really reaping the rewards. I have seen very hyperactive children become so much calmer and more in control of their actions. All children just love challenging themselves physically and mentally. It is so beneficial for children as it helps to keep them supple (even sporty children can struggle to touch their toes) while the breathing techniques I teach can improve their concentration and energy levels. I do believe that it helps a child to cope with the pressures and stresses of family and school life, such as exams or performances.

My lessons vary depending on the behaviors of the children from day to day, as well as the schools differing environments. In all my classes the children learn sun salutations and I am very keen for them to learn the breathing that goes with them, e.g. when to inhale and exhale. They always learn a variety of postures that will increase their flexibility and strength, and I incorporate these postures into stories for them to act out which helps them to remember. They sometimes chop down the trees that they have just been practicing, turn themselves into bows, scare warriors by being tigers and lions and swim in the sea like fish and dolphins. All the while I am subtly educating them on how the postures received their names.

The classes are always loads of fun and occasionally we play yoga games such as “Simon Says…” and balancing catch. Balance plays a large part in every class, when we are busy focusing on others and what others are doing, we can sometimes neglect ourselves. They learn that balance is affected when they are looking at everything or everyone else and not concentrating on what they are doing in that moment and I encourage them to think about this when they are distracted in class.

In some of my secondary school classes we design yoga dances to their favorite songs, bringing in the yoga postures that they have already learnt in previous lessons and we sometimes then present the finished piece to the school. This can be a fantastic team building exercise and confidence booster.

Not only are the classes about moving the body into many marvelous positions but I also like to encourage the children to use their voices and do some sounding work with them. Working with the chakras and the vowel (a, e, i, o, u) sounds reminds the children how using their voice as an instrument can be used for health and healing. (On a personal note I activated my sleeping root chakra a few years ago and brought an immediate end to my eating disorders!). I feel I am continually inspiring children to find their voice while at the same time improve their postural awareness. By using their voice as a tool, this allows the children to explore another aspect of themselves, which is sometimes forgotten about. 

I have gained so many wonderful insights and learned so many great lessons while I have been teaching children how to look after their bodies, their breath and providing them with the tools to calm the mind. However recently I have realised that an important piece is missing from my curriculum. I felt that another important aspect key to health, optimal vitality and great wellbeing was through some nutritional input. So, further to my yoga teachings in and out of schools I have now introduced Nutrikidz to teachers, parents and children alike. 

Recent governmental figures show that, one in 10 children in Britain is obese by the age of 5 and one in three 11 year olds are overweight. Our children are becoming fatter and more health challenged due to unconscious choices made by parents and their children.

Nutrikidz is aimed at reminding/educating all ages of children what whole foods will serve them better than foods say from a fast food outlet.  This new work also reminds their teachers as well as their parents, the simple basic facts about improving their immune systems, through proper nutrition. The sessions are fun, interactive and informative and they invite the children to sample & enjoy natural whole foods. In these classes the children learn the basics of healthy eating and sample various alive foods – these children are introduced to new exciting foods that they may or may not have heard of let alone tasted or even seen before! 

At Yogakidz, we truly care about the health and fitness of our children and through yoga techniques as well as nutritional advice I believe these children become empowered with essential knowledge, which will become wisdom when applied in their daily lives. I am currently gathering a portfolio of yoga teachers in the Lancashire, Yorkshire & Cumbria area who are interested in teaching yoga to children, so if anyone is interested please contact me on 07922144384 or 01524 64529. Children look up to adults for tips on how to live and love, so I believe that just as Gandhi once said “We must be the change that we wish to see in the world”

Please see my websites www.yogakidz.co.uk and www.essenceyoga.co.uk for further information.