YOGA EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN, which was developed and implemented by Michele Hebert, has been an innovative program in Sonoma County, California's Kenwood Elementary School curriculum for the past four years.

In today's fast paced, stressful world, yoga is a valuable tool that supports our children in becoming healthy, confident, well-adjusted individuals. In addition, they are given powerful techniques to work with their own energy as well as how to be in community with others.

Each week, grades three through six participate in thirty minute yoga philosophy and asana practice classes. The photo at right was taken during a June 2005 class and appeared in a feature article in The Sonoma Index-Tribune. (Photo by Bill Hoban, The Sonoma Index-Tribune)

Michele has been teaching yoga philosophy, hatha yoga and yoga dance for thirty years. She began teaching children in 1980, at Walt and Magana Baptiste's Yoga and Health Center in San Francisco. Michele teaches primarily in California and Mexico, and has students from all over the world.

SESSION CONTENT
Each session involves an interactive discussion of an aspect of yoga. Topics include breath awareness, relaxation techniques, meditation instruction, visualization exercises and much more. Next, students are led in an asana practice. Postures are chosen which increase strength, flexibility, balance and body awareness. In this safe, supportive environment, students are given positive feedback and encouraged to work at their own level. Class often ends with students demonstrating their favorite posture.

PROFESSIONAL FEEDBACK
Teachers and parents report that children enjoy greater self-confidence, improved physical health, stronger academic performance, concentration and discipline as a result of their yoga practice.

CURRENTLY IN DEVELOPMENT
Plans are being made to expand this program into other schools in Northern California. We are also creating a one-day workshop to guide school teachers in sharing yoga with their students. CEC credit will be available. If you are interested in learning more about the program, or bringing yoga to your child's school, please contact us.

RESOURCES
Recommended Reading: Yoga Education For Children, Swami Satyananda Saraswati (Yoga Publ. Trust, Munger, Bihar, India)

Link: http://www.yogaed.org