Over the last 10 years, yoga has made quite the impression on the western world. Whether you prefer the hot, fast-paced flow of power yoga, or take a more spiritual approach, the end result is always healing.
Kids’ yoga is not a new idea, although it’s surprisingly rare. Yoga, in general, promotes physical health, self-awareness, balance, mental sharpness and spiritual growth – regardless of religious beliefs.
Stretching removes blockages, improves posture and allows blood to flow, while holding poses that target different muscle groups strengthens and tones the body. Sounds pretty great, huh? So let’s share this little gem with the people we love the most: our kids.
Mini Me Yoga was founded in 2009 by UK native Kate Bartram-Brown. Kate’s mission was to bring joy to the lives of children. She realized the best way to do this on a large scale was to give them an early introduction to a practice that would help them to be more aware of their bodies, better deal with stress and the emotional turmoil that comes with growing up, and to be kind and accepting of others.
This was yoga.
In addition to the internal benefits, these kids would grow up accustomed to physical fitness as a habit, and would be less likely to form unhealthy attachments to food, substances – and even people. The next step was figuring out how to make this happen.
Mini Me Yoga couldn’t just be a teacher-training program, or a way to get licensed in kids’ yoga. It would have to be more accessible. Parents, grandparents, childcare providers and school teachers needed to be the ones to introduce yoga to the children of the world. She created the two-hour workshop to teach her audience how to do just that.
The program began to spread across Europe, then to the Middle East and now Canada. Finally, the Ambassador program was created as a training for those who wished to teach the workshop, rather than just participate. It was a way to gain more awareness (and to give parents and teachers a way to make extra money, too).
Mini Me Yoga is now available in North America. Workshop instructors, aka Ambassadors, are popping up all over the nation. Parents and teachers do not have to have yoga experience to begin this journey with their kids and the kids in their communities! Go to the Mini Me Yoga website to find a program in your area, or start one yourself by going through the four-week online training where you’ll receive Magick Yoga Cards to hand out in your workshops, access to free printable marketing tools and materials, tips on how to market your yoga business, and Ambassador status with Mini Me Yoga International.
We work every day to make life better for our children, and to give them opportunities to be healthy and happy on a long-term scale.
I’m thrilled that this program is being offered across different parts of North America so that we all have more support in bringing truly healthy habits to our kids from an early age.
DISCLAIMER: While this is not a sponsored post, because I was not compensated to post it, one of the people involved in the MiniMe Yoga organization is a friend of mine. I posted this because I believe in the value of yoga and the positive benefits it can offer our kids.
Jill says
Just saw this post and had to ask–where can I go to take a yoga class WITH Ben & Chloe (7&4yo respectivel)?!?!
Mommy Gearest says
HM! Good question…let me find out where they are in the T-dot!
Jill says
Just saw this post and had to ask–where can I go to take a yoga class WITH Ben & Chloe (7&4yo respectivel)?!?!
Mommy Gearest says
HM! Good question…let me find out where they are in the T-dot!