Jodi the Yogi: Yoga for Kids!

Enjoying Story Time Yoga at Karma Kids Yoga

What might the world look like if an entire generation of young people grow up learning that their true power is found in being good to themselves and others?

That's the question the lovely ladies over at Jodi the Yogi are asking folks. That and other questions such as, "What have you learned from yoga that you wish you could share with a younger version of yourself?"

Jodi the Yogi is an "interactive health and wellness series that uses the practice of yoga to support the positive development of young children. The series will make the benefits of yoga accessible to kids all over the world," which is beyond cool. 

I remember the first time I took a yoga class. I was a junior in high school and working as an assistant ballet and jazz teacher at a ballet school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The ballet school offered unlimited classes to anyone who worked there and I would take advantage of that perk by signing up for different classes a few times a week. One day, I signed up for a beginning yoga class. I figured if I could become fairly good at the art of ballet and jazz, I could also take on yoga.

Boy, was that first class an experience for me.

For someone who had been dancing all those years, I realized that I had no idea how to control my breathing while attempting to hold new poises for an extended period of time. "Breathe into the poise," the instructor said to me. But I was hot and sweaty and trying desperately not to look like a fool. Breathing, unfortunately, was not at the top of my list. Throughout the remainder of the class, I kept saying that I was done with yoga, that I'd just stick to ballet and jazz.

But after the class, I decided that I needed to give myself time to learn the ins and outs of yoga. So I gave it another go. And while, I am not an avid yoga practice-r, I am happy that I stuck with it.

Not only did that little stint teach me another lesson in perseverance and resilience (y'all know I'm good for that!), but yoga has given me a better awareness of my body in ways that I never thought possible. Centering myself, focusing on my breathing, and meditating has helped me hone in on certain stress points, figure out their source, and not only figure out how to alleviate the stress, but also ways in which to deal with the stress source itself.

Yoga's pretty amazing in that way.

And I'm happy to share it with Aiden whenever we have the chance. 

Now it's your turn. What have you learned from yoga that you wish you could share with a younger version of yourself? Or your child? Or anyone else willing to listen? Visit the Jodi the Yogi website in order to learn all about the campaign and ways in which Jodi the Yogi wants to give kids everywhere free access to yoga. They are currently seeking any kind of donation in order to get this amazing project up and running.

Seriously. Visit the website and help out in any small way possible.

{Disclaimer: I was not compensated in any way for this post. All opinions expressed herein are my own.}