Wednesday, September 18, 2013 Last updated: Wednesday September 18, 2013, 2:18 PM

Photos: Yoga with toddlers in Edgewater

CARMINE GALASSO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Eva Perez, 2, and her dad, Frank Perez of North Bergen, following Adra Lemos' yoga class in Edgewater.

During a recent fitness class taught by Adra Lemos, a group of kids ages 18 months to about 5 years pretended to go on a jungle adventure. Sitting on the grass of the Marina Park in Edgewater, Lemos stretched her arms and legs into a "V" and said, "I think there is a river in our jungle and we're going to get into our boat and row!"

Kids and their parents complied, rowing their own V-shaped bodies with their arms creating the position known as Paripurna Navasana, one of the core poses in yoga.

"In kids' yoga I always make up some poses, but then I throw out a lot of real ones too," said Lemos, who teaches classes through her company, We Play Yoga, in her home studio as well as libraries, parks and other locations in Bergen County.

Yoga classes for kids are everywhere, for ages from infant to teenager. Yoga practitioners say the classes help children be calm, centered, focused on their bodies, strong and flexible.

"I think it also helps build confidence, self-esteem and self-awareness," said Lemos, who has been teaching yoga for three years and practicing for eight.

Crystal Streets, who was taking the We Play Yoga class in Edgewater, said she has practiced yoga for 10 years so it made sense to include her daughter, Lyra, 5. Not long ago the little girl saw an older friend having a tantrum and advised, " 'You have to calm down. Take deep breaths, like yoga,' " recalled Streets with a laugh.

Excerpt from:
Kids yoga classes in North Jersey are finding new popularity