Yoga for kids and families: Options are increasing in Portland area

Posted: July 2, 2012 at 3:15 pm


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Yoga is taking on a family feel in the Portland area, with more classes catering to kids and families -- and at least one open to babies.

Mama and Me Yoga runs 75 minutes, from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Sundays, so that moms can bring babies and care for them during class -- change a diaper, nurse -- while still getting enough time to work out, Heagberg said. The class also incorporates a few mother-baby activities, such as infant massage and exercises for connecting with baby and developing baby's motor skills.

Women between six weeks and 18 months postpartum will get the most out of the class, Heagberg said.

The class also differs from traditional yoga in its focus on the core. "I talk about getting reacquainted with your abs," Heagberg said. She also helps new moms modify poses -- "it might not be comfortable if they're breastfeeding to lie on their chest."

Whether new moms are going to classes or practicing yoga at home, Heagberg advised them to stop worrying about how their bodies look or fitting back into skinny jeans. "Focus on making a strong connection with your body -- everything will come from there," she said.

Postpartum is also not the time to stress about nailing Warrior Two. "Do what (poses) you need that day," Heagberg advised. And with a baby at home or alongside, an hour-long yoga session can seem as unachievable as scaling Mount Everest. "Little 10-minute yoga breaks are OK," Heagberg said.

Zenana also offers a kids yoga class, for ages 2 to 12, that Heagberg has observed. That instructor uses child-size mats and makes a game out of getting into poses to make the class as fun as possible, she said.

Kids also can try yoga through Yoga Playgrounds, which partners with the Multnomah County Library and schools to offer classes.

Leslie Wilda, owner of Yoga Playgrounds, said she's seen increasing interest every time she does a free children's yoga class at a library branch (check with individual branches for times and dates). At a recent yoga-and-storytime class she led at the Central Library, she counted 84 children.

In her classes, Wilda said, she might do any of the following: Read aloud stories then match movements to the characters or actions; incorporate games; give kids a pose and let them "play within the pose"; lead conversations about how the kids are feeling about their bodies that day; pair movements with the kids' energy level.

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Yoga for kids and families: Options are increasing in Portland area

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July 2nd, 2012 at 3:15 pm

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