NEIGHBORHOOD YOGA - START TEACHING. WHAT'S YOUR MISSION?

Mission
When I first began a children's yoga class in my neighborhood - there were none in existence within three or so miles.
My Mission was to build a stronger community by bringing affordable yoga to children, youth and adults in a friendly neighborhood environment.

Yoga MidCity, though its inception started in Mid-City, Los Angeles, is a model for every neighborhood.
It lights on your city, works with your community and empowers your children to know and love themselves and their environment.

Why Become a Teacher of Children's Yoga?
It is no question that yoga of all origins and styles is sweeping our country and becoming an accepted and appreciated tool for any person who starts a regular practice. From the work-force in the Mainstream to the lone soul searcher, to the former athlete, dancer, senior citizen, yoga is offered to you and your community. Not until recently though, have our young children and youth been factored into the equation. Those would likely need yoga as much, if not more, than we do.
Thankfully, in the past few years, has there become a rapidly growing demand (actually surpassing the supply) of solid, experienced and devoted yoga teachers for youth.
Today, the doors are wide open for children’s yoga – from public and private schools to community centers, Children’s Homes, Sunday Schools, to juvenile detention and rehab centers. And now, with concrete evidence that yoga and meditation taught in schools helps improve students’ performance on multi-levels, the need for children’s yoga will only increase.

We have been privileged to be at the front lines of this process. Our experience and success with teaching yoga to youth in multi-settings has only further convinced me that Kundalini Yoga is a special fit for children: the vigorous yoga kriyas coupled with meditation and deep relaxation are a perfect fit for young, energetic bodies and active minds. For those children in difficult situations, this yoga helps them kick out any surplus of negativity, fear, anxiety, anger and rage, depression and other undeserved pressures which trickle down onto their young minds from society.

We have seen the effects this powerful yoga has on our students and have noted ongoing progress in their lives as a result of a weekly practice. It is our unwavering obligation to share and spread these teachings and techniques to communities who are underserved in this area.
FROM: Light Leaders Teacher Training Manual
Crystal D'Angora and Blaire Baron Larsen
Training Teachers for all communities across the globe
www.lightleaders.com

Blaire Baron YOGA MIDCITY FOR YOUTH: NOT JUST POSE AFTER POSE AFTER POSE!

Blaire Baron YOGA MIDCITY FOR YOUTH: NOT JUST POSE AFTER POSE AFTER POSE!

NOT JUST POSE AFTER POSE AFTER POSE!

YOGA IS A UNION - Not Just one Pose after the other. 

Being connected with your Self is the point.  Play does that. 

A Teacher's interests, hobbies, passions and skills, outside of yoga, when introduced in a playful spirit, are useful before the actual yoga starts. 

My training in theatre has given me tools for all different ages – ice breaker games, brain stimulating games, confession games – all these have created a safe place for each group to express themselves, sometimes verbally, sometimes, nonverbally, with their bodies. Sometimes the kids want the games more than the yoga because they are connecting to each other - but the games open them up and lighten their mood - then they are willing to do the yoga set.

After the group has learned the game – or just when they feel they have mastered it and the class starts to become predictable, i found it is very effective to switch the games, enlist some of the class members to lead in the games or invent something entirely new on the fly. 
blaire baron larsen, ikyta, ryt. Light Leaders Master Trainer