The Mosman Daily
March 30, 2006

Playful yoga for young ones
by Jane Igoe

If you listen carefully in kindergartens on the lower North Shore you will hear children hissing like snakes and barking like dogs.

They could also be performing a child-friendly version of a downward dog or a butterfly pose - all while being encouraged to use their imagination and creativity.

"I think kids yoga classes are becoming more in demand," Kim McCormick of Magic Monkey Yoga Kids said. "What makes them different to the adult classes is that the yoga is adapted especially to make it fun."

She said children would move, pretend and transform themselves into each yoga pose.

"Through the movement and playfulness of the class, they can let go of the tension in their bodies and minds."

Yoga for pre-school aged children aims to develop body awareness,
co-ordination, balance and confidence. Classes end with a relaxation technique very different from other forms of exercise.

"The children have the chance to make sounds like the animals - they get to enjoy it all," Ms McCormick said.