Adult Rec Center Class starts Jan 21; Kids Library Program on Hold Until February

Chair Yoga Class with Age Well Services

I'm excited to announce that the Park de la Cruz Rec Center Chair Yoga class being coordinated with Age Well Service San Diego is finally getting up and running. The projected start date for the eight-week series in January 21 and it will run through March 11.

Chair Yoga Class

Fridays, 12:45pm-1:45pm

January 21-March 11, 2022

Location: Park de la Cruz Community Center (3901 Landis St., San Diego, 92105)

For adults 55 years and better. All levels are welcome!

Cost for 8 sessions: $30 (partial scholarships available). Includes fitness center usage.

Discover how yoga can strengthen your core, improve posture, and decrease stress and anxiety.

Call AgeWell Services, at 619-525-8247 or email thescroll@sandiego.gov  if you have any questions.

Go to www.sdrecconnect.com and use registration code 98464 to enroll for Virtual Yoga, and 98400 to enroll for In Person Chair Yoga.

The City of San Diego is committed to providing an equitable and inclusive environment for all individuals. Consistent with these principles and applicable laws, it is the City’s policy not to discriminate on the basis of any protected classification, including age, ancestry, color, creed, physical or mental disability, gender, gender identity, gender ex-pression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, veteran or military status, national origin, pregnancy (including childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), race, traits historically associated with race (including hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), religion, religious belief or ob-servance, religious creed, sex, sex stereotype, sexual orientation, transgender status or transitioning, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law (including being perceived or regarded as or associated with any protected classification). If anyone believes they have been discriminated against, they may file a complaint alleging the discrimination with either the City of San Diego, Parks and Recreation Department District Manager at (619)533-6333 or the California Department of Fair Employ-ment and Housing (DFEH) at (800) 884-1684. This information is available in alternative formats upon request.

Kids Class on Hold Until February

Due to changes in library protocol, the kids yoga classes at the City Heights/Weingart and San Carlos Libraries of San Diego are temporarily halted until February 2022. Watch this blog or check your library for schedule updates. I'm so sorry to put this crimp in your weekly yoga with your kiddos especially as school is starting but we want to make sure all library performers (like me) are properly vaccinated (I am) and standards for dealing with the uptick in cases are rolled out. Please be safe out there, and mask up indoors!

FOUR New Classes! (updated)

Mat Yoga at Copley Price YMCA

The Sunday yoga class I used to teach at the Copley-Price YMCA prior to the pandemic shutdown (thank you Rosa Ruiz) is restarting on Sunday October 10. As the graphic below states, 

This class will be a blend of hatha and slow flow with a bit of workshopping and a focus on functional movement. We'll always get a decent mind/body workout, spend time in meditation with breathwork, and have a nice Savasana at the end.

I'm really excited to be back guiding this class and I hope previous members rejoin and new folks are interested in testing it out. This isn't your average studio flow class to be sure! I recommend bringing your own mat and if you have them, blocks and and a beach towel (or yoga blanket) and strap to help create a sense of ease for different variation of the poses depending on how your body feels that day. The Y does have some props that they clean regularly, but it's never a bad idea to invest a few dollars (if you have them) on your own set.

Here's an example of the kind of guidance I offer, and when and why we'd use props:

See that intense forward fold up there on my fun graphic? Technically that's a standing forward fold I rotated 90°. Standing, there's gravity to help traction the torso over the thighs. Also, the photo was taken 7 years ago, I had been warming up for well over an hour, I had also been practicing very active yoga daily, and that picture was one fraction of a second of a moment in time. Le'ts acknowledge that exacct fold isn't going to happen for my body today. I would absolutely want a blanket under my sit bones and possible one pulled onto my lap into my hip creases. I might not even use a strap around the balls of my feet so that I wasn't tempted to "pull" myself into the posture. 

I hope you are able to come try this class out for size with me! Reminder that the Y offers scholarship memberships!

Update

The following classes are on hold throughout January 2022:

Baby Yoga StoryTime @ City Heights/Weingart Library

• Wednesday December 8, 10-10:45am in front of the Performance Annex

Kids Yoga @ San Carlos Library 

• Wednesdays (starting November 3) 3-3:45pm

Expect movement, songs, library-chosen books, occasion-and-yoga-themed crafts, parent-and-kid partnering, and overall a lot of fun. Please note that this isn't a drop-off class; modeling participation is such an important part, and I do have plenty of caregiver-kiddo partnering to keep it fun for ALL ages! If you are unable to get down to the floor we will have chairs for seating. (If you do need to use your electronic device during class please step out of the room briefly.)

I will have some mats available for lending, but I do recommended having one of your own per child so they have safe space for movement. If we have a group of folks that need mats, we can always consider doing a group purchase to get a warehouse discount. 

No sign-ups or payment needed, just show up and ENJOY!

Coming Soon: Chair Yoga with Age Well Services

• Starting in 2022, Fridays, 12:45-1:45 at Park De La Cruz Recreation Center

Yoga Spiders (Kid Yoga & Craft)

The Tiny Yoga Spider was on his yoga mat 

start on your hands and knees, ready to go like a tiny spider

First he stretched like a cow

cow pose, stretch your bellow down low and make some mooing noises

Then he stretched like a cat

kitty cat pose, arch your back up high, meowing

Then he moved an arm, an arm, an arm, an arm

each time we say arm, stretch one arm to the sky

And then he moved a leg, a leg, a leg, a leg

each time we say leg, stretch one leg up

Then the tiny yoga spider 

start to curl up very tiny

Was ready for his web/bed

rest in child's pose

Supplies:

• 2 (or more) stick-on googly eyes
• 1 small pompon
• 4 pipe cleaners
• 4" x 2" piece woven fabric (burlap or similar)

Directions

1. Center pompom on one pipe cleaner. Overlap ends like a giant twist tie, securing the pom. Three to four twists should do it.
2. One at a time, center another pipe cleaner around the center of the first and twist three to four time to secure.
3. Place the googly eyes on the pompon top.
4. Bend the eight "legs" about 1/2 way to make knees.
5. Bent each leg near the end to make a "foot."
6. Insert a few of the feet through the burlap to help the spider "stick" to the web/mat.

Kids Yoga Live Stream Restarts July 1 Every Wednesday 10AM PST

I am going to restart our popular all-ages Kids Online Yoga classes starting this Wednesday July 1, at 10AM PST. 

There will be a new link with password required - so be sure to email me byomyoga@gmail.com me to sign up for this free class!

Classes will be between 30 and 40 minutes, and as always will include favorite music, movement and occasionally crafts! Have a mat, a favorite "snuggle toy" and water nearby, and log on by 9:55AM to make sure everyone is ready to go by 10. I heartily encourage caregivers to hang out with us to learn the moves, model the behaviors and show the children how much fun yoga is for kids of all ages.

Anyone from any part of the world can join; classes have a password and we will use the Zoom waiting rooms to ensure your privacy. As always, they are free of charge; donations are welcome but not required.

Questions? Contact me at byomyoga@gmail.com or read more at http://www.byomyoga.com

To view previous class videos follow this link: https://www.byomyogavideos.com/p/kids.html

For basic ZOOM troubleshooting click here: http://byomyoga.blogspot.com/2020/04/zoom-help-for-our-live-streaming.html.

I"m going to see Laurie Berkner in concert!

If you have attended any of my children's classes in the past 11 years you know that I feature the music of Laurie Berkner. Delightfully infectious tunes like Victor Vito (eating his spaghetti with Freddy Vasco), the Goldfish (sleeping on a rock at the bottom of the ocean), and Bicycle (riding it ve-ry slow-ly) have become mantras to guide our yoga-oriented movement. Parents greet me all the time asking for the actual names of songs, or the artist so that they can get the CD, or link to my playlists.

Now for the first time we can all see this Pied Piper of Children's Playtime in person, up close, and show her how much love and joy she has brought into our lives!

When my son was little I'd see her on the television program "Jack's Big Music Show" and was absolutely charmed by her stage presence. I even bought her guitar music book in the hopes that one day I might even be able to play the songs for the kids as well in my classes. Alas, I will stick to letting Laurie be the musician, and me the yoga guide as she makes her music look effortless but in actually it is some pretty complicated musical gymnastics! I'm hoping that she'll sign my book if I bring it to the concert.

Without further ado, here is all the pertinent information:

Laurie Berkner in Concert

Sunday, May 31, 2020 | 11:00 am
David & Dorothea Garfield Theatre
Lawrence Family JCC

Children’s music icon Laurie Berkner brings her signature blend of whimsical lyrics and indie folk pop melodies to the Garfield Theatre in a solo show. Laurie’s hit songs like “We Are the Dinosaurs” and “Victor Vito” are featured on children’s networks Nick Jr. and Sprout, in Off-Broadway children’s musicals, and in children’s books. Be sure to catch the artist People magazine calls “the queen of children’s music” and the New York Times has dubbed “the Adele of the preschool crowd.” For children ages 2 and older. Children ages 15 and under are eligible for child prices.

"One of the most popular children's performers in America ... her music is distinctive because it speaks to kids without talking down to them, charming youngsters without boring grown-ups." -The Wall Street Journal

"Laurie Berkner is like a goddess to these children." -NPR's All Things Considered

https://www.sdcjc.org/garfield/upcomingevents.aspx/?gclid=CjwKCAiAgqDxBRBTEiwA59eENxSv51givfSHeNvK9-6HrmkfNZbJr2wCSsHvHnOousC9mwycK6RavBoCytAQAvD_BwE

New Classes in the New Year!

Starting this week I have some new classes debuting around town, so in case you haven't seen the new calendar, here are the highlights:

• Kids: Every Monday through June (and hopefully into the summer) from 9:45 to 10:15 there is a new Toddler Yoga Storytime class at the beautiful Mission Hills/Hillcrest Library on University Avenue. 
• Kids: Starting in February, there will be a monthly Kids Yoga class on Wednesdays at the Logan Heights Library from 4:30-5:15 pm. Check the Calendar for specific days.
• Kids: Alternating Thursdays there is a Kids Yoga Storytime at the Lemon Grove Library on School Street from 10:30-11:15 am. Check the Calendar for specific days!
• Accessible/Adaptive: Every Friday we have added a 10am Adaptive Yoga for Adults with Special Needs class the Casa de Oro Library on Campo road, in addition to the Tuesday classes at 10 and 11 am. Open to everyone in the county, clients of Regional Center, and more.

I have partnered again with the Abilities Expo to demonstrate Adaptive/Accessible Yoga at their Chicago Abilities Expo in June 2020 and (new!) the Phoenix Abilities Expo in September 2020. Explore all their opportunities here: https://www.abilities.com/expos/

On Saturday, February 29 (that's right, 2020 is a leap year) at the Copley/Price YMCA, I will co-lead a special 90-minute yoga fundraiser for the YMCA Annual Campaign. Details pending, but mark your calendars. 

Happy Earth Day 2019

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Earth-Day-Kids-Yoga-3104599

More about My Children's and Teen Yoga Classes

I am fortunate that I have been asked to teach children's yoga at a couple of local schools and now at the Central Library in downtown San Diego. If you are an elementary school, preschool, un-schooling group, home school group, daycare center, girl scout troupe, middle school, high school, or a family with children from 2-7, 8-13 or 14+, please call me to discuss how we can create a yoga class to suit their needs!

For younger children my style incorporates music, books, and crafts into yoga-oriented play, where I help them learn how to energize and calm with breath. We learn about the Big Three B's - body, brain and breathing - and how using them in unison creates YOGA. One of the favorite and most fun classes is where the children get the opportunity to "teach" demonstrating, vocalizing, and assisting their peers. I have seen them discover, to their own delight, how very capable, focused and good they are in this role, whatever their physical ability level. I believe the skills developed in practicing yoga can be translated into being a better a family member, classmate, student, sibling, athlete - whatever the child experiences!

For middle schools and high school young adults the focus is a little more like a conventional yoga class but scaled to suit the ability levels and limits/strengths of still growing bodies and minds. We do many grounding poses to help create a sense of stability and security, balance poses to improve coordination and stimulate brain development, twists and bends to strengthen and stretch and learn about complex body movements, and of course inversions because they are not only fun but help us to see the world from another perspective! I use props to bring poses within reach without strain and add support and security. Discussion of the eight limbs of yoga as they apply to secular living (health/cleanliness, non judging, non harming, continuing education and more) are blended with breathing exercises, uplifing music, and positive affirmations to round out the body/brain/breath experience. Whatever their ability level, from the more sedentary to the vigorous athlete, all teens can benefit from a yoga practice to help them also become more self aware and a better person.

Two Yoga Events and MORE this Spring/Summer

Just trying to gather up some good info to pass on about Yoga and Health and Family related events this Spring. Thank you SoCalKidsSanDiego.com and San Diego Coast Life being such AMAZING resources!

April 13 at the Del mar Fairgrounds is the Hullaballoo Family Music Festival!

April 13 is the El Cajon Library Multicultural Family Fiesta that celebrates the cultural diversity of its community and customers. The event will feature a wide variety of entertainment, international refreshments donated by more than 30 restaurants and markets, and an information fair.

April 13 and 14 Healthy Living Festival at the Del Mar Fair - Free Admission

April 20 is Suzie's (organic) Farm Strawberry Jam: a fun, family-oriented farm experience focused on everyone’s favorite summer fruit. Strawberry Jam kicks off Suzie’s Farm “Event Season,” which will be hosted at their new property Suzie’s at Sunset, on Saturday, April 20, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

April 21 at Legoland and April 28 at NTC Liberty Station: SDCCU Walk MS - a wonderful set of events for a wonderful (and close to my heart cause). Walk, or just wander around the event to see what happens when people come together! You may even be inspired to sign up for the 50 mile MS Challenge Walk coming end of September!

April 27/28 is San Diego Kids Expo and HAPA yoga will be there, with yours truly and the lovely Jules Kirkiby to demo kids yoga at 11AM and 3PM. Hapa has tickets for $5 for adults (kids are free).

May 5 KIDSFEST San Diego Liberty Station, NTC Promenade, San Diego, CA
KidsFest will transform the NTC Promenade in Point Loma into a 100,000-square-foot wonderland of pure, uncomplicated play for the entire family, with activities designed to stimulate and celebrate the imagination.

May 18 Yoga for Hope San Diego - Do yoga, raise money for City of Hope - join local and national renown teachers like Bonnie Jones and Seane Corn to OM and support Cit of Hope!