My daughter was a bit apprehensive about taking her first yoga class, so we arrived early to give her time to settle in. When the others arrived, there were six children in the class for seven- to 10-year-olds, making it intimate and comfortable.
The instructor, Hema, teaches all the children's classes at the Yoga Room in a simple and fun way. Given the small class size, she is able to spend time with each child, making them feel comfortable and boosting their confidence.
Part of the class included a sequence of yoga poses and the children took turns leading into the next pose.
Yoga basics were blended with games, relaxation and even a brief drawing/visualisation exercise at the end of the lesson. The games kept the children connected to the class.
The clear favourite was an animal card game in which Hema gave clues about an animal. The children had to slap their hand down on the card of the animal that matched the description. After the winner was determined, the pose was then practised.
The game connected them with the natural world, made them active learners and the competition increased their energy and participation. They enjoyed being butterflies, eagles, locusts, dogs and turtles.
