FAQ's
- What is the particular approach to Sweet Pea Yoga's Kids Yoga class?
Though Kids Yoga styles can vary widely from teacher to teacher, Sweet Pea Yoga has one teacher - Alexandra De Collibus - so there is a consistency to all Kids Yoga classes offered through her. As with anything, Kids Yoga anywhere will reflect the talent, strengths, interests, and energy that a teacher has so it can be helpful to know a bit about what a specific Kids Yoga class is like since no two teachers are alike!
Sweet Pea Yoga Kids' classes take a more classical approach to learning yoga. The structure of the class will be similar to an adult yoga class in that we follow a pattern of centering, warmup, floor and standing poses, back-strengthening poses, meditation, and savasana (relaxation). We also mix in concentration and breathing exercises that you're only likely to find in a kids class which are designed to foster focus, grounding, and the ability to calm oneself.
Most of the class takes place on one's own mat and we adhere to both the common English names for poses (the ones you'd learn in an adult class) as well as pose names in the original Sanskrit. Unlike a typically quiet adult yoga class, Kids Yoga is very interactive with lots of questions, challenges, and exploration. We emphasize the importance of learning anatomy --skeletal and muscular--so kids can better understand and develop sensitivity to what they are experiencing in the poses and through their breathwork. Although our class can be energetic (they're kids after all!), you aren't likely to find yoga dance parties or "yoga play" here. Although it's common to find kids yoga classes which incorporate storytelling to learn poses, we'll be honest, storytelling is really not our strength (not even close!) so we take a more straightforward approach to engage kids and spark their curiosity about their bodies. Read what parents are saying about Kids Yoga.
- Can my child take a trial class?
At the moment, all of our kids yoga classes are offered in a session-based (multi-week) format and we do not permit "drop-ins." As the class was developed to build in complexity each week, drawing from the foundation and teaching concepts explored in prior classes, it is not designed as a single, one-time class format. Having an established group of students each week allows the group of students to build trust, comfort, and consistency with each other. If you have specific concerns or questions about how your child might experience this class, we encourage you to reach out to us to discuss them.
For Tykes Yoga (parent-child), we do not permit drop-ins during the weekly class but if you are eager to experience it first-hand before signing up for a session, consider taking a weekend yoga event which is offered monthly and is a one-time class.
- Can I sit in on my child's Kids Yoga class to observe?
We can understand the temptation to want to be a fly on the wall as your child is learning yoga--believe me, we know how lucky we are to witness the magic first-hand! However, the studios where Sweet Pea Kids Yoga classes are offered were chosen for their comfort, cleanliness, safety, and privacy so students can have the emotional freedom to explore movement and tumble out of balancing poses without concern of being watched or seen making a "mistake". One of the concepts that we emphasize in class is the idea that there is no "perfect" pose and students needn't feel frustrated if something doesn't come easily or quickly. We encourage students to focus on their own practice and not compare their pose or experience to that of their fellow students. Having a consistent group of mostly kids (plus one adult teacher) helps to foster a non-performance, zero-pressure class.
