Outreach

I have had the wonderful opportunity to reach out to an after school program with young adolescent girls from December - March.  It has not only given me the opportunity to strengthen my own yoga teaching, but project a good self image to these young girls.

All my life growing up I was always teased for my appearance.  I was never a really pretty or a 'popular' girl  in my junior high or high school years which often lead to ridicule and no dates or interest by the opposite sex.  I never really let it get me down, but instead really focused on my academics and athletics - becoming a student who excelled both scholastically and athletically all through my growing years.  While I was pretty tough and determined, it would have been really cool to have been exposed to a strong female who I could have looked up to.

I think its really important to go back into the school system and show these young girls that you can be a good role model without being an actual model.  I had these girls dancing and singing, and being silly while we played fun yoga games.

The girls were grades 5 and 6, so not a age level that I'd really apply a moksha practice to.  They are pretty young and full of energy at this level so its always fun to make yoga games.  I created this came which is kind of like musical chairs, but I called it musical mats.  The girls would run around the mats in a large circle while I played music...and when it would stop - I'd strike a yoga pose and they'd have to run to an open mat and copy me.  Every round I would remove a mat and any girls who were eliminated would have to help me pick the next yoga pose.  It was a fun way for the girls to be silly yet get some yoga postures in.

At this age, they're really creative and not afraid to speak their thoughts (I find they get more self conscious of what others think in grades 7-9)...so I created another activity where I demonstrated some of the basic yoga poses - and then they were given the opportunity to create their 'own' yoga pose....well, let me tell you I had some really interesting ones!  Mostly based on food for some reason, steak pose, taco pose, ice cream pose....hahhahahah!  Taco pose was definitely the most interesting, yet its something that I probably will never demonstrate in public.

What I learned from volunteering with this program is that there really needs to be more programs like this up and running in more schools.  I give such kudos to the teachers who spend their time after hours to organize events like this and give an opportunity to open and expand the minds of these young girls.  I hope that I have made an impression with at least one girl in my time here and that maybe 10 years from now they will be inspired to be an instructor or a teacher.