Yoga for Kids

[Guest guest]

July 24, 2006: Today's kids are often overbooked and stressed out.

Those who are not active are often overweight. Easing their

pressures is a Hoosier [i.e. from Indiana, USA] pioneer who decades

ago thought children could benefit from yoga if it were adapted to

their level.Thus began YogaKids, now featured in Vogue, which brings

benefits to Indianapolis schools.

 

Marsha Wenig, YogaKids founder, makes her impact on Hoosier kids as

well as customers overseas. "I just came back from Singapore and

Malaysia," she said.

 

Wenig's story is one of small town success stemming from a simple

vision that an ancient Hindu philosophy is relevant for today's

children.

 

"Yoga's worked for five thousand years and it continues to work when

it's given to children in kids size portions. They get it," said

Wenig.

 

They get it because Marsha Wenig gets kids. "I knew I had to hold

the children's attention long enough to teach them yoga," she said.

YogaKids is noisy, silly and profitable.

 

Wenig is the undisputed international guru of YogaKids. "When I look

back, yes, it's been incredible," she said.

 

Her trademark reach is through hundreds and thousands of videos

sold. They have been translated into German and Japanese, and

YogaKids has trained instructors.

 

"We actually have teachers in 30 countries around the world and they

all come here to Michigan City, Indiana," said Wenig.

 

Among the teachers who trained with Wenig is Judy Stasek, who

brought YogaKids to Indianapolis Public Schools.

 

"The response I got at first was, what is yoga and what are we gonna

do?" Stasek said.

 

A career educator, Stasek believes student pressures are eased with

postures and poses, not pills.

 

"I see a lot of stress from what is required of them academically.

There is a lot of peer pressure, a lot of things from home that they

bring into the school setting," Stasek said.

 

Even fourth graders can have stress. That tension is released during

a YogaKids class, which also serves as an outlet to express anger,

let go of it and get centered.

 

Wenig's next project is Tools for Schools, which involves taking

yoga to the classroom and integrating it with a regular

curriculum. "Children learn through movement. They can't sit still

for whatever reason," Wenig said.

 

IU and Purdue researchers are tracking Tools for Schools' impact.

Wenig predicts definitive proof in the scientific study: improved

understanding of lessons and life.

 

"They're getting it; on whatever level, they get it. And with

repetition they slow down and calm down and begin to love it," said

 

The philosophy is reinforced privately for Wenig who runs a business

with worldwide reach as she retains the teachings that, when shared

with children everywhere, put her on top.

 

"I shine my light and make the world a better place," she said.

 

Wenig first sold tapes in the hundreds. Now demand is in the tens of

thousands. Tapes include lessons for parents so they can teach their

children, and also for teachers who want to use Tools for Schools.

 

Wenig promotes positive movement while young, a valuable tool

throughout life.

 

SOURCE: WTHR, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

URL: http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=5188458&nav=9Tai