For the month of October, YogaSprouts is offering a fun fall-themed series of classes at Five Points Yoga. We will be incorporating poses in fun and creative ways like pretending to travel through a corn maze, planting a pumpkin patch, and celebrating with a festival! No experience is needed, just bring an active imagination!

Family yoga has many benefits including: reduced stress, reduced anxiety, and increased trust within relationships. So, come play some yoga!

When: Every Sunday in October
Time: 1:00-1:45PM
Cost: $60 for 1 adult and 1 child together
                                                                            Preregistration Required. Email yogasprouts@gmail.com for more info.

It is no secret that yoga has many physical benefits. I feel them in every class that I've participated in with Rachel! But the mental and emotional benefits are often less obvious. One of the coolest parts of my internship so far has been having the opportunity to witness these more private struggles and achievements.

Rachel always starts class by first asking how everyone's week is going. The amazing part is that, every time, the kids answer. Now, that may sound silly, but I know that when my mom used to ask me how school went, I almost always had the same answer - fine. But these children, they want to talk openly and honestly about what is going on in their lives. A student told me that "[yoga class] is a safe place." Because of this, they share their stories without fear of judgement. What a great glimpse into one of the intangible benefits of yoga - an environment where kids share with, listen to, and help each other with whatever is going on in their hearts.

At Memorial Park, we are learning all sorts of fun things! After trying out log rolls for the first time (which are surprisingly harder than you think), the class practiced their listening skills. "Yogi Says" was a fun way for the kids to move around and play while continuing to focus and listen. They may have been learning in the context of a game, but listening is an important life skill that often times gets overlooked. Remember to take some time to truly listen to the people around you, you might like what you hear!

"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." -Winston Churchill