Engaging children with yoga night in North Philadelphia
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Engaging children with yoga night in North Philadelphia
Aiming to introduce youngsters and adults to the benefits of yoga, a nonprofit organization is taking the discipline to a North Philadelphia community center.
The After School Activities Partnership (ASAP) will host its second annual Community Yoga Night from 5 p.m. 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Honickman Learning Center at 1936 N. Judson Street
"This is a way for us to introduce this very wonderful, peaceful and relaxing alternative form of exercise," said Maria Walker, executive director of ASAP, an organization devoted to keeping youths from kindergarten to 12th grade safe and active after school.
Walker said that last year yoga night was held at Shaw Middle School at 54th Street and Warrington Avenue and that the children especially enjoyed the program. She said the yoga night features a team of instructors whose individual focus is on teaching young children, adolecents and adults.
In many Philadelphia neighborhoods people are not familiar with yoga, Walker said. "Sometimes they think it's a religion. … Once we explain to them that it’s a form of exercise and relaxation and stretching, then they are interested."
Yoga night is a way to engage children and adults in neighborhoods throughout the city, Walker said. "We have to make alternative activities available to young kids. Yoga and drama and these activities cannot be exclusive to certain neighborhoods. Our goal is to allow every kid to experience different forms of enrichment activities no matter where they live in Philadelphia."
I'm so glad to see you promoting Yoga as an option for kids, it can truly make us a more peaceful and healthy society. The lovely Chitra Sukhu will soon be releasing her Yoga DVD for kids to help us bring it into the home. I think her site is http://www.newagekids.com for more info...— betty b.- Does anyone else think that it is funny that they thought yoga was a religion? That is hilarious!— PROUD2BEME
- It's very nice...many children can to do it and so funny. healthmaster (HTML deleted)— zhakeuss
Kia Gregory is a staff writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer. She's a proud native of the city and an alumna of Temple University. Contact Kia by e-mail by clicking here, or by phone at 215-854-2601.
Vernon Clark, a staff writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer, has reported extensively neighborhood issues in North and Northwest Philadelphia. Vernon has also been an editor for the Inquirer and has worked as an editor and writer at the Boston Globe and Akron Beacon Journal. Contact Vernon by e-mail by clicking here, or by phone at 215-854-5717.
