Lemon Grove HEAL Zone partners with “Yoga Rascals” to Offer Children’s Yoga Classes

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CONTACT:  Melanie Briones ~ 858-609-7976 ~ mbriones@sdchip.org

 Lemon Grove HEAL Zone partners with “Yoga Rascals” to Offer Children’s Yoga Classes

 Lemon Grove, CA – Yoga, a physical discipline known to bring calm and peace to participants, is making its way into the classroom. Yoga Rascals, a children’s yoga company based in La Mesa, has partnered with Lemon Grove School District’s Extended Day Program to teach yoga to elementary school students during their after-school care. Classes begin April 26 at San Altos Elementary.

Yoga Rascals made alliances with the school district through the Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP) Lemon Grove HEAL Zone, a 3-year project funded by a $1-million grant from Kaiser Permanente to promote healthy living in the community. HEAL Zone Sr. Project Manager Melanie Briones said she met with Yoga Rascals founder Sünje O’Clancy to discuss her interest in partnering so students could increase their physical activity.

Yoga Rascals, whose motto is “Living Healthy and Happy,” provides very active classes that spark children’s imagination with a yoga story. Regarding a poem that combines movements with fun rhymes about eating fruit, 8-year-old Ethan exclaimed, “The best part about yoga was when we were picking the fruit, especially when we rolled on our back as tangerines.”

Said O'Clancy, “Students are having lots of fun while learning the poses, as well as experiencing the calming and relaxing effects of yoga. Sharing the joy of yoga and seeing the smiles on the students’ faces has been extremely rewarding for all of us.”

The students also like to point out their favorite poses: being upside down in Candle Pose, known as shoulder-stand in an adult yoga class, proves an all time favorite, along with Dog Pose, Cat, Mouse, Snake, and Sun Salutations. “I liked it when we pretended we went on an adventure,” said kindergartener Alissa. Said Nicholas, “I liked it when we went on an airplane!”

Site leader Jessica Dukerschein, who questioned how some of her students would react to the program, acknowledged the students are excited about the classes and make sure to tell their parents.

Yoga Rascals is dedicated to enhancing children’s lives through yoga by creating a nurturing and fun environment that supports their development and learning so they may realize their fullest potential. Yoga Rascals offers yoga classes for children of all ages in San Diego County including yoga for preschoolers, in school and after school yoga classes, yoga assemblies, yoga at libraries, and family yoga.

To learn more, visit www.yogarascals.com // www.healzones.org //https://www.facebook.com/LemonGroveHEALZone

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