The conundrum of after school activity is rattling around so many parents’ minds in these early fall days. We hope to enrich our children while offering them excitement within a creative realm, and at Sacred yoga on Clifton Place in Bed Stuy, there is a very cool after-school class just waiting for your 6-10 year old. Sacred Kids‘ Brooklyn DAY (Dramatic Arts and Yoga) came about last fall, and boasts the unification of yoga, playwriting, theater, song and dance. Children learn about storytelling for the stage from its beginning to end process. As the website states that your child will learn so much, “including storytelling, songwriting, set and costume design. The focus will be on process. Using yoga, games, voice and acting techniques, we will create an environment of unparalleled support for even shyest amongst us to shine. Culminating in a full scale production, we will laugh, play, write, share, move, and ultimately perform our original works!” Not only does this sound incredible and invaluable, but it seems like a wonderful way to shake off the formal school day and step into something more fluid, creative, and fun. There will be a free demo on September 16th, but please look here to apply ASAP. Taught by incredibly talented and experienced Lauren Benson, your child will be in good hands. I’ve always been curious about Sacred, as I have walked past it hundreds of times and everyone coming in and out seems very happy and dedicated. The founder of Sacred, Dara Cole, explained to me a little bit about being a parent and a yoga lover. “As a yogi and as a mom, I keep returning to the lessons of awareness. When we really cultivate our attention (whether it’s simply to alignment and breath, or to our children’s developments) it’s as if time stops, our heart opens, and the distractions that come to the mind just fall away. Children are so much pure energy. Yoga helps us remember that in ourselves too. And then, of course, there is breathing for our less than stellar moments straight into the chaos of this family adventure. Sacred attempts to hold space for all of this – the pure potential energy of children, the creative possibility, the chaos and the cultivation of compassion in community.” I love her explanation of children and yoga, and of the importance of applying the Buddhist practices of meditation and mindfulness to everyday life. You can’t teach any child these techniques too soon! What wonderful tools to go through life with. Also, on the website, you can see part of the production of “Annie” that the class did last year. Bravo! I love their philosophies and their curriculum…
~Rebecca Conroy