Blog 58: Harmony in Motion: Blending Children's Yoga and Sound Baths for Wellness with Evangeline

Empower kids with yoga! Boost their calm, focus, and resilience through mindful practices. Harmony in Motion!

Introduction

Welcome to Evangeline's yoga studio in Singapore, a special place where kids learn to find calm, focus, and resilience through fun and mindful yoga practices. Here, children discover how to handle stress and big emotions by engaging in playful poses and breathing exercises designed just for them. These sessions are not only about bending and stretching; they're about helping kids grow stronger inside and out. Join us on this exciting journey as we empower your child to navigate life's challenges with a peaceful mind and a resilient spirit. See how yoga can make a positive change in your child's life, harmony in motion!

Introduction: Evangeline, tell me about yourself, your personality, and your passion. How do you serve yourself? Also, how do you serve the community?

Hello! It's Evangeline. By day, I serve as an autism job coach, where I witness firsthand the incredible journeys of individuals on the autism spectrum finding their place in the workforce.

Outside my day job, I have the privilege of sharing my passion for well-being through children's yoga and sound baths. Through yoga and the healing vibrations of sound, I enjoy creating spaces of peace and self-discovery for young minds and their families. It's a beautiful fusion of movement, mindfulness, and sonic therapy that brings joy and balance to me and the people I serve.

Time and again, I'm reminded that we cannot pour from an empty cup. By taking care of myself, I ensure that I can show up fully present and energised to support others in their own journeys. I am learning to prioritise self-care practices, which for me include meditation, yoga, spending time in nature, and being present in the moment while spending quality time with loved ones.

When it comes to serving the community, I believe in the power of little, consistent acts of kindness and the importance of fostering a community where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued, regardless of their background or abilities. I hope to be an enabler of this through my work with children, families, and neurodiverse individuals and my daily presence with people around me.

 5 Questions for Evangeline

1.      Tailoring Yoga to Kids: How do you adapt traditional yoga practices to effectively engage children, and what are some key elements to consider when designing a child-friendly yoga session?

Creativity, playfulness, and simplicity are at the heart of the yoga sessions I conduct for children. It’s very refreshing to be part of children’s yoga sessions as they are different from the traditional yoga classes we attend as adults!

I first consider the age group and developmental goals of the children I work with. I keep sessions short to cater to their shorter attention spans. The poses I introduce to my young students are also carefully chosen to be developmentally appropriate and safe.

Children have a great imagination, so capturing their interests through imaginative themes (animals, nature, outer space, etc.) makes yoga more engaging. We might pretend to be animals or objects interacting with one another when we do particular poses. I might weave in storytelling, where we would all be part of a story that unfolds as we perform the yoga poses. Our classes include lots of games and challenges to keep things fun. Children are also highly attuned to music and sound, and as a music lover, I must include music elements in my sessions!

Above all, it’s essential to be flexible and adaptable because, more often than not, class doesn’t go as planned! I would always seek to meet the children where they are at that time, just as my yoga practice has always met me where I am.

2. Impact on Development: Could you share how regular yoga and mindfulness practices impact a child's development? Specifically, how do these practices enhance their focus, calm, and resilience?

Regular yoga and mindfulness practice can have profound effects on a child’s development, enhancing their focus, calmness, and resilience in several ways:

a. Enhancing Focus and Concentration:

· Yoga involves mindfulness of breath and body, which helps children learn to direct their attention and focus on the present moment. As they engage in poses and breathing exercises, they develop the ability to concentrate for extended periods, which can benefit their academic performance and everyday activities.

b. Enhancing Calmness:

· Mindfulness practices teach children to recognise and manage their emotions more effectively. Children develop emotional awareness and resilience by learning to observe their thoughts and feelings without judgment. This helps them navigate challenging situations more efficiently and respond to stressors calmly and composedly.

· Yoga and mindfulness practices activate the body’s relaxation response, reducing the production of stress hormones like cortisol. Regular practice can help children unwind and release tension stored in their bodies, promoting calmness and inner peace. This can particularly benefit children with academic pressure, social challenges, or family stressors.

· Children learn self-regulation skills, such as impulse control and self-discipline. They develop greater self-awareness and can more effectively regulate their thoughts, emotions and behaviours.

c. Enhancing Resilience:

· Yoga fosters resilience by teaching children to bounce back from setbacks and adversity. By cultivating a sense of inner strength and confidence through their practice, children develop resilience to cope with life’s ups and downs. They learn to approach challenges positively, adapt to change, and persevere in facing obstacles.

I’d also like to highlight the very important benefits of regular yoga and mindfulness practice on children's physical growth and development!

d. Enhanced Body Awareness and Coordination:

Yoga poses require children to move their bodies in various ways, improving their proprioception and coordination. This enhanced body awareness can improve motor skills, posture, and physical health.

e. Improved Sleep Quality:

Mindfulness practices promote relaxation and stress reduction, which can lead to improved sleep quality in children. By incorporating mindfulness techniques like deep breathing and body scanning before bedtime, children can unwind from the day’s activities and experience more restful sleep.

3. Parental Involvement: What role do parents play in their children's yoga and mindfulness journey at your studio? Do you have any tips for parents to reinforce these practices at home?

The children I work with absolutely adore their parents (whether the parents realise it or not!). They mimic or take on their parents' preferences and dislikes, and what the parents do, they tend to try to do as well. Case in point, one boy said he liked red cars, and it was because his father's car was red. Another girl stayed away from cats since her mother disliked them.

Parents have such a massive influence on their children's lives. They also play a crucial role in supporting and enhancing their children's yoga and mindfulness journey. Parents can help cultivate the skills and habits that promote overall well-being and resilience in their children through active participation and creating a supportive environment at home. Some things I'd love to see and highly recommend parents try with their children:

a. Encouragement and Support: Positive reinforcement and encouragement motivate children. Parents who express enthusiasm and interest in their child's practice very often motivate these children to want to continue their journey and explore the benefits of these practices.

b. Active Participation: Practice alongside your children. I like to give my young students a little homework (usually an audio recording of a short meditation to do every night before bedtime), and they are most likely to do it regularly if the parents join in to do the meditation together. Consider attending parent-child classes or workshops or practising a sequence of yoga poses together at home. You and your child might even want to take turns teaching or leading each other through a sequence of poses! This is a great opportunity for parents to model healthy behaviours and mindfulness techniques for their children and strengthen the special connection parents have with their children.

c. Communication with instructors: Communicate with your children's yoga teacher and gain insight into your child's progress, areas of growth, and any challenges they may be facing. Keep instructors updated on any changes you notice in your child as the week goes by or any concerns you want to address. Maintaining this open communication allows your children's yoga teacher to tailor their approach to meet the child's individual needs more effectively.

d. Creating a Mindful Environment at Home: Parents can create a supportive environment at home that fosters mindfulness and relaxation. This can include setting aside designated quiet time for mindfulness practices, creating a cosy corner with cushions and soft lighting for meditation, or incorporating mindfulness activities into daily routines, such as mindful eating or gratitude journaling.

e. Modelling Mindful Behaviours: Children learn by example. Parents can model mindful behaviours in their lives, for example, by taking deep breaths in their own lives, practising gratitude, or engaging in mindful listening during conversations. By demonstrating these behaviours, parents show their children that mindfulness is valuable for navigating life's challenges.

f. Encourage Consistency: Consistency is key to reaping the benefits of yoga and mindfulness practice. Parents can support their children in staying consistent by creating a schedule or routine for practice, offering gentle reminders, and celebrating milestones along the way.

g. Staying Curious and Open-Minded: Each child is unique and may respond differently to various practices. I encourage parents to approach their children's yoga and mindfulness journey with curiosity and an open mind. When parents are supportive, adaptable, and meet their children where they are, it can help their children foster a love for mindfulness that can last a lifetime.

4. In addition to teaching children’s yoga, you also play sound healing instruments and provide sound baths. Tell us more about sound baths and why you got started?

I wanted to find accessible and intuitive ways to help people combat being overwhelmed, anxious and stressed and find peace, rest, and healing moments. Sound and movement are natural, effortless ways to bring our minds to the here and now. I experienced this firsthand as someone who struggled for a long time with social anxiety and found verbalising her own needs and difficulties incredibly challenging. Through non-verbal modalities such as music, sound and movement, I took some of my first steps towards my healing and mindfulness journey. This led me to practice both yoga and sound healing, and eventually, I shared the practice with others.

I started providing sound baths to create safe, nurturing spaces and moments where everyone can experience the healing power of sound. Sound baths offer a unique and powerful way to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and enhance overall well-being.

The soothing sounds and vibrations produced by instruments like singing bowls, gongs, and chimes profoundly affect the mind and body. They can ground listeners and facilitate their entering a state of deep relaxation.

Additionally, sound baths offer non-verbal communication, making them accessible to individuals of all ages and abilities. This can be particularly valuable for children, who may find it easier to connect with their bodies and emotions through sound rather than words. This is why I sometimes weave sound bath sessions into my yoga sessions with children.

5. Something I Wish People Knew About Me?

That I actually disliked yoga at first!

When I first dipped my toes into the world of yoga, I'll admit, I wasn't exactly thrilled. In fact, "disliked" might even be an understatement. It felt monotonous and awkward, and frankly, I questioned why I wasn't spending my time on activities that packed a more immediate punch of excitement – like an aerial hoop, pole dancing, parkour… activities I tended to find more exciting and gravitated more often to.

As someone with a go-getter mindset, I was accustomed to activities that provided instant gratification, where progress was tangible and adrenaline was high. So naturally, yoga's slow pace and seemingly gentle nature left me frustrated and impatient. Every pose reminded me of my perceived lack of flexibility and strength, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I wasn't "getting it".

But life has a funny way of circling back to the lessons we need most, even when we least expect it. Several years later, I returned to the mat, begrudgingly at first but with a newfound openness to what yoga offered. And that's when everything changed.

What struck me most upon my return was the profound sense of acceptance that yoga embodies. Unlike other activities that push you to constantly strive for perfection, yoga meets you exactly where you are—flaws, limitations, and all. There's no pressure to perform, no expectations to meet. Instead, there's an invitation to be present, to honour the body and mind exactly as they are in each moment.

Slowly but surely, I began to understand that progress in yoga isn't measured by how deeply you can stretch or how long you can hold a pose. It's about the inward journey, the subtle shifts in awareness and the moments of stillness that reveal themselves when you let go of judgment and ego.

Through yoga, I discovered a newfound compassion for myself and a willingness to embrace my imperfections and celebrate my strengths. I learned to approach each practice with curiosity rather than criticism, recognising that every moment on the mat is an opportunity for growth, however small or seemingly insignificant.

Today, yoga has become a physical practice and a journey of self-discovery and self-love. It has taught me patience, resilience, and, above all, the power of acceptance – both on and off the mat. I'm also learning that with creativity, adaptability, and child-like silliness, yoga can be even more accessible and fun for all. I hope to spread the joy of these lessons to more families and children!

If people are interested in following you, please provide your details:

Email: beamyogasg@gmail.com

Top Quotes

Evangeline likes this quote:

“The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.” – Denis Waitley

Below are the quotes I like on this topic:

“Yoga creates children who are bright lights in this world, increasing their self-awareness and strengthening their bodies.” Shakta Khalsa

“Yoga is not about self-improvement, it’s about self-acceptance,” Sharon Gannon

“Yoga poses make you feel good and when you combine that with affirmations, it empowers the children even more.” Sara J. Weis

“Yoga is a super tool to help children build their attention spans.” Victoria Tso

“It is very important that early in life, a child gets exposed to the right things, things that work from within because arrangements we make in the world around us can only be managed to a certain extent.” Sadhguru

“If you want real peace in the world, start with children.” Mahata Gandhi

“Yoga teaches you how to listen to your body.” Mariel Hemingway

Questions and Reflections

1. Parental Role: How can you actively participate in your child's mindfulness journey to enhance its benefits?
2. Observing Changes: What changes have you noticed in your child's behaviour since they started practising yoga and mindfulness?
3. Personal Reflection: Reflect on your own experiences with mindfulness or yoga. How could these practices benefit your child and your whole family?

Conclusion

In conclusion, Evangeline's dedication to well-being shines through her work as an autism job coach and her passion for children's yoga and sound baths. By creating nurturing spaces of peace and self-discovery, she brings joy and balance to young minds and their families. Her approach to children's yoga, Harmony in Motion, is rooted in creativity, playfulness, and simplicity, making each session engaging and fun. Evangeline's commitment to self-care ensures she can support others fully, while her belief in the power of small, consistent acts of kindness fosters a community where everyone feels valued. Through her work, she continuously inspires growth and connection.

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With much Love

Mukti Santos  

“If every 8 year old in the world is taught meditation, we will eliminate violence from the world within one generation.” Dalai Lama

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