who knew

who knew!
Who knew that my favorite yogi's would be aged 10-14??
Yoga: the nightmare years.
Well, I guess I kind of did. But I wasn't sure if I was just being contrary :)
because everyone kept telling me different.

Taught the Girl Scouts at their lock in sleepover @ the YMCA. The first class was so popular that I offered to stick around for an overflow class. Just so no kids would be left out b/c their friend wanted to do whatever else was being offered, or they couldn't decide. I wanted to expose as many as I could to the gift of yoga. There was zumba (which is like a fake salsa dancing), weight lifting (which startled me for their age group!) & some spa room with oatmeal masks and pampering. 2 girls did zumba and the rest signed up for my yoga class. Amazing! there were gigglers and one girl kept trying to hold her friend's hand. But I just went over and moved her mat far enough away.
I know now that I must lay some ground rules about chatter and laughing- but a little is totally understandable. This is out of their comfort zone- at an age when I don't even think their bed is their comfort zone! I led them all in a 30 minute flow, breath work, a bit of sun salutations, standing poses, floor work, and! svasanah oh, the beauty of it! I watched the awkward girls glow and bloom and be into it. It took a bit & there was giggling. But! I took Mary Kaye's advice and said "be so happy that by looking at you, others feel happiness" and they looked at me like I was Mother Theresa. yay! the feedback at the end has become my favorite part! "Do they offer classes like this all the time?" they asked
"is this your career?" how awesome to open their minds to a whole another world of "work"
"I'm always freaking out!!! how did you make me so relaxed???" one adorable, genuine- braced laced sweetheart mused.
or:
"I've like, never been so Relaxed!!!!"
"well, you created this feeling" I told them,
"and there is so much more bliss where that came from!"
:) love love love it!