Cultural Care Au Pairs from Tarzana, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Studio City and North Hollywood connected with their inner self at Black Dog Yoga for an evening of relaxation - and learnt about the benefits of yoga for children. Organized by Suzy Price, Local Childcare Consultant for Cultural Care Au Pair, this fun and informative evening was a great chance for all the local au pairs from Italy, France, Germany, Denmark, Colombia and China to get together and socialize! “I meet with all the au pairs in my area on a monthly basis. I try to find something that we can do together as a group that is very different from the girl’s workweek in family homes across the San Fernando Valley. The girls spent 45 hours per week as live in child/home helpers – its nice for them to have an organized activity that is very different to their daily routine!” says Suzy. Black Dog’s, Tericita Mahoney (a.k.a. Ti) led the girls through a series of exercises focusing on deep breathing, poses and stretches to help them relax and unwind after a busy and long day caring for children ranging, in age from 2 months to 12 years! Ti is a firm believer that yoga offers de-stressing and healing benefits to everyone. After having used yoga in the repair of her own debilitating and crippling back issues, Ti shared her mantra - “If you can breath, you can do some type of yoga and you'll be surprised how easy it is, and how much it can minimize both mental and physical tension after a busy day with children.“ Planning that the au pairs could use these techniques on a daily basis, Ti adapted many of the breathing exercises and simple moves so that the girls could practice with their young charges! Today’s children live in a fast paced world between busy parents, school and after-school activities, sports, extra curricular lessons, video and digital distractions, plus peer pressure. Even young kids are inundated with stress that can often upset their balance and have a profound effect on their natural inner joy. It is well known and documented that children can derive enormous benefit from yoga that can help with, and enhance, behavior and motor skills, mental performance, physical agility and health. Yoga at an early age can open the door to control and regulate emotions resulting in a happier and healthier child. The 5 main benefits for kids include enhanced concentration, increased flexibility and balance, a boost to self-confidence, and relaxation of the mind – and fun in a non-competitive environment! Ti says – “ Children love the chance to assume the role of animals, tress, flowers or any other characters that springs to their minds! Encouraging them to bark like a puppy in downward dog, hiss like a snake in cobra, meow like a kitty in cat stretch, balance like a bird on one leg or stand strong like a tree, breathe-in like a bunny and blow out candles when exhaling are all great ways to encourage participation! Sound is a great release for children!” Emphasizing many ways to engage and encourage children to join in, Ti also suggested – “They can also recite ABC’s, count numbers or sing nursery rhymes when holding poses” Suzy Price Local Childcare Consultant Cultural Care Au Pair Office: 818 646 8145 Cell: 310 908 3975 Email: suzy.price@lcc.culturalcare.com http://sprice.aupairnews.com Safe and dependable childcare that is both flexible and affordable! Black Dog Yoga 4454 Van Nuys Blvd, Suite 206, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 Email: info@blackdogyoga.com Phone: 818 380 0331 We are dedicated to the cause of encouraging each other to be loving, virtuous and healthy in body, mind and spirit and have fun doing it. …building humans, one breath at a time…