After-school art and yoga inspire creativity and fitness at Sands Point Preserve

Club Create, the after-school art and yoga program at Sands Point Preserve, is brimming with activity for children ages 3-8.

On any given Wednesday certified children’s yoga instructor Lisa Cusano guides youngsters through basic yoga postures and breathing techniques, all in the name of fun. Many also take part in the seasonal family yoga events – there’s one Sunday, Feb. 7 – led by Leah Zwerlein.

And on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, Cusano, who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts, leads explorations in painting, clay sculpting and collage. The Preserve, with its abundance of natural resources, serves as the perfect backdrop for creative inspiration.

These kinds of programs not only foster a lifelong connection between art, wellness, and the natural environment, but also help in children’s overall development.

“The benefits for children to do art and yoga are endless,” Cusano pointed out. “They give children a chance to express themselves physically and mentally. They are both great activities to help build self-esteem, and there are no right or wrongs.”

The programs do so much more than convey ways for healthy living.

Making art helps children develop motor skills while drawing and cutting with scissors, enhance language development while talking about shapes and colors, strengthen decision-making as they test out new ideas, and develop spatial skills.

And while yoga promotes mind-and-body wellness, it also builds strength and flexibility.

At Club Create, children “are free to challenge themselves,” Cusano said. “The results help them feel good about themselves and always feel successful.”

She added, “There is nothing like seeing a child feeling proud, successful and happy.”

Space is still available for art sessions on Thursdays and Fridays, 2:15-3 p.m. for children ages 3-5. Registration details are available here. And don’t miss Family Yoga for children and their parents and caregivers on Sunday, Feb. 7, from 11-11:45 a.m.

For additional information, or to purchase a 12-month membership, visit www.TheSandsPointPreserve.com, call 516-571-7901or visit the Gate House at 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point, NY, 11050, open daily in winter from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Friends of the Sands Point Preserve is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to protect and preserve the 216-acre waterfront grounds and historic mansions and to provide a range of cultural arts events and educational programs for families and schools in the Phil Dejana Learning Center and Outdoor Classroom.