I shared before that I wanted to bring yoga to my students this year, but had to do so without actually calling it yoga. The tricky thing about this premise is kids are smart. The very first day, after we practiced breathing, moving, and chanting the words “Be ready to learn!”, an astute student raised his hand and asked, “Isn’t this yoga?”
My sheepish reply involved a hurried explanation that while it is similar to yoga, we don’t do yoga at school, which just felt silly, but sometimes you do what you have to do. And, the good news, my new students love the forrest of trees we make with our bodies and have shared that the breathing makes them feel relaxed.
Success.
Minus, of course, when my yoga buddy colleague came in to observe and I accidentally called it yoga. That same kid exclaimed, “See! I knew it was yoga!”
I have to admit, I was at a loss for words.
I look forward to the day when I can call it like it is.
Yoga.
After all, even cats like yoga. I’m still not sure what the big deal is…
oliviaobryon 
Keep up the rebellion against the system. 🙂
Yes, one breath count and tree pose at a time! 😉
Heehee. I love it. I knew there must be a reason your class is so relaxed. So which kid was it?
If I’m not wrong, Buddah said: “There are three things that cannot be hidden for a long time: the sun, the moon and the truth”. Apparently, he forgot a fourth one: yoga. 😉
Love it!
Yoga by any other name would smell as sweet!
Love it! 😉