Final touches are being made to Lauren Young Yoga's 2018 Fall schedule! I can't wait to see some familiar faces soon!

Hopefully your yoga mat has been getting some use this summer!  If you've been too busy traveling or swimming, don't worry.  Yoga is coming back this Fall with more classes to choose from than ever before!

We are expanding to bring Yoga & Mindfulness for all ages and abilities to the following towns this fall: Nashua, NH, Merrimack, NH, Londonderry, NH, and Pelham, NH!

The variety of classes being offered is what I've been waiting to bring to this community!  I can't wait to share the completed schedule & locations with you, but for now- take a peek at the classes!

• Baby & Me Yoga and Mindfulness (6 weeks old through crawling & their caregiver).
• Toddler Yoga & Mindfulness (Moving through 24 months & their caregiver).
• Kids Yoga & Mindfulness (ages 5-10 years old).
• Tween Yoga & Mindfulness (ages 8-12 years old).
• T(w)EEN Yoga & Mindfulness (ages 11-16 years old).
• Family Yoga (all ages, lessons created for 3-7 year old & their caregiver).
• Family Flow (ages 6+ that wants to practice adult yoga & their caregiver).
• Adapted Yoga (teens & adults who want a practice adapted and accessible to their needs).
• Adult Yoga (at the Nashua YMCA- ages 13+, Hatha styled yoga with emphasis on the breath and a focus on staying grounded in our body and mind).

Benefits of Baby & Toddler Yoga

I completed my Baby & Toddler Yoga Teacher training program through ChildLight Yoga in April 2017.  I was a little over 7 months pregnant, but still able to move and absorb all that was taught!

For those of you that don't know- I took my first Child Yoga Teacher Training through ChildLight Yoga in January 2016 and fell in love!  I knew this is what I wanted to do going forward- teach kids and special populations yoga! ChildLight Yoga is a Registered Yoga School through Yoga Alliance and they have a Registered Child Yoga Teacher (RCYT-95 hours) program.  In order to get the recognition of a RCYT-95, you first needed to become or have already been a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200 hours).  I completed my 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training program through Yoga NH in December 2016- almost one year from the time I wanted to become a Kids Yoga Teacher!

So long story longer- in order to be eligible for the RCYT-95 hour program, you have to complete a written exam and teach multiple community classes (with evaluations completed by attendees) for the area of the course you've taken.  I'm FINALLY teaching my Baby & Toddler Yoga community classes tomorrow! I'm so excited to teach these classes to my community and share my love of Baby and Toddler Yoga!

I wanted to share the Benefits of Baby & Toddler Yoga from the manual from ChildLight Yoga to my group tomorrow!  I figured- why not share the love and maybe get another family excited about the benefits of Baby & Toddler yoga!

Reflecting Back- Part 1- Vulnerable

Having a baby for the first time really changes things in all areas of your life.  

If you didn't read in the "about me" section on my blog... starting a family was a challenge for my husband and I.  Our first pregnancy was in 2015, about a 1 1/2 years after getting married and trying to get pregnant.  We lost that pregnancy at 11 weeks gestation.  My world fell apart on that day, October 27, 2015.  I was teaching Special Education in an elementary school in New Hampshire.  I went to the OBGYN's office in the early morning before school started (after some abnormalities the day before).  

I was in the office.  By myself.  I thought I was just going to run in, they would tell me everything was fine, and I'd be on my way to start the school day.  Instead I was by myself.  They told me there was no heartbeat and I lost our first pregnancy that we've been trying 1 1/2 years for.  I called the school and all I could get out through my hysterical crying was, "At the OBGYN office."  The secretary understood what I meant and said she'd take care of everything.  I still think of how amazing she was during that phone call. I called my husband and parents on the way home.  My parents came straight to my house and sat and cried with me.  This was the beginning of my new life. 

I ended up resigning from my teaching position.  I wasn't fully available to my students, and having them in the special education program- they really needed someone to be 100% there for them.

I also wasn't in the most supportive environment, so I felt more stress than comfort and relief from being in my work place.  I slowly began to focus on myself and put myself back together.  I started counseling for my loss.  I started practicing yoga again.  My husband was an amazing support and allowed me to take this time that I needed, even if we did have to cut down on a lot of financial expenses.  

It was this time when I started questioning if teaching in the public classroom was right for me.  My heart has always been with teaching social behaviors, social emotional learning (SEL), individualized coping skills, confidence, cooperation, communication- not math, science, and social studies (I did love to teach reading though- if only elementary teachers could teach only reading and SEL).  A friend of mine is a Director of a Child Care Center/Private School  and posted on Facebook that she attended a Child Yoga Teacher Training program.  A WHAT?!  This is a thing? I can teach Children Yoga?!  I already received newsletters from Yoga Ed. on different breathing and chair yoga techniques to use in the classroom and would use it when I taught special education.  Finally, I felt that spark that I was missing since my loss.  

I immediately registered for the Basic Child Yoga Teacher course (children 2-12) through ChildLight Yoga in Dover, NH.  My first class was Friday night from 5-9 pm and my head was spinning with ideas by the end of it.  After two more full days of training, I knew this is what I was supposed to do with my life.  I was hooked!  

 

I began offering free classes at my local library to get a feel for teaching and also to earn my certification to teach Children ages 2-12 yoga.  

From there I taught local friend's children and soon found myself employed at the local YMCA teaching two Kids Yoga classes! 

                    

I got a job at my local library as a Library Aide while I continued my education as a Child Yoga Teacher.  After researching the whole Yoga Teacher Credential World (Yoga Alliance), I learned that you can become a Registered Child Yoga Teacher (RCYT-95 hours).  I wanted this! I'm a sucker for credentials and if I was going to start a new life and career- I wanted it to be legit with the correct courses and credentials.  So this was my goal!  I soon found out that in order to get the RCYT-95, you first had to become a Registered Yoga Teacher- 200 hours, which is an adult yoga teacher program.  Boo!  That foils my plan.  Okay fine... let me look into that and see if it's something I want to pursue. 

Stay tuned for Part 2 to see what I decide and where I go from there.

Nashua, NH! Kids' Summer Series at Banyan Tree Yoga studio! 6 week session, June 23-July 28, 2016

As events are scheduled, they will be posted on my blog.  This summer, I will be teaching a 6 week series for children ages 6-12! The class will be held on Thursdays from 11-12 pm, from June 23-July 28, 2016.  Registration will be made through Banyan Tree Yoga's website under "Workshops & Specialty Classes."  

I can't wait to teach at this studio.  It is so beautiful with hardwood floors and big windows.  We also have access to Mine Falls Park and will probably practice yoga outdoors!

Please follow the link for registration: Lauren Young's Kids summer series at Banyan Tree Yoga

Big news in the Nashua, NH area for Summer 2016! Please help me by filling out this quick poll!

Big news coming up! If you are a local family (in driving distance to Nashua, NH), please fill out this quick survey! This will help me with summer plans! *Disclaimer- the photo is not of me, we will however be doing that activity! 

https://poll.fbapp.io/kids-yoga-summer-schedule-what-do-you-prefer

About Lauren Young!

A little bit about me...

I began my journey with Yoga in 2006 in Austin, TX.  I wanted something to relax me, challenge me, make me stronger, and ease my adult worried mind. I found Yoga and fell in love.

Fast forward to January 2016- I found a training program not far from me that certified educators (or anyone who worked with children and wanted to learn) as a Basic Yoga Teacher for Children ages 2-12.  Knowing what Yoga brought to my life, it seemed that Yoga for Children would be the perfect fit for what I was looking to accomplish as an Educator.

I fell in love and after teaching community classes, I became certified.  I incorporate games, music, yoga poses, mindful meditation, visualization, arts and crafts, magic mist (water and essential oil), and children's literature into my teaching.

I plan on attending the Teen Yoga Teacher training and Teen and Adults with Special Needs Teacher Training this summer to become certified in those areas.

Not only does Child Yoga fascinate me, but Yoga for adults does as well!  Knowing what Yoga has brought to my life encouraged me to start a new journey.  In May 2016, I begin a Yoga Teacher Training program that will lead to me to become a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT)-200 hours by Yoga Alliance. 

 I have worked with children, pretty much all of my life!  I remember babysitting my neighbors when I was around 10 years old and once able to work a "real" job, I became an after school counselor at the local YMCA.

I worked in various non-profit organizations with children through and after college.  I graduated with my BA in Social Work from the University of New Hampshire-Durham in 2002.  Soon after I made my way to Austin, TX!  That is where I received my teaching certificate in Special Education (K-12), Elementary Education (K-6), and English as a Second Language (K-12).

I taught as a Special Educator in a public school in Texas for students with multiple disabilities.  I LOVED it!  I decided at that point to further my education in the area of Elementary Education and Reading.  While working as a long term substitute teacher as an interventionist, a math tutor, a diagnostician at a tutoring company, and a library assist- I received my Masters of Education (M.Ed.) in 2011.

I am now a certified teacher in the State of New Hampshire for the above areas.  While working as a Special Educator in the public school, I realized there is an enormous need for programs that focus on: social skills, performance anxiety, depression, PTSD, sensory processing, body awareness, and overall confidence building for children.

I would love to share this passion with you and your children.  Please contact me with any questions @ lauren.scire.young@gmail.com! I am also a Young Living Essential Oil distributer.  Contact me if you have any questions regarding oils as well!