What is DownPup Yoga?
DownPup Yoga is yoga for kids and families! We offer yoga classes (and more!) to kids ages 2-12 and their families, at various locations in and around Plymouth, MI, including in our NEW STUDIO space that opened January 2022 located inside the PARC (Plymouth Arts & Recreation Complex) in downtown Plymouth! Classes include Parent & Me, Kids Yoga, Family Yoga, Art/Storytime Yoga, and more. We offer group workshops and classes to Girl/Cub Scouts, Schools, Birthday Parties, private playgroups, sports teams, and more.
DownPup Yoga was born from a passion for kids intersecting with a passion for yoga! We aim to take the best parts of yoga and share them with children and their families in a fun and approachable way. We believe yoga is for everyone! Our goal in all classes is for kids to feel comfortable and engaged, and to walk out of class with their bodies, minds, and hearts feeling balanced and peaceful. All classes are thoughtfully designed to be warm and inviting, age-appropriate, and a lot of fun!
Why Yoga for Kids?
The benefits of yoga span across all ages! Even the littlest yogis benefit from using their body in new and challenging ways, learning how to bring calm and peace to their minds and bodies through breathing and movement, and becoming more mindful in their thoughts and actions. Our world is now fast-paced and can be full of pressure and stress for children. Yoga gives kids the physical and mental tools to help them navigate it successfully.
Recent studies have shown that some of the benefits of yoga for kids are:
- Build concentration and focus
- Increase coordination and balance
- Increase strength and flexibility
- Learn breathing techniques to help manage stress and challenges
- Increase confidence and self-awareness
- Improve self-regulation and emotional intelligence
- Develop mindfulness and awareness of the mind-body connection
Of course, yoga for kids is not quite the same as yoga for adults. Yes, we do “real” yoga with age-appropriate asanas (poses), pranayama (breathing), and mindful meditation – but it looks a lot different especially for the littlest yogis. Kids CAN practice yoga in a very real way, but the secret to our classes is our playfulness. To make it engaging for kids, it’s all set in a backdrop of music, games, dancing, stories, activities, crafts, and imagination. Simply- it’s yoga that’s FUN!
Who is Miss Katie?
Hello! I am Katie Olex, a trained and certified Kids Yoga Teacher who has completed children’s yoga trainings with both Yoga Ed. and Kidding Around Yoga (KAY). Even better- I’m a mom to three awesome kiddos, a Girl Scout leader, a school volunteer; and a lover of yoga, kids, fitness, board games, tacos, movies, and ice cream. I have lived in the great community of Plymouth with my family (yes, including a dog) for 17 years.
I founded DownPup Yoga after I discovered the magic of yoga for myself, then shared it with my own kids and saw how the magic worked for them too. With my love of kids, 20+ year background in youth programming and nonprofit management, loads of experience working with kids of all ages in many capacities, and a deep investment in my local community, this adventure of teaching yoga to kids seems like the destination my road has been leading me to. I am truly joyful to teach yoga to children!
Do you have other instructors?
As we expand our yoga (and more) offerings to include yoga classes and events for all members of your family, we are thrilled to welcome other amazing teachers to our team!
What’s with the name DownPup? Do you do yoga with dogs?
I wish! Yoga with puppies would be so fun. Maybe someday.
You have probably heard of the “Downward Facing Dog” or “Downdog” yoga pose? So, if dog=adult then pup=kid. Kids Yoga. 😊
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