Ariel Shamas

What is your current role or position?

I work as a grocery store clerk, visual designer, and yoga teacher!

What does yoga and mindfulness mean to you?

Yoga and mindfulness are practices in awareness and intention. They provide a framework to develop and grow important life skills such as self regulation, self care, and cooperation.

What sparked your interest in Yoga Ed.?

Yoga Ed. was of particular intrigue to me for their focus on trauma informed teaching. Everyone experiences trauma in some capacity. Teaching through a lens of awareness and compassion towards trauma allows my teaching to better support students.

Which Yoga Ed. course(s) did you complete, and when did you complete it?

I completed “Teaching Yoga to Children” in September and I am currently working towards the RCYT designation.

What is your biggest takeaway from the course or program? What knowledge, insights, or skills did you gain?

Yoga and mindfulness are for everyone. During the “Children’s” course I learned about the brain development, anatomy, and physiology of children. This foundation of knowledge can be thought of as my ‘tool-belt’ to meet students where they are. With good intentions and a little bit of preparatory learning, the practices of yoga and mindfulness can be tailored to fit anybody, any body, everybody!

How have you implemented the program in your life? Have you received any feedback about the course from your students?

I immediately put my learning to practice and began to offer children’s yoga classes in addition to my regularly offered ‘adult’ yoga classes. My young students love the classes, and have described them as a “fun break” from their schoolwork (which is online at the moment in light of the Covid-19 pandemic). The best part is that their “fun break” is packed with education and learning in the form of movement and games.

Would you recommend this course or program to others?

Would I recommend this program to others? Absolutely! I would recommend this course to anyone with the desire to teach wellness to kids.