by Andrew Alonzo | [email protected]
At Tracy Brennan’s new Claremont Yoga Studio on 300 West Foothill Boulevard, parents and children have turned up for the past six weeks not only to brave the summer heat, but also to participate in fun and refreshing yoga activities in their new space.
On the last three Wednesdays – starting on June 23rd and ending on July 7th – the owner and teacher Ms. Brennan, with the help of some of her closest friends, organized a new summer series called Kids Yoga and Art. The Youth Series is one of the first classroom courses the studio has introduced since reopening in May.
“It’s more of a fun exercise course to build and develop coordination and give the children confidence and strength. And above all to have fun, ”said Ms. Brennan. “And after the moving part we do a focused art project.”
While it is evident that Ms. Brennan has owned Claremont Yoga for 11 years, she is no stranger to running yoga classes. And she’s been running yoga classes for kids for the past seven years. But art activities? According to Ms. Brennan, she started this event so that children can have fun and freedom to perform their yoga movements in the first hour, while in the second hour they can let their creative imaginations run wild.
“It’s five to ten years old, so it’s a diverse group of children,” said Ms. Brennan. “We’ve all struggled with the Zoom classes, even though they’ve kept us connected for the past year and a half. I think children love the energy to be together, to laugh and see each other and to be with teachers who can see them up close. ”
Around 1:15 p.m., around four parents came to drop off their children who had taken the hybrid yoga and art course. Elizabeth Webb, a Claremont Yoga teacher, moderated the yoga portion of the session, while Jac Tardie, a new teacher at Carden Arbor View School in Upland, led the artistic activities.
For an hour, six children circled around Ms. Webb in the quaint yoga studio while she read them the children’s book Every Little Thing. The book is based on the Bob Marley song Three Little Birds. As she read, she incorporated various exercises the children could do, including the lion’s breath, the sun dance, the warrior pose, the flamingo, and other distinctive poses. She also taught students how to use the wall to balance themselves on their shoulders before ending the session with a dance party.
“I entered numbers there [the lesson] and different languages or [I] Just teach them parts of their body, ”said Ms. Webb. “I just try to incorporate everything we learn into the poses, the story or the topic of the day.”
Speaking of the importance of yoga, Ms. Webb said, “It’s a way to come home to yourself and see how you are.”
After an hour of yoga, the kids moved to Ms. Tardie’s art class on the other side of the studio. Spices such as cinnamon and turmeric, flour and petroleum jelly were spread out on the children’s art mat. Ms. Tardie showed the students that if they covered their fingers with petroleum jelly and then used them to draw on the construction paper, they would leave a sticky mark on the paper. After students had drawn or written their names, students covered the petroleum jelly-covered paper with the spices before quickly shaking it off. The goal is for the colored powder to stick to the petroleum jelly, mimicking the way cavemen draw.
Knowing that children have a tendency to get dirty, especially during an activity like cave painting, Ms. Tardie came with paper towels and handkerchiefs prepared. She also brought markers in case some kids, like five-year-old Izzy Friedman, didn’t want to get dirty.
When asked how this art class is different from one of her own courses, Ms. Tardie said, “It really isn’t. It would say it’s really similar. I like the kids to move around and have fun, I think that’s part of it. ”She added that art is a great way for children and adults to express themselves non-verbally. Mrs. Tardie said, “It [art] is a very introspective process in which you learn a lot about yourself. “
After Ms. Brennan struggled financially due to COVID-19 and was forced to close the doors of her old studio in March 2020, she showed her resilience and began saving for a comeback shortly afterwards. She continued her Claremont yoga business online by hosting Zoom classes and accepting donations from the community so she could open a new studio. In addition to her own money, donations, and money from a Paycheck Protection Program loan, she was able to afford a new building on Foothill Boulevard in early 2021.
“We have a new location and it’s even nicer and quieter [than the last location]”Said Ms. Brennan. “People are just so happy to see each other and smile and hug, with permission, of course, until everyone is comfortable.”
Although the KURIER attended the final course in July, Ms. Brennan said the series will return in August. For more information about Claremont Yoga and its events, please visit their website at www.claremontyoga.com. You can also email them to [email protected] or call Ms. Brennan at 909-563-0714.
