Heidi Deck

“A couple of weeks have passed since my Foundations training, but the excitement I had those three days is still fresh in my mind. I went to the training with the goal of adding to my educator toolbox. I wanted to find more ways to incorporate movement into the classroom, and glean a new perspective on how to best support kids who might be struggling to focus. I came away from the training with much more, and realized that kid’s yoga could benefit my students and many others in so many ways.

One realization I had during some of the breath work we did was that we don’t teach kids how to breathe. We tell them to focus, we tell them to calm down, but we don’t teach them how. As I just completed my ninth year teaching, I am learning more and more that some of those ‘other things’ such as breath, focus, self-regulation, social skills, etc. are just as important as the content we teach. This is one reason that I decided to commit and continue with my training.

I picture myself running YogaKids camps in the community in the future and starting a yoga club after school. I don’t know what the future will hold for me in my career, but I do know I am always seeking out new opportunities to learn and grow, and I am excited to see how this training will impact my path. I am thrilled to be part of the YogaKids community!”

Kim Vulinovic

“I came to YogaKids in 2001. At that time, no one was teaching children’s yoga in my community. As soon as I began to share the word of my new profession, doors flew open to me. Within the 9 months I took to complete my at-home-practicum, I earned more than enough income to cover all of the expenses of my certification. Since then, I am gainfully working as a YogaKids teacher in the Oak Park area. My annual billings are about $70,000, and I still have lots of free time for myself and my family. I believe in everyone’s right to earn a fair living, and YogaKids has brought me financial rewards as well as those of fun, balance and boat loads of happy children. Namaste to you!”

Jill Conroy

“My Foundations experience far exceeded my expectations. I’m a dental assistant, and was looking at obtaining a few tips on relating to kids better in the office. I’ve been working with at-risk and high-risk youth (generally those in the foster care program up here) and am confident that bringing yoga into that area will have amazing results. I believe that kids (generally) these days aren’t being taught the coping mechanisms to deal with all that is thrown at them, and that YogaKids can help change that. I’m blown away already by the difference it’s made dealing with stressed/scared kids in the dental office — a little ‘Bunny Breath’ and a ‘wiggle break’ here and there go a long way!”

Jill Gault

“After the Foundations training. I was inspired to continue with the Certification because I felt it would not only connect me to a community of teachers for furthering my own growth, but also I was impressed with the depth and breadth of the curriculum. As a former classroom teacher of 25 years, I have seen many changes in the last few years that really concern me. I feel the exorbitant amount of testing and expectations that do not celebrate the whole child need to be balanced out with an infiltration of yoga for kids of all ages. The curriculum combined with yoga philosophy is an all encompassing path to raising and developing confident and better learners.”

Mia Gerard

“What I love the most about YogaKids is that it is an approach to educating the whole child through yoga. Along with yoga, each class is accompanied by other elements such as music, games, language, math, art, and storytelling. I believe it can make a difference in the lives of children of all abilities!”

Boi Nghi

“I realized what was really important to me and the program reinforced my passion for yoga and love for children. To be frank, I would never have guessed I would be able to teach and connect with children. I share my love of yoga with them and they give me back so much. YogaKids has awakened my inner child, my playfulness, my silliness and my courage.”

Carolyn Tracy

“I never DREAMED there would be such an amazing and effective organization who would “back” me and my yoga business when I first knew I wanted to teach children yoga.  I honestly thought I could figure it out!

This organization has training that will blow your mind!  If your creativity wants to come out and play AND you want to empower children, YKI is the place for you. Their teaching is unique and their approach will touch every child from so many angles. In my opinion, the “yoga” sort of comes in the back door. Meaning there is art, ecology, fun language games, reading, amazing quiet quests and visualizations and so many other features we teach the children. Many folks misunderstand “yoga” as simply poses or stretching. NOT! It’s so much more; there are no words that could possibly explain the well thought out plans and accomplishments of this one company.

When I finished my first Foundations course, I honestly felt equipped to go out and teach children. I immediately got insured, designed a card and went for it! I put some fliers into a learning center for complementary classes, and voila… a daycare center called me.  And I began. That was almost a year ago!

The amounts of creativity, support, online support, on-the-phone support, group Facebook teaching support, ideas, guidance when stuck, and tenderness and enthusiasm from this entire company is limitless. My business would not be where it is today without YogaKids International as my backbone and my support to beginning such a worthwhile business. Thanks everyone at YKI!”

Helen Young

“What I love the most about YogaKids is that it is an approach to educating the whole child through yoga. Along with yoga, each class is accompanied by other elements such as music, games, language, math, art, and storytelling. I believe it can make a difference in the lives of children of all abilities!”