Bala Vihar Classes Integrate Art, Music, Stories, Yoga, and Meditation to Develop Healthy and Vibrant Children

Mountain View, Calif. (August 26, 2009) – Pacific Meditation Center, a non-profit organization that offers yoga and meditation instruction for children and adults, is launching Bala Vihar classes for children in grades K-5 that focus on yoga, meditation, storytelling, music, and art. Yoga instruction draws from a tradition of classical yoga. Children learn classical poses including standing forward bend, downward facing dog, cobra, tree pose, sun salutations, and corpse pose. They learn to relax, quiet their mind and develop better focus through short practice sessions in meditation using techniques that are simple and fun.

“The same skills that adults acquire through meditation can be helpful to children in the face of stress,” says Center Co-Director and teacher, Lynn Waelde. “The difference between having a meaningful, enjoyable life or a very stressful one depends a lot on how we view the situations we’re in and approach them. Besides being fun and creative, these classes provide children with the skills they need to navigate difficult situations that may arise in school and with friends and family.”

Classes use storytelling, singing, art, and chanting in addition to yoga and meditation to encourage growth and learning. Parents are welcome to attend at no additional cost.

Center Director Ashok N. Srivastava, Ph.D. and Lynn Waelde, Ph.D. have taught yoga and meditation for more than fifteen years and worked with children in Mountain View public schools for the last three years. Dr. Srivastava is an internationally known NASA scientist. As a private consultant, he provides vision and strategic direction for numerous Fortune 500 companies and Silicon Valley startups. Dr. Waelde is a professor at Palo Alto University and a Consulting Associate Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. Her research interests focus on the benefits of yoga and meditation.

Classes are held on Saturdays from 10:30 am-noon. The fall session started August 22 and runs through December 12, though students can join the class at any time. Cost is $130 for the fall session or $220 for the full year. Each additional child in the family receives 50% discount. Because the fall session has started, those joining now will receive a pro-rated fee. The classes are located at 2094 Grant Rd. in Mountain View, Calif. For more information, please visit http://www.pacificmeditation.com

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