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.

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