(02/06/17) BATON ROUGE, La. – Kim LaFont flipped through a deck of cards. But instead of hearts and spades, this deck included yoga poses down dogs and forward folds.

LaFont, a kindergarten teacher at University Terrace Elementary School, was participating in a one-day yoga training session put on by LSU AgCenter 4-H agents. The Yoga for Kids program aims to teach teachers, 4-H agents, community volunteers and others use elements of yoga with the youth they serve.

“It’s easy to implement in a variety of settings. It’s fun and provides students with a means of self-control,” said Jessica Stroope, LSU AgCenter 4-H healthy living coordinator.

Stroope, Avoyelles Parish 4-H agent Esther Boe and northwest region agent Vicky Green are trained to teach Yoga for Kids instructor workshops. They conducted two trainings recently. AgCenter agents and volunteers attended a training on Jan. 25 in West Monroe.

“I like that it is something that doesn’t cost the participants any money. It’s not a gym membership. They can do it right there in their home or school, and they don’t even have to have a mat,” Boe said.

Attendees learned breathing exercises, practiced yoga poses and developed routines.

Tammy Washington, Ouachita Parish Children’s Coalition early childhood life skills coordinator, believes yoga training will help children focus better in the classroom and even improve their grades as well as school testing scores.

“We have so many children who are living in high-poverty areas and dealing with many difficult situations in their families. They come to school and are forced to have to sit in class, be still and take these tests. If they are able to be more resilient and understand how to cope in their circumstances, then they will be better able to focus,” Washington said.

“Yoga is meant to be a lifetime activity, something that people can enjoy forever,” said Arkansas health program associate Lauren Copeland, trainer and co-developer of the Yoga For Kids program. “It’s something that allows you to focus on yourself, improve your self-image and confidence, and reduce stress.”

Tallulah Elementary School third-grade teacher Kentrell Ramsey said he plans to implement yoga training every morning to prepare his students for testing, especially for the state LEAP test in May. “I think they will think it’s actually cool, and it’s not only for girls or boys, everybody can do it,” he said.

LaFont attended a training in Baton Rouge on Jan. 28 with other teachers from across the state. She anticipates using yoga in her morning routine and at the end of the school day.

“I think it will help with spatial development and being mindful of your body and your space. We will also do breathing exercises where they visualize flowers blooming or bubbles forming,” she said.

LaFont worked on routines with Wildwood Elementary School teacher Katy Boren. Boren teaches first grade and said her students need methods to calmly transition from one activity to another.

“I can see using it right after recess to calm them down or during inside recess. Or right before a test I could pop in a few minutes of the breathing exercises,” Boren said.

“I think this is an awesome program and a great alternative to the usual exercise activities,” said Bianca Plant, St. Helena Healthy Communities coordinator. She said she plans to involve children and adults in faith-based organizations and seniors with the Council on Aging.

Deborah Jones, a community outreach specialist with UnitedHealthCare, said she attended the training because she wanted more activities to do with youth.

“I have a good repertoire of activities for adults, but this helps me fill in the gap with kids. I have booths at events, and I can see putting out a bunch of yoga mats in my booth and going through poses,” Jones said.

Stroope said participants received 25 mini yoga mats, the Yoga for Kids curriculum and DVD, and a lot of ideas, energy and excitement to implement the program.

Copeland said new poses, games and mindfulness training will be released later this spring along with online training for faster access by instructors.

The yoga training was part of a collaboration between AgCenter 4-H and family and consumer science agents with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-sponsored Healthy Communities grant, the Wal-Mart Youth Voice Youth Choice grant and the AgCenter, Stroope said.

LSU AgCenter 4-H healthy living coordinator Jessica Stroope leads a group of AgCenter agents and volunteers through yoga poses during a Yoga for Kids training session on Jan. 25 in West Monroe. Photo by Karol Osborne/LSU AgCenter

Kim LaFont, front, Deborah Jones, left, and Katy Boren go through a routine they developed during a Yoga for Kids training conducted by 4-H agents in Baton Rouge on Jan. 28. Photo by Tobie Blanchard/LSU AgCenter