Youngsters at R.O. Hardin adopt yoga to instill exercise into
their lives
About 100 parents attended a parents night this week at R.O.
Hardin Elementary School where they were taught about healthy
snacks and watched their children demonstrate yoga positions they
had learned in their classes as part of a new pilot program
designed to thwart diseases such as diabetes that are linked to
being fat.
Youngsters at R.O. Hardin adopt yoga to instill exercise into their lives
About 100 parents attended a parents night this week at R.O. Hardin Elementary School where they were taught about healthy snacks and watched their children demonstrate yoga positions they had learned in their classes as part of a new pilot program designed to thwart diseases such as diabetes that are linked to being fat.
First, they heard a serious message delivered in English and Spanish from Anthony Mojica, the community outreach coordinator for Hazel Hawkins Hospital.
“We are one of the worst countries in terms of diabetes,” Mojica said. “If we continue on the current path, we will be the first generation where parents bury their children instead of children burying their parents.”
Mojica attributed the staggeringly high diabetes rates among juveniles to the increased consumption of unhealthy foods such as fat-laden French fries, sugar-laden soda pop, and the lack of exercise as parents increasingly allow their kids to gravitate toward video games instead of playing outside as did generations past.
Mojica’s involvement in the “Fit for Kids: Growing Up Healthy and Strong” program, which emphasizes healthy eating habits and exercise for kindergartners, began when he served on the former San Benito County Diabetes Coalition with Barbara Nicoara, the chairman of the Fit for Kids committee in Hollister. Although the Diabetes Coalition’s original plans for the county did not get funded, the committee wanted to implement some of their goals for children.
“Kindergarten classes just went to full day, so we had a chance to work with them on a variety of subjects,” Nicoara said.
Linda Smith, the principal of R.O. Hardin, and the kindergarten teachers were both open and supportive of the program, so the coalition opted to start the program there, Nicoara said.
“The kids really enjoy doing the yoga,” Smith said.
The positions the children learn even have fun names including mountain pose, downward-facing dog, monkey and the newest one they learned, which is their favorite, the dragon pose.
“The students are very open to it; they are impressed with themselves and that they can do these things,” Smith said.
Kindergarten teacher Sally Carpenter has noticed positive changes in her students since the program began.
“We even use the poses in the classroom, telling them to do the mountain pose (standing straight up with arms at a 45 degree angle to the body) and to breathe slowly.”
The program is a great benefit to the community, Carpenter said.
Kindergarten teacher Carol Lewis also found the program beneficial. “The students always ask us if this is the week we do yoga; they always look forward to it,” she said.
Lewis also noticed that the program has helped kids overcome shyness. One boy who didn’t want to do it at all the first week was enthusiastically bending and stretching and having fun by the time parents night rolled along, Lewis said.
Robin Pollard, a yoga instructor with the San Benito County YMCA, is one of two instructors who come in and teach yoga to the students every other week. The children are the youngest people she has taught.
In a span of 20 minutes, the children are led through two breathing exercises, two or three warm-up exercises, two or three animal poses and a relaxation and meditation exercise.
The children performed for their first audience at parents night.
“They did a great job,” Pollard said. “This was only their fourth time doing this.”They have come a long way from where they started.”
If the program continues with the success it has shown at R.O. Hardin, the coalition may take the show on the road.
“We’re going to see how it goes and if it’s a big success, maybe we can be an example for others,” Ricoara said.
