The First Family Yoga Studio in Toronto!

When YogaBuds was established in 1994, the studio was the first to offer Family Yoga in Toronto. In 1997 Temmi Ungerman Sears, director of YogaBuds, combined her background as an Expressive Therapist, Special Education teacher and yoga teacher to pioneer the yoga and kids movement in Canada with the launch of the highly successful YogaBuds for Kids program.

Since then Temmi has taught thousands of children in the Toronto area as well as parent-child classes and workshops. YogaBuds has received extensive media coverage in both print and television media, nationally and locally.

Temmi has been trained to teach children's yoga directly by Geeta Iyengar (the daughter of B.K.S. Iyengar), who is a yoga master and scholar and has over 30 years experience teaching childrens yoga in India.

The YogaBuds for Kids program is designed for children ages 5 - 14 years.

Thousands of children in the Toronto area have experienced YogaBuds' unique combination of classical Iyengar yoga with elements of play, creative movement and various art modalities in a fun and non-competitive environment.

Yoga and children is a fabulous mix. In light of today's growing concerns about the risks of childhood obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, stress epidemics and eating disorders, arming our children with invaluable life skills is every parent's responsibility.

Benefits of Yoga for Kids

Yoga is a healthy, safe and enjoyable activity that brings the joys and benefits of exercise to children. At YogaBuds, as children playfully move, bend and stretch their bodies in easy, natural and fun-filled yoga ways they:

• develop body awareness including improved posture
• learn relaxation and concentration skills
• increase flexibility, muscle tone, strength, and balance
• learn anatomy

The yoga games and yoga postures help children to:

• build self-esteem and confidence
• develop improved concentration, attention and focus
• increase self-awareness and self-discipline
• enhance self-expression through creativity and imagination
• improve social skills through peer interaction
  

Classes

• YogaBuds offers classes weekday afternoons. Classes are 45 minutes in length.
• Students are divided into three age groups: 5 - 8 years; 9 - 14 years; Teens
• 5-8 years
  Cooperative games with themes, partner yoga, storytelling, music, and art combine to help this age group explore yoga postures and relaxation skills (including breathing exercises).
  
• 9-14 years
  Classes integrate more formal instruction with playful activities to challenge students in their yoga process as they learn postures and breathing exercises. Stress management techniques and meditation are also focused on.
• Teens
  Please call to schedule a teens class; minimum number required to form a class is six student.

YogaArt Classes for Kids:

In this exciting new class combining yoga and art, children will have an opportunity to explore their imaginations; discover and express their own personal style and creativity; have fun, and feel great about themselves in very special ways. Young yogis and artists will be presented with a different theme and idea each week which will be integrated into yoga postures, guided imagry, yoga philosophy and the art project.
Also check out the YogaArt weekend workshop...

Tuesdays (5 - 6:15 pm), Starting September 12

YogaBuds Community Involvement
Every year YogaBuds visits schools in the Toronto area to run free yoga clinics for students.

Special Needs Students
Yoga is an effective complementary treatment for children with various special needs. Children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, ADHD, Learning Disabilities and various other special concerns have benefited from their participation at YogaBuds. Students with special concerns are fully integrated into regular classes. YogaBuds director Temmi Ungerman Sears also specializes in therapeutics yoga for children with migraine, anxiety and other stress related conditions. Private consultations and sessions are available.

At YogaBuds, children develop an invaluable source of strength as they learn to draw on their own inner center or calm and stability. Most importantly, the kids have fun while gaining incredible benefits to their overall health and well-being.

Read comments from Kids in YogaBuds classes.