A school library might not be the most natural place for yoga, but there was no shortage of enthusiasm in a Thursday afternoon class filled with giggling third and fourth grade girls.
During a Feb. 23 session at Sheridan Elementary in Lake Forest, the girls chat while attempting poses with names like “elevator,” “double dog” and “see-saw.” A pair of aspiring yogis jump and pump their arms after successfully completing a pose like a football player who just scored a touchdown.
“It can get a little chatty,” said instructor Elizabeth Balinao.
Balinao, a first-year music teacher at Sheridan, started the yoga class in January as part of an after-school enrichment program in District 67 called Brainstormers.
While teaching a chorus class in November 2015, she had the students warm up with some stretches.
“A girl in the third grade commented that a stretch looked like a yoga pose,” Balinao said. “She said she would love to join a yoga class if I started one.”
Yoga isn’t entirely new for Balinao.
“I was fortunate enough to visit India twice in the last two-and-a-half years,” Balinao said. “I’ve dabbled in yoga and took a couple classes in college. I was never a full-on yogi.”
She spoke to other students to see if there was interest and 11 girls signed up.
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“This is a passion area for [Balinao] ,” said Bridget Booker, director of Brainstormers for District 67. “She spoke with some students who were interested so we facilitated an offering.”
Yoga is open to boys, however none signed up for the inaugural session, Balinao said.
“I think it’s really fun,” said Kayla Badger, a third grader who adds that her favorite pose is double dog.
“Hanging out with my friends” is fourth grader Jia Williams’ favorite part.
Balinao keeps the atmosphere light.
“There are different ways you can introduce yoga to kids instead of having it be such a serious practice,” she said. “It can be kind of daunting walking into a first yoga class.”
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