You’ve Got a Friend
Kids Yoga
& Mindfulness
Offering family yoga classes and kids yoga classes that focus on having fun while moving with the goal of building stronger bodies and minds and more creative and confident spirits.
The Mission
To provide a space where kids are free to be themselves and explore yoga poses and movement while they smile, laugh, make friends, breathe, imagine, play, get the wiggles out and gently build strength of body and mind.
We blend yoga poses, creative expression, music, dance and play with social emotional learning opportunities, mindful breathing, and calm rest in kids and family yoga classes.
Classes are structured but flexible enough to adapt the lesson and activities to meet the kids where they are; the way they prefer to learn; and how they need to move their bodies that day, taking into account observed sensory needs and energy levels.
We strive to ensure that each child feels welcome, seen, heard and cared for in each class and will make the best efforts to welcome all bodies, minds and abilities.
Our hope is that kids learn skills such as the ability to listen to their bodies and what they need; to get playful and creative; to develop focus and emotional regulation; and to manage stress — skills to carry with them throughout their lives.
Meet The Owner and Instructor
Meet Michelle, a mama and deeply feeling human who formerly worked as a nurse practitioner and who has ventured into kids yoga as a new path after navigating many life changes.
Michelle is a lifelong student with a passion for yoga, dance, and music and who is on a quest to discover the best balance between activities, rest and reflection. She has been practicing yoga over the past two decades and benefited greatly from taking yoga classes with her son from Next Generation Yoga by Cindy Lesher. Her son is also one of her greatest teachers.
Michelle enjoys finding creative ways to engage our kids, including the active, wiggly, inquisitive and imaginative ones, and to ease the burden on kids and parents. She believes in healing and regulating our nervous systems so we can connect with joy and vitality.
Michelle is certified by Seattle Kids Yoga to teach children ages 2-12 years. She is enrolled in ongoing training with Kids Yoga Stories in their School Yoga Program.
In her free time, Michelle enjoys spending time with family and friends, being in nature, making getaways, doing qi gong and yoga, and dancing in kitchen and living room with her son.
Your Questions, Answered
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Any child aged 2-7 and any of their grown ups can take a family yoga class. No experience with yoga is necessary. I will make all efforts to accommodate every child and family and their unique needs. Please send any questions to michelle@friendkidsyoga.com.
Older children may join and enjoy class knowing that the lessons are geared towards engaging the younger kids present.
Family can be defined as parent, sibling, cousin, grandparent, aunt, uncle, close friend who is like family, etc. It is not limited to a traditional family structure.
Adults participating in family yoga classes are asked to listen to the needs of their adults bodies and refrain from doing any poses or maneuvers that may not feel good for them. Modifications, alternative poses, or just watching is always welcome.
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Yes. Yoga and mindfulness is for everyone of any faith or religious background.
Yoga is not a religion but a mindfulness journey. It can be used to deepen any religious practice, or be practiced and taught from a completely secular lens.
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Yoga is a fun and non-competitive activity that can help kids develop strength, creativity, focus and discipline, tools for managing stress, nervous system regulation, impulse control, and to learn how to slow down their breathing and their bodies in between moments of increased activity.
Yoga can be used to meet sensory needs and to help with sleep. It is also a wonderful place to incorporate social emotional learning.