by Edie Lazenby Trilling

The Radiant Child Yoga Program (RCYP), teaches students to teach yoga to children. I attended the workshop the first weekend in December 2005. In a word, it was delightful. Shakta Kaur Khalsa who founded the program led the training, assisted by Cristin Tighe, one of her facilitators.

Students came to the training from the DC area and  around the country. All the students were women, many working with children in some capacity or another as  teachers, therapists, and even parents while others, like  me, taught yoga to adults with not as much direct experience  with children. Most attendees were experienced  yoginis though for many, Kundalini Yoga itself  was a new experience.

For me, the experience of learning to work with children was the draw to the program. I love teaching, and teaching adults is where my experience resides. I did not realize that much of what applies to children would apply to adults. Children can cut through any façade. Making the connection with the student is important, no matter how old. However, the difference in teaching yoga to children is mainly that the teacher must have a command of the class as a whole. Adults do exactly what the teacher says, or try to do so. And adults are usually in class because of their own choice.

The essence of the RCYP comes from Kundalini Yoga philosophy. Some asked how it distinguishes itself from Hatha Yoga. Basically, Shakta explained that Kundalini Yoga focuses
Trainees in the Radiant Child yoga program take part in a game from that training.

on the overall yoga experience and experience of the self, uses more intense breathwork and dynamic postures as well as chanting and meditation with yoga postures. It focuses on shifting energy in the body to awaken the Kundalini which is explained simply as what God is in you or what is you in God, and if God does not work for you then simply your true self. For kids, this dynamic moving yoga is congruent to their needs – and fun!

The goal, as I see it, of the RCYP, and the way Cristin  shared with me, is for each teacher to learn how to bring  each child’s radiance forward—bring their light to light.  We are coached in being positive at all times, no matter  what could be happening in the classroom. We were given  tools to help us stay in this positive stance while engaging  children. We experienced simple lessons by Shakta  and Cristin, teaching us as if we were children. The Level  2 consisted of all the students dividing up into groups to create a first class for a specific age group. This was a challenge as many of us stood in the shoes of a children’s yoga teacher for the first time, as the adults acted out pretending to be children, all in good fun of course, to give those of us teaching the opportunity to experience what to anticipate.

This program would help those who work with specialneeds  students as well. Shakta shared her unique experience  when taking two children into her home, at separate  times, to help the parents address the special problems in  a holistic manner. Each child lived with Shakta as her own  for a period of 3 years. During this time the parent would  come as well to integrate the methods developed.

The truth I gleaned from the training as well as from my own experience teaching is that what we give out comes full circle, as we often learn in yoga that so much of what is important for children applies to adults as well: being honest, acting with integrity, connecting with the students, being positive, helping the student to find the right focus, and encouraging expression versus competition. If you want to teach children’s yoga and experience this training it is offered regularly in DC at Spiral Flight Yoga, owned by Cristin Tighe, also a certified Kundalini Yoga Insructor. See www.spiralflightyoga.com/radiantchildyogatraining.html or check on www.childrensyoga.com for other RYCP trainings in the United States and in other countries.

One of the most telling events of this training is when  I was given the opportunity to lead a class myself. The children’s yoga stories in Fly Like a Butterfly: Yoga for Children were invaluable, as we climbed mountains, saw animals, bicycled home, washed clothes and went to bed, all acted out as yoga poses. I think I was as excited as the children. Then, with time left, we played one of the games I learned while in training. The children enjoyed it all.

That book as well as the training  manuals for Levels 1 and 2, two compact  discs and one of Shakta’s book Kundalini Yoga were included with the  training. These tools have been useful to  me in teaching children’s yoga, as they help me further explore my own practice  and Kundalini yoga as well as help  develop lesson plans. I am experienced  teaching adults and new to children. My  love for children and experience teaching seems to go a long way as needs for  children are not as different from those  of adults as we’d like to believe.

http://mayayoga.org/newsletter/articles/3-2006-Child-Yoga-Teacher-Training-Taps-Radiance-Within.php

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