[ccfic caption-text format="plaintext"]
By James Ensor
Hometown Weekly Reporter
The children’s section of the Walpole Library may not represent your traditional gym, but the program room was transformed into a paradise of aerobic exercise between 1-2 p.m. on Thursday, August 11. Yoga for Children has arrived in Walpole, and it has arrived in a big way. This yoga program has been going on for six years under the guidance of Kristin Mulligan, who lives in Foxboro and began the program with the birth of her six-year-old son.
“It’s a yoga program for children that I’ve been doing here about six years,” said Mulligan. “We combine concepts of yoga with concepts of literacy, always including a story. I basically hope to help the kids spend and stretch their bodies and provide them with techniques to calm down like deep breathing. Of course, I also want them to know activities like yoga can be fun!”
The program is typically limited to fifteen participants, mostly aged 3-5, but some walk-ins join in and are not excluded. The program started when Kristen brought her daughter to a program at the old Walpole Library, where she met Kara Dean, the Head of Children’s programs.
“It’s been a very popular program from the get-go. There was a gap this year because Kristin’s been working during the regular school year,” said Kara. “We waited to get her back thought because what is really nice about Kristin’s program is the kid’s love her and she incorporates literacy which is always a library priority. We love having her.”
The library hopes to continue the youth yoga program on more regular intervals, and the reasons why are apparent. Getting exercise, learning self-control activities that are inherent in yoga, and picking up literacy skills are all of great benefit to the kids, parents and wider Walpole community.
