Yoga: a unique way to bond with your kid

"Mommy’s going to yoga class, and so are you?" No, not my Princess, yet. This is recommended for kids 9-12 years old. And Mom's age? No limit, for as long as you can afford to concentrate, do some turning and twisting!

Yes, bond with your child in a completely new way through Mother's Day Yoga with Maritoni Tordesillas. Watch as the energetic little ones learn to be as still as the night, and even have loads of fun twisting and turning upside down-with their moms as their "playmate," no less. Indeed, trust a child to look at an hour's yoga as fun play; leave the adults to sweat through the challenging poses.

"Children are naturally flexible so the poses come to them fairly easily. It's when they turn 9, 10 or 11, when they begin to just sit in class or spend extended periods studying, that they lose their flexibility," Tordesillas said.

Open even to beginners, mom and kid alike, the Mother's Day Yoga will be held on May 10 at the Century Plaza Penthouse,

120 Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati. Kids between 2-5 years old can join the 4-5 p.m. class, while a 2:30-3:30 p.m. is open for ages 6 and above. The tandem should comprise of one mother and one child, or one grandmother and one grandchild. (Reservation is required. Call or text 0917-522YOGA for inquiries.)

Tordesillas discovered yoga seven years ago when she retired from professional ballet dancing. She has been training her 3-year-old daughter Tessa for almost a year now, who also learns from her mom by watching her personal practice.

"We have to show and teach our children healthy lifestyle by example. That's the best way for them to really [incorporate it] into their young lives, and hopefully it stays with them until they become adults," she said.

Yoga also teaches children discipline, said Tordesillas, and the confidence to face challenges they might encounter, however petty those "challenges" might sound like to an adult. She said children also learn to become aware-of the breath, its relation to their bodies and the bodies' movement.

Peachie Kilayko, who teaches Yoga Ed., a program especially designed for children, said children also become more focused on the moment. Executing the yoga poses is challenging even for a pliant child. This "forces" a child to think and concentrate on that moment.

"Their minds no longer have the luxury of drifting from one thought to the other. Of course, we let them run and play first so that by the time classes start they'd be ready to stay put in one place," Kilayko said.

Kilayko's son Pancho, 10, and daughter Danya, now a college student, have been regularly attending her yoga classes for two years now. Danya, who first learned yoga in high school, said yoga helped her be content with who she is and what she could do.

"Yoga has also helped me not to succumb to peer pressure very quickly," Danya said.
One of the benefits of bonding with your kids through exercise is having something you can do together even as they grow up and become independent, Kilayko said.

Christine Jacobs-Sandejas, who turned to yoga only late last year when she injured her knee playing tennis, is excited to do yoga with one of her daughters. Her children CJ, Nina and Gabby attend Yoga Ed. classes in Alabang.

"This will be the first time I will be in the same class as they are. I really can't wait for that day to begin," she said.

Tordesillas assures participants that the classes are safe. It's not like students will be required to stand on their heads on the first day of class.

"Bonding with your child is important. Teaching your kids to be fit for life is the added benefit," Tordesillas said.

How's that Moms and kids? Wanna try just for fun? Maybe, try it. The bonding thing will set in naturally as one of the many benefits of Yoga. There a few Yoga classes here in Davao that you can visit if you wish to. Will it correct and fix my waistline too? Maybe, why not? Hehehe..!

A Tribute to Mothers on Mother's Day

Words are appreciated for their meanings, and when they are put together to form phrases, sentences, paragraphs, and so on.. they express a variety of feelings, emotions, infatuations, purpose, motives, and what have you..

May 11 this year is Mother's Day. As a mother myself, I love to be loved, remembered and pampered especially on a special ocassion like this. But maybe I can't expect much of that sort of thing from a six-year old like my Princess. For me, it's more than enough that we have each other everyday of the year and every mother's day.

Below, I endeavoured to put together words that express every meaning that symbolizes that special attachment, reverence and tribute that mothers deserve on Mother's Day. They are intentionally shortened, and in some cases paraphrased, so that they can be transmitted in SMS - the now considered state-of-the-art way to send messages in leiu of the letter written on specially decorated perfumed paper. I won't expect my Princess to copy and send these prepared messages for me, though she knows how to manipulate the cellphone. No, not yet.. she's not yet a responsible 'texter'! This brings me to imagine: "how old will a child be to be considered a responsible texter?".. Gives me one piece of material to consult my 'expert' on the matter.

Anyway, here are the sample messages that you can send to your mothers through the SMS:

1. God's omnipresence is made more manifests when He created mothers. Happy Mother's Day!!

2. "M" is for the million things she gave me,

"O" means only that she's growing old,

"T" is for the tears she shed to save me,

"H" is for her heart of purest gold,

"E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining,

"R" means right, and right she'll always be.

3. Once upon a memory. Someone wiped away a tear. Held me close and loved me. Thank you, Mother dear. Happy Mother's Day.

4. The Miracle of Life nurtured by a woman who gave us love and sacrifice...MOTHER. Happy Mother's Day!!

5. For the best mom who always had a smile for me, I know we may be far apart right now. So here's a great big hug and kiss. Happy Mother's Day.

6. When you feel you are alone in the crowd, When you think No.1 can understand you, When your love is rejected by others, & when you hate your Life, Just close your eyes, & see, her face who loves youmore than any 1 else, who care for you in loneliness, & dies when you cry. She is no 1, but your sweet loving mother. Love your mom first and always. I take this opportunity to thank you for your immeasurable contribution to my life. Thank you Mom! And wish you a Very Happy Mother's Day!

7. You've seen me laugh; You've seen me cry; And always you were there with me. I may not have always said it, but thanks and I love you very much. Happy Mother's Day.

OK guys? If you can't say it with flowers and cards, say it through text, or better still, buy her a brand new cellphone - the latest from her favorite brand.. hehehe! Isn't that the best way to pamper your Mom on Mother's Day??!!