Founder, Jessica Walsh developed the program from her own experiences struggling with an unhealthy body as a child. At 12 she underwent surgery for scoliosis and experienced complications that made everyone unsure if she would ever return to her normal health again. She began practicing yoga at 16 and now eleven years, eight pins and one rod later she has more flexibility and lung capacity than ever! 


With YogiDance Jessica teaches children the skills they need to overcome any physical or mental struggles they face and provides a great example of what can be done with passion, confidence and determination!


Jessica has CPR certification, and all required clearances to work with children. Jessica studied with Marsha Wenig, internationally known children's yoga pioneer and founder of YogaKids. She regularly attends the Yoga Journal Conference, Himalayan Institute and Wanderlust where she studies with internationally known teachers and learned hula hooping with Shakti Sunfire. She studied dance and yoga at Penn State University. 
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Picture courtesy of Cucinotta Images

WHY YOGA FOR KIDS?
Exposing children to this ancient martial art will help them build a healthy lifestyle and have a positive mindset. 

 YogiDance classes provide kids with a non-competitive environment to go within and discover their creativity with the union of body and mind. Children will learn important social skills and how to work together as a team. Incorporating games, hula hooping and yoga provides a fun and relaxed environment for children to explore their creativity while exercising.

Calming Kids Certification

Jessica completed, Ahimsa: Calming Kids Creating a            Non-Violent World certification. 

A pilot study of the program conducted by Dee Marie and a Harvard Statistician reported 93% decrease in hitting in school, 68% decrease in feeling angry, 57% increase in the ability to control anger and less headaches and better sleep. 
Visit their website for more information. 

Jessica applies the techniques she learned from this program in her classes. This helps children with relaxation and creates a peaceful environment to reduce bullying in children's lives.

Research and Studies - Get the Facts

Why get your child involved with YogiDance?
Watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZyUVQOD7Pg&feature=fvwrel

Articles on Yoga and Health Benefits:
  • "Sat Bir Khalsa, PhD, a neuroscientist at Harvard who researches the effects of yoga on sleep disorders, said the therapy promotes focus, which could help explain why it appears to be so effective in children with attention problems."
  • "If you're depressed, how can you treat it if you're not aware of it?" he asked. "Yoga ... creates education between your mind and your body that wasn't there before. And education is the first step in any kind of intervention." 
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Weekend/patients-coping-cancer-adhd-turn-yoga/story?id=8964606&page=2

  • "Many disorders have a strong stress component, and I think yoga acts on that," he said. It also "increases resilience and stress-coping capabilities" if practiced long enough.
  • Or it may work -- as in the case of ADHD patients -- by making them more aware of their condition.
  • "...a 2006 German study found that children undergoing drug treatment for ADHD can greatly benefit from a yoga practice and that forward bends are particularly effective."
    http://web.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/2569
Hula Hooping Facts:

  • Hooping is, "a total-body workout that has the potential to improve your flexibility and balance while strengthening and toning the muscles of the back, abdomen, arms and legs. The rhythmic nature of hooping may also be relaxing and almost meditative for some."

  • "...hooping burns an average of seven calories per minute for a total of about 210 calories during a 30-minute hooping workout." 

  • "Exercisers can expect similar results from hooping as they’d get from boot-camp classes, step aerobics and cardio kickboxing—all of which meet fitness industry criteria for improving cardiovascular fitness...hooping falls within accepted guidelines for exercise that can contribute to weight management."
http://www.acefitness.org/certifiednewsarticle/1094/