The Power of a Pose

Originally published in Points North Magazine | Written by Eryn Killian

Seven girls between the ages of 8 and 10 stood quietly on yoga mats at the Bethwell Community Center in Milton, Georgia. The whole class moved into the next pose twice—once leading from the front of the body, once from the back.

“Which feels more powerful?” asked Amy Haysman, who co-founded Grounded Kids Yoga.

The girls agreed that the second felt stronger. Haysman beamed, “You see? You are already connected to that power.”

Throughout the class, she continued to ask them questions—not just about the poses, but about their feelings and how their lives outside relate to what they are learning inside the yoga studio. This respect for her students and her confidence in them to discover these answers for themselves characterizes the entire philosophy of Grounded Kids.

Haysman, a former school teacher, believes that as much as kids need to play, they also need and want seriousness and calm. That’s why she has dedicated her time to promoting yoga for all ages.

Enrichment Through Elevation

Haysman has a seemingly effortless ability to maintain a balance between the silly and the serious. One moment she has the girls loosen up by exhaling silly sounds or doing a pose called Laughter Milkshake, and the next they are perfectly still in silent meditation.

The kids understand instinctively when to sit quietly and follow Haysman’s instructions, as well as when it’s appropriate to laugh or crack jokes—and both seem equally fun for them.

In a special program called Quest for Elevation, students master a series of accomplishments, much like in martial arts classes. By the end of the program, they become Certified Grounded Kids, meaning they will not only have mastered a range of yoga poses and concepts, but they will also be able to teach what they have learned to their friends outside of the class.

“We teach them that it’s their responsibility to share what they learn with others,” Haysman said, adding, “and they want to. Students that age love teaching others. It gives them ownership over what they’re learning.”

These girls are already well on their way to that goal. Even those who have only been in class for a short while have a clear grasp of what yoga gives them. Between school, family, friends, and other activities, their lives are very busy—as many of the students put it. When asked what they like about yoga, they all immediately noted that their classes with Grounded Kids give them a peaceful space away from all that stress.

“When I walk out, I feel like the world is so noisy, and this is where I find my peace,” said Kathryn.

Emily added, “I’m really not that much of a person who calms down easily. Yoga makes me feel like it’s a good thing to be less hyper. It makes me feel relaxed and happy.”

The girls agree that yes, yoga can be challenging, but they know that the challenge also makes them stronger.

Standing Strong

The physical benefits of yoga for kids are easy to imagine—flexibility, strength, balance, and posture—but the emotional benefits can be even more powerful.

“It helps kids bring to a balance of energy, a balance of emotion,” said Haysman, highlighting the benefits of yoga for both kids who are hyperactive and those who are depressed—as well as everyone in between.

She also spoke about the ways in which yoga teaches self-confidence and inner strength:

“In Grounded Kids, we teach kids to plug in to who they really are at their core. We believe everyone is good at their core, that we have this source of goodness, this light—and that they don’t have to do anything or be anything other than themselves to be loved.”

This philosophy not only combats the self-consciousness that sometimes leads to bullying, but also teaches kids how to stand up to bullies and other problems in their lives. Grounded Kids teaches them to stand strong—literally and figuratively.

“Not from a place of getting angry or yelling,” Haysman clarified, “but from courage and compassion. We teach them how to embody these qualities that sometimes get clouded or hidden. We teach them how to reveal their best self.”

Read the Full Feature in Points North Magazine

Curious how kids’ yoga can be both silly and deeply transformative?

Check out the beautifully written feature “The Power of a Pose” in Points North Magazine to see how Grounded Kids Yoga helps children stand strong—physically, emotionally, and socially.

👉 read the original article here: (Flip to page 37 to start reading!)

✨ Get an inside look at our method, mission, and magic in action.