BACK TO SCHOOL – FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016
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parents, you name it. We encourage the family to listen to music together, to talk about it, to make it part of the family life. With all of your loved ones cheering you on, playing becomes a joy.” The school also offers lessons for adults who want to join in the fun. As students advance in the program, they grow to appreciate all the ways their Suzuki training helps them in everyday life. Whether they are speaking in front of a group, collaborating with peers, or applying patience and discipline to a difficult task, HRSM students and graduates are equipped for success throughout life. As HRSM graduate Alejandro Cruz said, “The student-centered, caring, nurturing environment allowed me to grow into a musician of poise and confidence. More importantly, the teachers helped me develop a love of music and the violin that has followed me throughout my life and enriched not only my experience of the arts, but my day-to-day life as well. Great things happen at HRSM, and those great things last a lifetime.” Located in Dobbs Ferry, HRSM takes place after school from September through June. Contact Rosen at amyrosen.hrsm@gmail.com or 693-9481 or visit hrsm.org.
THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 45A
BACK TO SCHOOL s Arts & Enrichment Clubhouse Stars adds mindful yoga class Maryanne Reda saw the impact immediately. “We have always incorporated yoga and breathing into all of our groups and saw the benefits of five-10 minutes.” Reda is the owner and a teacher at Clubhouse Stars. This spring, Clubhouse Stars added a yoga class called “Mindful Kids Yoga.” Lauri Marks is a trained Karma Kids Yoga instructor and she facilitates the Mindful Kids class, as well as bringing some yoga strategies into all of the groups. Clubhouse Stars offers a playgroup for children 3-5 years old, Social Stars for ages 6-9 and Clubhouse Girls for ages 9-11. The first Mindful Yoga class was offered last spring and the class filled up quickly with both boys and girls. Marks intends to add more classes in the fall. In this day and age, children can be overstimulated and stressed out. We live in a fast-paced world. They are dealing with school pressures, homework, competitive sports and technology advances. Yoga can counter these pressures. Physically, yoga enhances flexibility, coordination, body awareness and strength. Mentally, yoga can provide a sense of calmness, improve self-regulation and increase concentration.
Play, Engage, Learn Fun for All Ages!
Participants can learn to manage stress through breathing techniques. Marks teaches calming strategies that students can bring into their daily lives. These include hand movements that can be used before a test, before bedtime or any situation that can be stressful. Other techniques used are mindfulness jars and coloring. All these techniques teach children how to self-regulate and relax. Children can learn body awareness and build self-confidence. Marks incorporates noncompetitive games into Mindful Kids for concentration, flexible thinking, and executive func-
tioning skills. “Yoga provides healthy ways to express and balance emotions,” she said. All of these skills are essential tools to function successfully in today’s society and benefits last a lifetime. But why add yoga to Clubhouse Stars? Mindful yoga is geared and adapted toward the needs of the students. As the Clubhouse Stars has helped children learn to navigate social situations, Mindful Yoga does just that. Studies have shown that children with ADHD, attentional issues and behavioral concerns benefit from yoga. Both Reda and Marks believe yoga helps children behave with mindfulness, which helps them act and react to situations in an appropriate manner. “Clubhouse Stars is a place where all children shine,” Reda said. Yoga means “union of the mind and body.” Both Reda and Marks believe just that. They practice yoga in their personal lives and believe its benefits are essential to begin at an early age. In addition, they facilitate different professional development workshops for teachers. For more information, visit clubhousestars.com or Facebook or call 674-1940.
YOUR COMMUNITY ART SCHOOL CENTRALLY LOCATED IN WHTE PLAINS Classes for Adults, Teens and Children
CLASSES IN: Ceramics Jewelry Drawing Photography Sculpture Painting Digital Arts
New! Weekend Studies: Work towards your degree on the weekend
Explore our forests and trails • Climb in a treehouse on our Nature’s Discovery Playground • Experience the interior of a wigwam and longhouse • Find a frog in our vernal pond • Learn about our rooftop gardens Pet a tortoise, goat, or ferret!
Creative Entrepreneur Bootcamp! Call for more info: 914-606-7500
The Greenburgh Nature Center is a leader in environmental education. We offer programming from sustainable practices to environmental science and animal care. Every visit holds the possibility of a new discovery and memorable moment.
99 Dromore Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583 (914) 723-3470 • www.greenburghnaturecenter.org OPEN DAILY
Convenient location: White Plains, Westchester County Center
For more info: 914-606-7500 www.sunywcc.edu/arts Email: Arts@sunywcc.edu