Neighborhood yoga, music classes

Parents, you won’t have to go far this winter to find fantastic, life-enhancing enrichment classes for your children. The North Harbor Tower fitness room hosts two classes that allow kids to sing, dance, move and pose as they learn and explore the world around them.

YOGA

When you first meet Yoga Instructor Keyla Ortiz, her positive energy and excitement for life, kids and yoga is palpable. A typical class starts with breathing, stretching and introductions, and always ends on a calming note. But what happens during the hour between is refreshing and delightful.

“The kids flow with their energy,” says Ortiz, who has worked with youngsters for more than a decade.

Ortiz tailors each class to meet the needs of her young students and helps them connect with the world they live in. Through singing, dancing, stories and more, the little yogis enjoy learning and exploring together with their parents or caregivers. An extensive background in pediatric psychology helps Ortiz create and sculpt the program.

“I incorporate everything I learned from my therapeutic years and gear things toward their needs,” she says.

New Eastside resident Natalie Heitmann and her 16-month-old son have been attending Ortiz’s yoga classes for several months. “Keyla’s a fantastic instructor! It’s tons of fun and my son is always happy to be here,” she says. “Everything is age appropriate and is helping his development.”

One age-appropriate activity that Ortiz frequently incorporates during sessions is feather blowing. Kids practice their breathing skills by blowing a brightly colored feather up in the air. Not only does this produce smiles and giggles, but it also helps kids connect their breathing with movement and purpose, which is a big part of yoga.

Ortiz’s classes for ages five and under are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 to 11 a.m.  at North Harbor Tower. She also teaches ages six to twelve on Thursday evenings from 5 to 6 p.m.  More information, including prices and packages, is available on her website,  www.keyogui.com.

MUSIC

Musician and teacher Nina Marder seeks to “promote learning through music” during her Early Childhood Music and Movement classes, which are also held at North Harbor Tower. Though songs, stories, dancing and the use of various props, Marder inspires her young students to develop a love of learning through music.

Her program is based on an early childhood curriculum, so she emphasizes development of academic and lifetime skills through music. “Through music, they can learn anything,” Marder says.

Early learning skills such as identifying the letters of the alphabet, days of the week, colors and shapes can be mastered through song or interpreted through dance to solidify this critical knowledge. Dancing can also help improve coordination and rhythm.

“Children learn more with movement or through play,” explains Marder.

Her sessions are always interactive and engaging. Using shakers, maracas, parachutes, musical instruments and more, musical exploration becomes vibrantly alive during Marder’s classes.

“I’m passionate about working with children, watching them grow with music and seeing how excited they are,” she says.

Marder’s music classes for babies through preschoolers are held on Wednesdays, beginning at 10 a.m. She is also exploring the possibility of evening and weekend classes for school-age kids. Contact Nina at (847)791-0994 or nmar15@sbcglobal.net for more information.

— Angela Gagnon