Marilyn Molchany had a problem. Her first-grade class at Ephrata's Fulton Elementary School was dominated by 11 high-energy boys.
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"I would give them some extra time to exercise and expend some of their energy but found it was difficult to get them 'back down' and ready to learn after that time," she says.
Luckily, Molchany found out about Suzanne Accardo, owner of The Yoga Place, Ephrata.
"She excitedly offered to come to my classroom to work with my students last year, to try out some relaxation, breathing and stretching exercises," Molchany says.
"We used the breathing techniques to get focused before lessons or at the start of the day. I used soothing music to promote a quiet atmosphere while the students were working."
The results were so impressive, Molchany invited Accardo back to her classroom this year.
"Ultimately we wanted to stress the importance of listening carefully and following directions," Molchany says.
Now the public is invited to learn Accardo's techniques, when she offers a free three-week Children's Relaxation and Concentration Class, at Ephrata Public Library, beginning Monday, June 15.
The class will provide children ages 3 to 5 with the skills they need to do something we all might take for granted: to calm down, Accardo says.
"We think of children as being carefree, but kids today are really stressed," she says. "Things are going on in their family life, maybe both parents are working and — especially over the summer — they are being shuttled around to caretakers, or their parents are divorced, so they're splitting their time between houses."
Even fun activities, like organized sports, can cause stress, she says.
"We've never had children in competitive sports as young as we do now," she says. "There's a lot of pressure for kids to excel."
And even when kids are "relaxing," they aren't necessarily calm.
"They are being stimulated constantly, whether it's from a video game or a computer or a TV show," she explains. "Technology is constantly stimulating them, to the point that they are losing the ability to become still, to become quiet. They don't know how to do it."
She hopes her class will be a starting point for children and their parents to understand basic techniques for relaxation and concentration.
The class will incorporate games for burning off extra energy, as well as more sedentary activities, like reading books about yoga.
"Reading the book to the children will help them to get them calmed down," Accardo says. "Even in my adult classes, we do what's called 'centering' at the beginning. We don't just jump into the class."
An emphasis will be placed on proper breathing techniques as well.
"Breathing gives you something to focus on if you're stressed and need to relax," Accardo says. "If you give your mind one thing to focus on, it's easier to calm down. The class is about learning to calm yourself."
Accardo says she often talks students through "guided imagery," where they imagine focusing on an image in their mind of a butterfly or a balloon, but she likes focusing on the breath best, because it teaches children that they can calm down anywhere.
"If you learn breathing techniques, you can use them no matter what house you're in, what car you're in or where you are," she says. "Your breath is always with you."
Learning to relax will also help children learn better concentration skills, decrease stress levels and improve sleeping habits, Accardo says.
The change in Molchany's students has been remarkable.
"It's amazing to see how 'still' Suzanne can get the kids when they are relaxed," she says. "There are times when I get emotional when I see my kids in such a quiet manner, because they need this quiet time."
She says she can see on their faces that they are enjoying every minute of it.
"It's almost a relief that they are permitted to be still and relaxed, in a quiet room," she says. "This year, I even had one student cry as he laid quietly and relaxed."
She says she doesn't have any way to track the academic benefits of the relaxation and concentration techniques, but she's positive it's made a big difference in the little ones' lives.
"I'm just trying to foster their emotional intelligence and provide students with a way to cope and control their own bodies and minds," Molchany says. "I am also hoping that the students will realize the importance of having healthy bodies and minds."
Chill Out
WHAT: Children's Relaxation and Concentration Class, for ages 3 to 5
WHERE: Ephrata Public Library, 550 S. Reading Road
WHEN: 11 a.m. to noon Mondays, June 15, 22 and 29
COST: The program is free.
REGISTER: Call 738-9291 to reserve a spot.
CONTACT THE NEW ERA: cmolitoris@LNPnews.com or 291-8758
