New ‘ZenKids’ Children’s Yoga Teacher-Training School launches in Bury St Edmunds to coincide with Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week.

The Children’s Society states that “1 in 10 schoolchildren have a diagnosed mental health condition”. It further suggests that “if children aged between 5 and 16 don’t get the support they need; their problems will get worse”. They then go on to state “75% of all mental health problems are established by the time someone is 18”.

The facts seem to be clear, children need the right support, at the right time, at the right age. With the right kind of attention and support these problems can be effectively managed and possibly prevented.

In November 2018 the Government published a paper on ‘Mental Health and Behaviour in Schools’ on how to best support our children. This paper includes many structural ideas for Well-being in schools “(which) will include teaching pupils about mental well-being through the curriculum and reinforcing this teaching through school activities and ethos”.

Research leads us to understand that teaching children Mindfulness is fundamental when it comes to self-support and self-management. We also know teaching a positive mindset is essential when teaching children about self-kindness, calm confidence and self-belief.

We also know that Movement is imperative to mental health; exercise promotes the bodies well-being ‘happy’ hormones of Endorphins. With team activities when handling positively, you also get connections with other children in the group in a constructive healthy environment of supporting each other.

So, what is children’s yoga?

Founder of ZenKids and ZenMuma Jackie Heffer-Cooke explains “Kids yoga is an exploration through movement and mindfulness through story-telling, song, rhythm, partner work, discovery of the world, discovery of relationships and discovery of ourselves. It looks after our physical Health as it is all about the development of motor skills, functional

movement, core strength, flexibility and strength. It looks after our Mental Health as it teaches us to learn how to accept ourselves in the present moment without judgement, to calm and control our nervous systems and encourages ourselves to be kind to ourselves, treating ourselves in the same way that perhaps our best friend would. Thereby teaching self-care, and self-confidence.”

The ZenKids and ZenMuma teacher training school is launching a new kids yoga teacher-training school in Bury St Edmunds to help keep up with rising demand. The ZenKids programme has been written by Yoga Instructors, Education Consultants with a focus on the Curriculum and Occupational Therapists who specialise in promoting children’s motor skills.

Residents in Bury St Edmunds and beyond can attend the course and learn to teach the kids yoga programme – and even set up their own children’s and family yoga practice once they have qualified. The course is aimed towards parents who want to support their own children, parents who want to start a new career teaching kids or family yoga and mindfulness in their local area, and teachers or headteachers who would like to introduce Yoga or Mindfulness into their school.

You can talk to founder Jackie Heffer-Cooke about what might be the right pathway for you, or your school.

The next three-day course will start on 17th February, 2020 at The Self Centre, Kempson Way, Moreton Hall, Bury St Edmunds IP32 7AR, you can also train in baby and post-natal yoga at this venue in March.

 “Kids yoga and mindfulness for children is soaring in popularity because news is spreading about what a powerful effect it can have for teaching children about how to reduce anxiety. ZenKids is based on our 4 Cs, Community, Collaboration, Confidence and Calm” says ZenMuma founder Jackie Heffer-Cooke, “most importantly it is a massive amount of fun and with all the schools we have worked in so far they all report that the children love the classes, and are using the techniques learnt in their school day”.

Jackie was born and brought up in Bury St Edmunds and attended King Edward School. She now lives in Norwich but was keen to launch the training school in the town where she grew up.

“Bury St Edmunds is a beautifully historic town yet forward-thinking, up-and-coming and friendly. Over the years I have watched as it has grown into a real centre of the map in East Anglia making it the perfect place to launch this initiative,” says Jackie.

“We will now be able to provide many more highly-qualified kids yoga teachers to help meet the demand for parents and schools” she adds. 

TV Sports presenter Jake Humphrey and his wife Harriet are advocates for ZenKids yoga school saying “as a parent of two children, I think ZenKids is a great idea. My daughter Flo is only 5, but already does yoga at school and loves it.  As parents we are so focused on our kid’s numeracy and literacy skills, but yoga uses mind and body like nothing else and I think it’s fantastic...whatever your age.”

To become a kid’s yoga teacher contact ZenKids founder Jackie Heffer-Cooke on hello@zenmuma.co.uk and visit zenmuma.co.uk

For more information please call Jackie Heffer-Cooke tel: 07813 069529 or info@jackieheffercooke.com