'Tween Yoga at West Palm Beach library

At the start of the class, the preteens sit in a circle, say their names and
a descriptive word. Plus, like Dylan (right), they got to ring the bells!

 Would preteens like to practice yoga?

To answer that question, I headed to the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach on a Monday evening. The third floor auditorium, site of Yoga for 'Tweens, was buzzing with kids, ages 9-12, of all sizes, shapes and colors.

The instructor, veteran yoga teacher Sara Beth Force, greeted the 'tweens at the door. Her son Eddie passed out books with this title, My Daddy is a Pretzel, to the kids who missed the first class.



Force quickly took charge of this often giddy, talkative group. When she wanted everyone's attention, she simply began clapping her hands and invited the students to join her. Later in the class, she resorted to the drastic measure of asking the kids to zip their lips by using the motion. She never yelled.

With over 20 years teaching yoga to adults in West Palm Beach and 10 years teaching kids, Force varies her teaching style to the age group. For adults, she focuses on meditation and relaxation. For the kids, she knows they want to have fun and socialize. She lets them play games and make noises during the yoga class.

Two girls pretend to be trains.

Making noise

When doing the helicopter, the preteens exhale loudly as
they swing their arms from side to side.

Group positions where the kids and instructor gathered in a circle
to practice balancing positions were popular.

Partner yoga

Dylan (left) and Eddie practice the tree position.

Three girls practice the suspension bridge.

Yoga promise

Before allowing this downward dog train to start, Force (center, orange tank top)
makes the students promise to respect each other and not to collapse onto the person
crawling through the tunnel. They say, "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes...I promise."

Fish pose

Force tells her students that the fish pose is the one to do when they eat too much candy and want to feel better.

Girls practice the fish pose.

Born to run

What do these preteens want to do after nearly an hour of yoga? They want to run. Force gives in, asking the preteens to move items to the front of their mats. That gives precious running room along the back of their mats.

Eddie leads the way for the quick run around the auditorium.

Circle in the end

The class ends with students standing in a circle, chanting om and repeatedly
saying shanti, which means peace.

Then Force thanks each student individually for attending the class by going around the circle and stopping to talk to each one. She later offers prizes of a glider or spinning top to those who want them.

The Yoga for 'Tweens program is free and continues every Monday, except for July 22, until the end of the month. 

The library has 50 yoga mats for the preteens to use, says Joyce Pernicone, programming librarian. The yoga mats also were used by the Yoga Buds program, geared to 4- to 6-year-olds, she says. A grant from the Mandel Brothers made both programs possible.  

Unlike in the Yoga Buds program, parents/caretakers sit out in the lobby for the hour-long class. 

The size of the Yoga for 'Tweens class, which starts at 6:30 p.m., is limited. Registration is needed. Please call (561) 868-7703 for more information.

And now, for my numbers

I had my best walking day last week on Thursday, June 27, 2013, when I walked:

Steps: 10,540

Miles: 5.3