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Yoga for youngsters

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Rea Colella's students know what to do when she says, "Now be a standing sandwich."

That means touch your toes.

It's a stretching exercise kindergartners practice during yoga class at Hilton Head Island Early Childhood Center, where Colella teaches physical education.

Wednesdays are reserved for "Heart Day," when students participate in traditional P.E. activities such as running or jumping rope.

Fridays are reserved for "Muscle Day," when students learn how to stretch muscles, focus on posture and relax.

"I just want them to have body awareness and know ways to stay calm in a very busy life," Colella said. "They are constantly being stimulated and don't have much quiet time."

Colella begins class with an upbeat song students can dance or skip to while standing on yoga mats. The point is to "wake up their muscles."

Sun stretches are next. Students lift their arms high above their heads and take "deep mountain breaths."

The next group of exercises mimic adult yoga poses, but are held for a shorter time to keep the kids interested and not strain growing muscles.

Among the poses is the Horse, similar to a traditional runner's stretch, where students bend one leg at a 90-degree angle and extend the other behind them while keeping their hands on the floor for balance and holding their head high, "like a proud horse."

It's a class favorite.

"It's something they've all been able to master," Colella said. "But that's the great thing about yoga. It's not about competing. It's about getting better for you -- your personal best."

Students follow Colella's commands as she calls out: "The Dog (a hamstring stretch). The Caterpillar (a back stretch). The Tree

(a balance pose)."

"My favorite is the tree because it stretches my muscles up and makes me stronger and stronger," said 5-year-old David Masis.

Since the school follows a curriculum that emphasizes the arts in all classes, Colella

usually incorporates books into the lessons.

On Friday, she read "The Tiny Seed," a story about a seed that blew in the wind and landed in the perfect patch of grass to grow. It was luckier than other seeds that landed in the desert or on top of a cold mountain.

Colella then showed the kindergartners how to "grow," much like how a seed becomes a flower. Students began as seeds, curled in a tiny balls.

They slowly stood up, their feet like roots, and stretched upward as they grew.

On their tip-toes, with arms outstretched, the "seeds" had become "flowers." Then they waved in the wind and rewound the routine until they returned again to

being tiny seeds, curled up on their mats.

The class ends with "shavasana," or the "shhhh pose." Students lie down with arms and legs relaxed and close their eyes.

Colella turns on soft music and gently places an eye pillow across each student's face.

This "cool-down" is Ben Gueta's favorite part.

"I like shavasana because that's awesome," the 5-year-old said. "I never did that before with a pillow on my eye."

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