Is yoga in the library the next big thing? Virtual class with Lauren Hoffmeier

About Lauren Hoffmeier

Lauren was raised in the heart of New York City with a performance background in opera and musical theatre. She is a trained yoga teacher and the author of Mula and the Fly, a fun picture book series that provides parents and teachers with a soft introduction to yoga. The fun characters and engaging stories promote a happy and healthy lifestyle to encourage positive mental wellbeing during early development.

BOOKS BY LAUREN

Libraries are becoming multifunctional spaces within schools – do you think yoga in the library will take off? 

Well, here’s something exciting about my book series. Every book comes with fun and easy yoga tutorials at the end, so readers of all ages can give yoga a try with Mula and the Fly wherever they are in the world. A library is a perfect atmosphere to give those poses a try!

How can teachers make their library or learning space yoga-ready? 

Maybe I’m a purist, because I tend to talk about the origins of yoga a LOT. In other words, I like to remind anyone new to the practice that yoga isn’t about manoeuvring your body into complicated shapes (something that has taken social media by storm). The essence of the practice is all about focusing on your breath in order to feel a sense of balance in the moment.

Over the years yogic postures have developed more and more in order to make the practice of sitting down for long periods of meditation feel comfortable in the body. So, if a library wanted to make their space, as you say - yoga-ready, then all they would need to do is ensure that their space is a place where all people feel welcome to learn and grow. And you know what, I think libraries have figured that out already!

Is Mula and the Fly a series that can be enjoyed outside during summer?

I’ve heard from parents of readers worldwide that their children love reading Mula and the Fly outdoors, indoors, in the mornings and before bedtime. From that feedback I can say with confidence that the Mula books are something that can be read anytime and anywhere!

How does the story tie into other themes, like animals and nature?

For a start, yoga poses are named after animals and the environment: tiger pose, chair pose, mountain pose, etc. Learning yoga at a young age literally teaches children to embody the very nature of those things around them - which in turn teaches the basic principles of compassion, empathy, and responsible communication. When teaching yoga to children I find it imperative to remember the rich culture of where the practice came from and teach to that.