“Kids’ Yoga and Massage Class” met at St Paul’s Kindergarten, Koriyama, Fukushima, on January 25th, 2016

Original Japanese written by  staffer
The English below translated from the original Japanese by Heeday
The English translation edited by Rev. Dr. Henry French, ELCA

On Monday, January 25th, 2016, at “Waku Waku Square,” St Paul’s Kindergarten, Koriyama, the Project on Nuclear Power and Radiation held a program called “Kids’ Yoga and Massage Class.” The class was attended by children aged 2 to 3 and their mothers.

The program let the participating kids and mothers relax fully together. They had a good time, enjoying yoga, “finger plays” (playing with their own fingers as toys, like “This Old Man,” “Where Is Thumbkin?” etc.), and massages with aromatic oil. Ms. Yoshie Hatakeyama was the instructor.IMG_2631

At first, the kids seemed a bit nervous, but their tension gradually subsided as they did “finger plays” and warmed up doing yoga with their moms. IMG_2649When the kids were free of tension, their mothers massaged them with vegetable oil, beginning with the ankles and gradually extending to the whole body.IMG_2657 While being massaged, the kids were totally relaxed and looked sleepy.IMG_2666

The massage was followed by teatime and discussion with the instructor. Some mothers asked the instructor questions on parenting, and Yoshie gave them advice. The participants, both kids and moms, had a really good time of relaxation.