The sound of American Indian flutes came from portable speakers in a classroom devoid of desks and pictures, transforming the gray, carpeted room into a living, lush garden as water and nature sounds played and campers prepared themselves for "becoming" butterflies.
It was all part of the Yogarrific yoga camp, held June 9 through 12 at Tanque Verde Elementary School, 2600 N. Fennimore Ave.
Five students in kindergarten through sixth grade took part in the camp, led by instructor Heidi Kirkland.
The Yogarrific YogArt class followed an earlier KidzArt segment in which children explored a multitude of art media.
Kirkland said that teaching yoga in school is excellent for students in many ways.
"My mission is to make yoga more accessible to places where people are playing and working," she said. "The whole point of yoga is to create balance, both physical and calming. It has strength, flexibility, concentration and relaxation."
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Students gathered on mats in a circle and performed movements of things in a garden, from butterflies to bumblebees to rain and sunshine.
"I like the part when the teacher tells a story because you are in it," fourth-grader Elena Rauschen said. "I've even showed my mother how to do it."
"Yoga is good for the body," added kindergartner Leah Jacome.
Summer Yogarrific classes are taught Mondays through Thursdays at various locations throughout Tucson. Go online to www.yogarrific.org for more information.
