Classroom Yoga^TM was developed by Annette Kissinger in response to requests from schools who wanted to start a yoga program. She currently teaches in schools in New York State and New Jersey and is available as a consultant to help schools implement their own yoga programs. In March 2004, she produced a video entitled "Yoga Journey Around the World" which is available for purchase via this website.

Annette first shared her love of yoga with children at an after-school program for middle school students in Norwalk, CT. It was a challenging group; several of the children were overweight and did not enjoy traditional forms of exercise. Most of that age-group was struggling with their emerging adolescence and were self-conscious of their bodies. Annette found these students benefited by doing the yoga postures to build strength and release stress, by laughing as they played yoga games, and by resting quietly as they relaxed at the end. Art projects were incorporated into the yoga practice to reinforce the yoga poses learned.

Since then, Annette's primary focus has been with pre-school and elementary students - most likely due to the ages of her own daughters who are four and six. She learned that the key to success with young children is to make yoga FUN. She does this by acknowledging their shorter attention span and by catering to their vivid imaginations. Annette encourages the children to be very energetic as they practice yoga poses, so that they can truly enjoy the beauty of being still when they relax.

View a photo gallery from Classroom Yoga^TM classes.

Yoga education: In 2003, Annette graduated from the "Angel Yoga" teacher certification program at Naturally Yoga in Glen Rock, NJ which specializes in yoga for children. Annette has completed workshops at the Omega Institute and has been practicing various forms of hatha and ashtanga yoga over the past 20 years.