On January 26th, “No Name Calling Day”, Kim Valeri, local yoga instructor, will be offering a free SOFTER™ informational seminar at her studio in Hamilton for parents, along with a free drawing to win a copy of her new SOFTER™ behavioral game that she uses in her home. This remarkable game, that has made parenting super easy and fun for both her and her children, is designed for elementary school aged children.  The free informational workshop will be from 6-7pm Wednesday night and you can register or get more information by calling yogaspirit® at (978) 927-0099 or (978) 468-3099 or visiting www.yogaspiritstudios.com

SOFTER™ Method Mind-Body Program is a program which offers evidence based techniques that Kim Valeri, its creator, has been using in her private healing practice for over a decade and has been teaching mostly to serious students of yoga in her yogaspirit^® Yoga Certification Programs.

SOFTER™ (stop, observe, feel, think, evaluate and respond) is a way in which Kim hopes to begin to share yogaspirit^® teachings for the benefit of parents, and children of all ages to help create a conflict-free culture. This program is designed to stop the "knee jerk" reactions and responses that most everyone is familiar with and replace them with the ability to arrest the reactions, expand awareness, evaluate the circumstances, and elicit emotional intelligence ultimately to make more positive choices.

The inner teachings of yoga, backed by scientific study today, know that habitual reactions are caused from past experiences and memories that get triggered when your "buttons get pushed". These buttons or reactors are the underlying expression or manifestation of inherent desires, predispositions, habits and tendencies created over time. Once they are triggered, usually a powerful urge sets off an outcome which is often destructive, leaving you feeling out of control and insecure. 

Kim has had success with many children of all ages over the years including adolescent teens and young adults. She has found that working with the children and parents too, offers the most success. Probably the best laboratory for testing her theories has been right in her own home. Kim knows firsthand the worries parents have on behalf of their children along with many of the struggles parents go through today from divorce, single parenting, co-parenting and blending families. Originally teaching Parent-Child yoga many years ago when her daughter was only four, she continues to use child rearing stories in all her philosophical lectures in the yoga settings across the country in which she can be found teaching. With her daughter now a sophomore in college and two young 6 year old, competitive boys at home, Kim is always at practice in the home: setting boundaries, teaching awareness and respect, and awakening the ability to discern and evaluate how to make better life choices. She calls these teachings "The SOFTER™ Sword". All the while, she is nurturing, not quick to judge, and fosters a secure and close connection with her children which makes them feel safe to talk, gain confidence, and strengthen their willingness to do the best possible." These methods she calls the "The SOFTER™ Shield". 

Learn more by attending Kim’s workshop on Wednesday, the 26^th. www.yogaspiritstudios.com

Also:

Teen yoga Mondays 3:30-4:45 - $60/series or drop-in $15 starts Monday 1/24/11

Prenatal yoga Sundays  7-8:30pm $75/series or $17 drop in starts Sunday 1/30/11

Family yoga Thursdays 3:30-4:45- $75/series (second child or parent - $5) Starts 2/3/11