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Read a Book and Practice Children's Yoga in Cobble Hill This Weekend

 Yoga instructor Shenaaz Jetha will host a yoga and storytelling class for children at BookCourt on July 27.
Yoga instructor Shenaaz Jetha will host a yoga and storytelling class for children at BookCourt on July 27.
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Little Feet Wise Heart yoga

COBBLE HILL — Call it the tale of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Downward Dog.

Kids can practice their poses while reading books this weekend as yoga and storytelling come together at BookCourt in Cobble Hill.

Shenaaz Jetha, 41, a yoga instructor for children and founder of Little Feet Wise Heart yoga, began “Storytime Yoga” classes last year. This will be her first time teaching the class at the popular Court Street bookshop.

Jetha begins each class with a warm-up session and might lead the group through practice poses from a yoga book for children depending on the age group, she said. 

Once she begins reading storybooks, the poses are based on symbols or characters in the narrative.

“You can always find something in the book to turn into a yoga pose,” she said.

For example, if a dog appears in a story, the group might do a downward-facing dog pose. The same thought applies for other animals and objects like a cat or tree, she said.

Jetha began practicing yoga while in college at UCLA and she has been teaching children’s yoga for more than four years. Before she launched Little Feet Wise Heart, which specializes in kids and family yoga, she was an instructor at Mala Yoga in Cobble Hill.

Yoga helps children learn how to focus and also stay calm particularly after a lot of activity. Shavasana, the final pose of relaxation in yoga, is the most important part of the practice for both adults and kids, she said.

“Yoga is about connecting mind and body,” said Jetha, who is developing a class for grandparents and grandchildren.

“The earlier you start, the better it is.”

Little Feet Wise Heart yoga will host its “Storytime Yoga” class on July 27 at 11 a.m. at BookCourt, located at 163 Court St. The class is for children ages 10 months to 5 years old. Adults are encouraged to attend the session.