A woman walking into a yoga class with a rolled-up mat under her arm is a fairly common sight to witness the world over. However, here in Peebles, you’ll now see mums with a mat under one arm and a toddler on the other. This week, reporter Hilary Scott met with Katy Swift who has introduced a number of wellness classes for the younger generation of the community...

THE pandemic has caused us all to put our life on pause, but there are greater concerns for the mental wellbeing of youngsters who have fast become known as the COVID generation.

Now out of lockdown and no longer on pause, Katy hit the stop button on her Zoom classes and brought them to life, helping many toddlers and pre-teens reconnect in the outside world.

Katy ran nine classes a week on Zoom throughout lockdown, for children from one-year-old to 13 years.

Once restrictions eased she began teaching five-to-eight-year-olds at the Eastgate Theatre, pre-teen at Breathe Studio and Toddler yoga at A Wee Retreat.

Toddler Yoga was introduced after many requests from parents for a class in Peebles.

“These little ones had really missed out on so much during the pandemic,” explained Katy.

“Most of them couldn’t remember being in a room full of other wee ones, so it was brand new for them. Yoga for this age group is all about connection; we move, breathe and co-create together in an imaginative and playful way.”

And as Katy explains, there’s a lot more to teaching tots than the downward-facing dog pose.

She added: “The classes involve lots of songs with actions that get the toddlers to stretch, balance and learn yoga poses. I also come up with creative ways to get them to become aware of their breath, such as blowing on a windmill or blowing a little pom-pom from their hand.

“Most of all it’s just about them learning about their bodies, and how it feels to move their bodies in all sorts of ways. I use lots of props and puppets to keep it fun.”

Exploring nature is something Katy is very passionate about, and along with Nicola Orr who is a wild chef and apprentice herbalist, the pair run workshops for women called Rooted We Rise.

“We take women out into woodland to immerse themselves in nature, and we teach them about the folklore and medicinal uses of wild Scottish plants,” said Katy.

In keeping with this theme, Katy also runs Creative Play Sessions for children which involve song, yoga, nature art and exploration in a woodland garden setting.

“Spending time in nature is incredibly calming and good for us,” she said. “I really believe that knowledge about local plants and trees should be accessible to everyone, as well as access to wild places – by reconnecting to nature we can all begin to see the beauty of nature and receive the healing that comes from being in wild places.

“Having this deeper relationship with the natural world means that we realise we’re a part of it and that it is also our job to protect it.

“This is why I have my Creative Nature Play sessions for under-fives and why I take groups of women out with Rooted We Rise to spend time in woodlands, rivers and lochs.”

Youngsters, particularly teens, are wrestling with the churning emotions of adolescence and all the pressures that come with it.

Katy has taken this on board and has developed a pre-teen class that she says is “very dear to her heart”.

“It started on Zoom and then when restrictions lifted it continued at Breathe Yoga Studio in Peebles. For this age group, I found that so many of my students suffered from anxiety. So we focus on relaxation and learn breathing techniques to cultivate calm,” she said.

“We learn yoga asanas (the physical poses) but also yoga philosophy, such as the practice of ‘Ahimsa’ which, for this age group, I explain as kindness – both kindness to others but also ourselves.

“This age group sometimes struggle with their self-confidence or even body image so the class focuses on self-love and the importance of being kind to ourselves. We have done some lovely exercises over the last year, such as mindful herbal tea tasting or making creative yoga flows in groups. There is time for journaling, sharing circles, and their favourite part is always the guided relaxation meditation at the end of class.”

What Katy teaches in her class has certainly had a profound impact on her students, parents say that their toddlers are independently rolling out their mums’ yoga mat, doing yoga poses at home, and singing the songs they’ve learned.

As for the pre-teens, when life is just getting too much and they feel anxious and stressed, they’ve used the breathing exercises to calm themselves. “It reminds me of why I do this,” said Katy.

The residues of this pandemic will remain etched as stains upon today’s younger generation, and the consequences of the COVID catastrophe has without a doubt had an impact on their inner peace and joy.

But local people like Katy are trying to help counter this, through techniques for relaxation and seeking solace in the great outdoors.

Peebles has a goddess of wellness who is helping youngsters navigate life’s challenges with more ease, at a time they need it most.

To find out about Katy’s classes you can go to www.facebook.com/KatySwiftYoga