Today we’d like to introduce you to Lorraine Nogueras.
Lorraine, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Fitness was never a part of my lifestyle when I was younger. In fact, it was the last thing on my mind. I began practicing yoga two to three years ago. In 2016, I made the decision to better my health overall when we learned my father became ill with cancer. That’s when my research began with disease which then led to nutrition and fitness. I later lost him in the fall of 2017.
Once everything settled, I began suffering from anxiety, panic attacks, and depression. Due to my decision to live a holistic lifestyle, I wasn’t open to depend on medication to numb my pain. My mother suffers from arthritis and lupus and I remember everything I had researched about how beneficial yoga can be. It was then that I dove into yoga full force and discovered that yoga saved me, it became my medicine.
Challenging myself in my practice taught me how to be more peaceful. It taught me how to deal with my emotions and to quiet my mind. Later, I learned that children can benefit from yoga as well. I became certified to teach children yoga and mindfulness. I am a KAY teacher trained in the “Kidding Around Yoga” style. Our youth struggles with anxiety, depression, panic, and stress much like adults. I take pride in teaching our young generation yoga in a fun-filled and creative way. Children have all kinds of excitement all while learning yoga and developing a future lifestyle in the practice.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing ever comes easy. However, I approached it all one day at a time. I started with positive affirmations telling myself out loud that I was going to take the certification class. Once I became certified, I started my journey by piloting an elementary school yoga club. The response was overwhelming and I was ready to teach hands on. The club was for kids in grades K-5 and from Monday through Friday for four weeks.
I struggled with finding my passion for years, it took for life’s tragedies to place me where I am today. My journey so far has been rewarding to teach children all about what I love. I organize camps, private sessions, birthday parties and yoga at the park. Children can’t wait for their next class to learn and engage with mindfulness and yoga. My struggle now is getting people to realize how beneficial yoga is for their children. For those young women starting your journey, I would advise doing what you love and everything else will come naturally.
Passion is what drives and I continue on with just that. My love for yoga and understanding of the practice is what fuels me. I often catch myself having to withhold how I feel about yoga to not overwhelm anyone new to the practice. I only hope that it’s seen as genuine and possibly encourages them or their children to begin their practice.
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Being a kid at heart helps. At 33 years old, I still enjoy playing dress up. It keeps me young. I had my daughter at the young age of 19, and she is my best friend. I had to set an example as her role model and show her how to grow. That gave me the upper hand. I learned how to work with children, listen to them and understand them. They want security and a familiar face.
I specialize in kids yoga and mindfulness. With that, I am teaching them to always be kind and helpful to their friends and family as well as a variety of yoga poses. We act out stories, sing songs full of yoga poses and enjoy deep relaxation at the end of each class.
These days, I’m known for my dedication to teaching our youth. Every Saturday, I meet a group of children for Kids Yoga in the Park for an hour. I truly enjoy the way their face lights up when they land that challenging pose. Or when they share what they’re grateful for in our closing circle. Each moment is pure and enlightening.
What I am most proud of would be starting a school-wide initiative that both the parents and students rallied behind and think so highly of. Seeing the joy and excitement in their faces to learn about mindfulness, peace and meditation motivate me to strive to become better at what I do. To enhance the yoga experience of every person, young or old, that participates in any of my instruction.
Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
Actually, I do. Everything makes sense to me now that I can look back and reflect. As a little girl, I danced ballet and my absolute favorite part was the stretching during warm up. We performed recitals every year and I just remember things I learned from that time in my life. I kept up with stretching even after I wasn’t dancing anymore, it was a practice instilled in me.
I knew that I wanted to work with children at a very young age when I read the book, “A Child called ‘IT’”. Not only did I want to work with children, but I wanted to help them as well. Once in high school, I decided that I wanted to become a pediatric nurse. That was short-lived, learning very quickly that it wasn’t my calling.
Now, I understand that I just wanted to help children by nurturing them. The name BLOOM derives from the idea of seeing them grow, physically, mentally and emotionally. I live for those days when one of my students waves hi or shares a hug or even says to me, “Namaste.”
Pricing:
- Kids Yoga at the Park $15
- Birthday Party Packages range $175 – $200
- Camp ranges $150 – $200. Daily rates available
Contact Info:
- Phone: 9548017426
- Email: bloomkidsyoga@gmail.com
- Website: www.bloomkidsyoga.com
- Instagram: www.instgram.com/bloom.kids.yoga
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/kidsyogabloom
Image Credit:
Gissette Rios
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