Today we’d like to introduce you to Tania Wilcox.
Hi Tania, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I always knew I wanted to work with children. When I went to college, I dedicated a lot of classes to infant and child development. I graduated from the University of California, Irvine in 2011 with a B.S. in Social Ecology, a minor in Education and a Certificate in After School Education. In 2012, I became a certified Montessori Teacher. During my three years teaching at a Montessori school, I completed the 200 HR Yoga Teacher Training and the Kids Yoga Training in 2014. It was then that my passion for working with children, practicing yoga and teaching merged into OC Kids Yoga.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The decision to quit my job as a Montessori Teacher was not easy. I loved teaching, but I wanted to teach skills beyond the classroom such as relaxation techniques, emotional regulation, and body awareness. I knew the only way to teach kids yoga was to throw all the time I had into developing the kid’s yoga program. It was difficult competing with other extracurricular programs for a time slot. Many of the schools already had ballet, piano, soccer, gymnastics, art as options for the parents. The first year, I had two schools on board to offer OC Kids Yoga as an enrichment program. The next year, after a bit of convincing, I had two more. As the years went by, the program grew by word of mouth! Directors began contacting me, wishing to offer OC Kids Yoga not just as an extracurricular program but as part of the curriculum. That was the day I really felt like I “made it”, that yoga was being recognized as something beneficial schoolwide.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
OC Kids Yoga is a mind/body program servicing children and families. We promote good health and wellness through movement, breathing and discipline. The children will develop strong and flexible bodies as well as find a calm and peaceful mind. We specialize in group classes as well as 1 on 1 meditation. The age range for our program begins as young is two years old to 12years old. Every class is designed to take them on an imaginative adventure. Intertwined with music, yoga games, and poses, the children will certainly be laughing and having fun! We offer a variety of classes specific to your child’s age and needs. Classes include one on one private sessions, small group sessions (2-4 students), and large group sessions (5-12 students). We now offer virtual classes.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I was grateful to have kept contact with so many fellow teachers while working at the Montessori Schools. When I first began, I seemed like any other person with another program. But I had co-workers who vouched for me and my passion. Because of these connections, I was able to step my foot in the door at one school and then another. I also taught yoga to adults at the studio and many of them wanted their children to have the same benefits they experience in class. The parents helped me get in contact with the school directors to start the program. Networking has been the driving force of getting OC Kids Yoga seen and in the schools.
Pricing:
- 1 on 1 private sessions – 45 minutes $80
- Small group sessions (2-4 students) – 45 minutes $80
- Group sessions(5-12 students) – 45 minutes $120
Contact Info:
- Email: ockidsyoga@gmail.com
- Website: www.ockidsyoga.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ockidsyoga/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OCKidsYoga/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIhzni4pJY2xgRRyNFeANZw
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/oc-kids-yoga-irvine-2
