Monday marked the last class of the first kids yoga series offered on Marco Island. Totten led the classes once-a-week on Mondays from 4:15 to 5 p.m. at Hands on Yoga Studio on Marco Lake Drive.

Totten said relaxation was really difficult for the kids at first because it was hard for them to sit still, but now, the kids can relax for a whole two minutes.

"It's fun," said Taylor Weis, 8, of Marco Island. "It was a very good class. (Mrs. Totten) is really nice and I learned a lot."

During the series of classes, the seven little class members learned how to perform many different yoga poses such as downward facing dog, the goddess pose and warrior II.

"I think a lot of people think (yoga) is all about relaxation, which a lot of it is, but it's also about strength and toning," Totten said. "If you start earlier, you start respecting your body and noticing what you put into it."

Every week, Totten keeps the kids interested and focused with storytelling and incorporating the different poses with the emotions from the readings.

"I love books and storytelling," Totten said. "I think it makes a big difference and it helps them remember the poses better instead of just doing the poses. Usually, the stories have a moral to them."

At the end of each class, the group usually plays a game with what they've learned. This week, all of the children made a tunnel using the downward facing dog pose. Each child took a turn to crawl through the tunnel where they would take their position again at the end.

"I like how it's fun and how a lot of my friends are here," said Alexis Buhelos, 8, who attends the class with her twin brother. "The Yoga is really fun and I'm getting better at it. I hope she's gonna do it next year."

Find out more

Because of the class success, Totten is planning another four-week series, featuring Russian folk-tales, beginning on Nov. 26. The cost for the class is $32 and it's limited to 12 children, ages 6 to 10.

For more information, or to sign up, call Peggy Totten at 642-4504.