Yoga Preschool | Nitya Living

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Welcome to our CommUnity Yoga Preschool! This is the place you’ve been looking for that fosters a nature-based education infused with mindfulness yoga practices and lifestyle. This is where your little human gets to explore organically the wonders of their mind in a child-led classroom. This is where the woods is as much their classroom as the one inside. Living yoga means your child is learning to be their best selves; compassionate, honest, ethical, kind, and loving to all including themselves. In our daily schedule we incorporate not only hatha yoga and breathing exercises but mindful action, thought and word. Weaving science, math, Spanish, storytelling, songs, and imagination into every day as we encourage fun and play in our day. All families are invited to join in monthly gatherings like pot luck dinners, family hikes or picnics. We will also offer inspiring parent programs. As this is a preschool for your whole child, it is also a CommUnity that includes the whole family. Welcome

All are included * All are welcome * All are celebrated

“The child is endowed with unknown powers, which can guide us to a radiant future. If what we really want is a new world, then education must take as its aim the development of these hidden possibilities.” Maria Montesorri

Lead Teacher: Allisen Learnard became a teacher in 2008, and a preschool teacher in 2014. Through her work with not-for-profit community building organizations, she has reached hundreds of sites in under-served and at-risk communities and has impacted thousands of children with her style of integrated teaching that marries the performing and expressive arts with the foundational standards of learning. Allisen has been a lead teacher, co-facilitator and/or tutor for schools, government facilities and community centers throughout Miami, Fl and Richmond, Va, including Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts and VCU Health Family Care Center. She’s led teacher training workshops, family engagement events, created instructional videos and mentored new teachers on how to create meaningful moments of education through a classroom that is student-directed and integrated through collaborative expressive efforts. She loves working with preschool aged children, sharing in their inherent joy in discovering the world around them, and cherishes the feeling of connection she’s made by reaching so many children and families, across diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Besides a teacher, Allisen is a dance performing artist, yogini, doting cat mom, lover of the outdoors and avid bookworm.

Teacher: Erin Parker is a wife and mother to 3 children. She loves yoga, being in nature, reading and cooking nutritious food for her family. Erin has worked with preschool aged children for most of her adult life in many different ways. She believes that the preschool years are the most magical time in childhood and loves to see the world through the eyes of a child.

Director: Lydia Nitya Griffith has been an Integral Yoga Teacher specializing in children’s programs since 2005. Nitya has created, and directed over 15 years of yoga camps both in Richmond and in Yogaville. Nitya has taught and inspired thousands of students of all ages with her insights and wisdoms on living yoga. Nitya is thrilled to begin this new adventure with Unity of Richmond offering this incredible preschool in which all of her skills are being utilized in an innovative and collaborative way. Nitya has been a business owner for nearly 25 years, has published 4 books and a Kid’s Yoga DVD, is a Feng Shui consultant, Master Chinese Astrologer, avid lover of nature and eating farm to table. Getting children outside is one of her favorite things and she is sure to be jumping in the mud puddles with your child!

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Begin Your Enrollment Process by filling out a Letter of Intent and submitting a $100 deposit to Unity Of Richmond .

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The program is exempt from licensure as a religious organization, owned and operated by Unity of Richmond Church. We still receive regular inspections from the VDOE Office of Child Care Licensing to ensure we are always following proper health and safety measures. This is a non-religious preschool; we embrace all cultures and all faiths in an all inclusive way.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

How many students and teachers will participate? Our capacity is 24 and our minimum is 15, at 15 we will have 2 full time and 1-2 part time teachers, at 24 we will have 2 - 3 full time teachers and 1-2 part time teachers.
Will my child have a nap ? You will see that a yoga nidra rest time is built into every day.
How will the program be accredited and or licensed? The program is exempt for licensure as a religious organization, owned and operated by Unity of Richmond Church
The contract references part day, regular day, and extended day. Yes, the tier structure for the enrollment is set up for full time students and there is an option for part time as well. The Supporter pays a bit more to allow for Scholarship students to attend, Supporter can opt for extended day at no additional cost. The Sustainer rate has both a regular day and extended day option with an added cost.
How will you handle behavioral issues like hitting, pushing, bullying, or sharing? Compassionate conversation, breathing exercises, and other yogic practices.
What is your potty training policy? All students should be potty trained.
Is there a nurse to take care of minor health issues ? No, but there will always be a CPR-First Aid trained teacher available and a stocked first aid kit.