Redefined Kidz, Fit Story Time Yoga

Take a moment. Pause. Now close your eyes. Allow your spine to sink deep into your chair. Now expand your chest and slowly take a deep breath in. Slowly release. ‘Ahhh.’ Let’s repeat this two more times. Slowly take breathe in.  Release. ‘Ahhh.’ Let’s take one more deep breath in. Now release. ‘Ahhh.’ 

I want you to honestly ask yourself, when was the last time you slowed down; you closed your eyes; you allowed yourself to take a step back and just allow the world to turn around you; you just breathed? I remember going on walks around the park with my own children or friends and being envious of people who would just be sitting on picnic benches. Sit?! Wait, you have time for that?! But as time would permit, I have found myself slowly allowing my body to slow down, to saturate in all the richness and beauty that continues to be present in the world around us, to just breathe, to seek rest. It is only through these moments of rest that our body is allowed to rebuild and grow. It refreshes you physically. It refreshes you mentally. It refreshes you emotionally and spiritually.  Our competing thoughts, wishes, feelings, and motives come into greater harmony, reducing a mental tug-of-war process. Our mind-body connection becomes more regulated. When we focus on our breathing, we become more reflective. Our stress levels reduce and our body naturally flows into a more harmonious state.  Now imagine if you were introduced to these strategies as a child; imagine the utilization of a coping mechanism that enables you to reduce your body’s reaction to stress  while improving overall mental, physical, and emotional wellness at a young age, which was able to transcend into your adulthood.

At Redefined Kidz, LLC., we believe in the power of integrated wellness practices such as yoga, mindfulness, meditation, breath-work, communication techniques, social-emotional learning strategies, and community-building exercises. We utilize physical yoga postures designed to help master the body and enhance the body’s functions into guided meditation practices through teaching deep relaxation and mindfulness systematically during interactive storytelling! We help children and families use techniques that manipulate the length, depth and texture of the breath to reduce stress and improve overall physical and mental health all while learning and having fun. The yoga techniques embedded within the stories have been found to help balance mood and energy levels, as well as activate the parasympathetic nervous system. We work on breath awareness, control and coordination to make children aware of how breathing is connected to our bodies and emotions. We integrate words of empowerment into our mantra’s to help improve each child’s individual inner strength, self-love and clear purpose.

At Redefined Kidz, LLC., we provide 6-8 week programs as an after school club, community outreach groups and private community groups. We also provide workshops within the integrated community environment.

Contact us today for more information.

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    Suzanne (Columbia) Varona, MS CCC-SLP is a pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist that is highly skilled, ASHA-certified, and NJ licensed with nearly two decades of experience working with children in the outpatient, school, community and in-home environments. She is a certified HANAN 'Learning Language and Loving It' professional and is formally trained in PROMPT, DIRfloortime, and PECs. She is a Baby Signs, Inc. and Speech Buddies provider. She continues to expand her area of expertise, advocating for the most innovative therapeutic strategies and resources, in the area of apraxia of speech, early speech and language growth and development and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Suzanne is also an advocate for mental health and wellness, becoming an empowerment specialist and currently obtaining her 200-hour digital wellness, SEL and yoga teacher certification in Breathe for Change.

    Suzanne was raised in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, obtaining an undergraduate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Linguistics and Teaching English as an International Language from Geneva College. She earned her Masters of Speech and Language Pathology from Clarion University in Pennsylvania. Soon after graduating with her Master's degree, she relocated to northern New Jersey and began working in a variety of treatment locations. After immersing herself into school district placements, she soon discovered her passion to advocate for early speech and language development while training parents/caregivers when working in homes and inclusive community locations through NJ's Early Intervention System. After relocated to southern NJ several years ago, her passion and dedication to advocate for early intervention support for children and their families/caregivers only blossomed until a need for initiating Redefined Kidz, LLC was created.

    Suzanne's energy, passion and commitment to helping children is demonstrated in her dynamic, fun approach and in the sincere, respectful relationships she cultivates with parents/caregivers. She focuses on functional communication skills while holistically working with parents/caregivers to receive support training necessary to use the strategies during existing activities at home, in the car, and on the go. She focuses not only on building early receptive and expressive language and communication skills but on building mental, physical and emotional wellness to empower each child to be equipped with specific tools and skills to tackle challenges that will be faced in life. It is with this passion that she has advocated to spark a movement for all children to enhance their health and overall well-being through mental, physical, and emotional development and growth.