CRANBERRY TWP — Sun salutations, shoulder stands and the downward dog are just a few of the poses children will learn at Yoga for Kids, a four-session class offered by BC3 @Cranberry.

"The purpose is to teach them gentle stretches, proper breathing techniques and relaxation techniques," said instructor Betsy Wade.

BC3 has offered yoga as part of its Kids On Campus summer programs, but Wade's class is its first formal course for children.

"We mean it to be fun for the kids," Wade said.

She will start with basic poses and introduce more complicated moves depending on the students' interest and abilities.

"It's a very short class, but I want to introduce them to as much as I can," Wade said. "I also want to be able to repeat some of the poses so they can remember what they've done."

No special equipment is necessary and children can even sit on a towel instead of a special yoga mat, Wade said, since the room is carpeted.

The practice of yoga has physical benefits, no matter what age, Wade said.

"Yoga makes you stronger if you do it on a regular basis, if you do your postures and practice," she said.

There also are emotional advantages, she continued.

"All of us have tons of things on our minds all day long," she said. "With proper breathing and stretching, you can learn to clear your mind and relax."

Yoga is an individual activity, which some children might prefer, Wade said.

"There's no competition in yoga," she said. "They're not competing with their friends beside them."

Wade has practiced yoga for 10 years and taught for seven at BC3.

Beginning next week, BC3 also will offer a variety of yoga classes for adults.

"I took a class at BC3, and my interest, my love of it was immediate," Wade said. "I just felt so good."

Wade said her inspiration for the class is her granddaughter Ella, 4, who already loves to learn yoga poses.

The class is aimed at slightly older children, ages 8 to 12, Wade said.

"You really can start as early as 5, but prior to that, it's kind of hard to hold their attention for any length of time," she said.

Marissa Slupe, 9, of Connoquenessing recently participated in a weeklong yoga class through Kids On Campus.

She said she thinks children her age would enjoy the upcoming class at BC3@Cranberry.

"We would do new poses, and some of them were really fun," Marissa said. "It would be really great if a lot of other kids took it; they would learn a lot."

Marissa enjoyed the class so much she came home and practiced the poses on her own, said her mother, Mandy Slupe.

"She really enjoyed it," Slupe said. "I was encouraged to have an expert teach her things I couldn't teach her, and I was thrilled that they would teach her things that she could take away from it."

The postures learned can be performed at home long after class ends, Wade said.

"Find a quiet place and do your favorite posture," she said. "Just find some place to sit quietly and do your favorite stretch."

Although this is the first children's yoga class offered by BC3, Wade has high hopes.

"My expectation is that the kids come away after four weeks feeling better about themselves," she said.

<B>WHAT: </B>Yoga for children ages 8 to 12<B>WHEN: </B>9 to 9:30 a.m. Sept. 18 and 25, Oct. 2 and 9<B>WHERE: </B>Multipurpose room of BC3@Cranberry, 250 Executive Drive, Cranberry Township<B>INFO: </B>Tuition is $29; call 724-287-8711, Ext. 8246 to register.