Learning Tree Yoga's Mission:
Through the highest quality teaching of age-appropriate yoga with a strong foundation rooted in education our goal is...
- To provide unique and engaging classes that develop student's mental, physical and emotional wellness.
- To unlock all children's inner potential and increase focus, concentration and attention span.
- To create safe, fun and respectful activities where all children can build confidence and let their inner light shine.
- To incorporate educational topics from literacy development and mathematics to nutrition and health education.
- To inspire children, teachers and families to use yoga as a means for creating calm in their daily life.
Founder Jessie Forston
An elementary school teacher with her Masters of Education from the University of Minnesota, Jessie noticed early on the effects of fast paced lives on the faces of the children that walked through her classroom door. She saw the daily stresses that her students were bringing to school and how busy parents, never-ending lessons and activities, and pressure to be the best was affecting our children today. So she decided to do something about it.
Jessie had been practicing yoga on and off since 1996, and in 2005 began practicing more regularly to reduce the stress in her fast paced life. Through her personal practice, she began to realize how powerful yoga can be at bringing balance, focus and inner joy to daily life. So she began to search out avenues for children and came upon YogaKids. In 2007, Jessie completed her certification with Marsha Wenig through YogaKids and is a Certified YogaKids Facilitator and YogaKids Trainer.
In 2008, Jessie left her 8-year career in teaching to give birth to her first child and to Learning Tree Yoga. Flexibility and time to be with her son is what lead Jessie to business ownership. With the help of family and friends, she has built Learning Tree Yoga from a storage space warehouse to a beautiful studio welcoming all children to shake out their sillies and find a stillness within.
In addition to YogaKids, Jessie has completed Level One of YogaFit Training, is a Trainer of Trainers for Thinking Maps , has completed Brain Gym 101, has trained with the MindUp program and has taken classes by Susan Kaiser Greenland of InnerKids to share mindful awareness with children.