Storytime Yoga For Kids in Africa – Once Upon a Pose

Storytime Yoga for Kids in Africa with Certified Teacher Rita Moltzan with her kindergartners.

Storytelling is an ancient tradition in Africa. Often African storytellers begin with “We do not really mean, we don't really mean that what we are about to say is true. A story, a story; let it come, let it go.” (A Story, A Story; Gail E. Haley, 1970).

In Zimbabwe, Shona storytellers often begin their stories with “Paivapo” (Once upon a time). Their audience should reply with “Ndefunde”- a reponse word that difficult to translate but means that it shows you are listening. At the end of the tale, it is customary to say, “Ndapadaperera sarungano,” meaning “this is where the story ends”. This rich culture of storytelling has endeared me to Africa and started me on my journey with Storytime Yoga.

Long-time Storytime Yoga Teacher Rita Moltzan shares her insight on teaching kids yoga with storyteling.

My name is Rita Moltzan, and I’ve been sharing the joy of story and yoga with children in Africa for 5 years now, both in Douala, Cameroon, West Africa, and now in Harare, Zimbabwe. I’ve practiced yoga for 8 years. I discovered yoga while living in Sumatra, Indonesia and took the three e-courses to become a Storytime Yoga teacher and member of LOYS. While in Indonesia, I wove yoga into my preschool classroom and also practiced with children in the library, as I was also a part-time librarian at the time. I found the stories and yoga calmed the children and refocused them for learning.

In my current teaching assignment I offer an after school activity called Once Upon a Pose where I tell stories and practice yoga with children from kindergarten through to 5^th grade. During my teaching day, I insert Brain Breaks where we stretch and move to rhythmic poems. We also do yoga poses for balance and concentration. My students know that any time during “seat work”

Brain Break in Rita Moltzan's fourth grade class

they may get up and strike a few poses or Take 5- a breathing break. This practice allows students to refocus, energize, and concentrate better.

As I move on now to another chapter in my life, in Abuja, Nigeria, I plan to take my Storytime Yoga with me. As I’ll be a librarian there, it will be a wonderful place to share the joy of yoga and storytelling with my new students!