Bendy Birthday Bash

So, ah, want to come to my birthday party? Was thinkin’ we could spend an hour pretending to be animals on rubber mats before stuffing our faces with sweets and digging into loot bags. And if you think that sounds cool, just wait and see what we have in store for the kids.

We’re kidding, of course. In fact, we’re laughing, joking and smiling our way right through our child’s next birthday bash at—you guessed it—a yoga studio.

We like to think of your child’s yoga mat as the gateway to their imagination. Along with a qualified teacher, some mood music and a little storytelling, yoga can transport their next party out of the frozen north to exotic destinations like the African savannah, the Brazilian jungle or even the bottom of the sea.

Sound calming? Can be (or not). The only limit to your kid’s yoga party is your (or their) imagination. Well, there are small details like timing, location and teaching but fortunately, Yoga Mandala has those wrapped up in their birthday party package.

Yoga Mandala is a family-run studio located just off the Marda Loop strip. We announced their grand opening just over three years ago. Since then, studio owners (and parents to two youngsters), Kevin Elander and Melissa Innes, have added several family-friendly programs to their Ashtanga-based class schedule, including the ever-popular Prenatal, Mom and Baby/Tot, Preschooler (Yoga Playground) and Yoga for Kids.

Birthday parties can be booked on most Saturday and Sunday afternoons between 2–4 pm and as always, we suggest booking well in advance. There are no limits to the number of children that can attend. However, plan to have a parent in studio for parties of 10 or more (for sheer crowd control). Yoga parties are suitable for 3–12 year-olds and class content is customizable to different age groups.

The yoga session lasts approximately 45 minutes followed by an hour of free studio time that can be spent eating cake, playing with yoga props or re-enacting yoga dramas. You bring the food and party supplies. Rates vary, but think in the $200 range which includes two hours of studio time with yoga teacher onsite, the yoga class and tables for noshing.

Birthday parties can be stressful. Take the pressure off with a deep breath and a giggle on a yoga mat while introducing little ones to a healthy and fun lifelong activity.