According to Drake, who loves youngsters, “Our behaviour and emotions are directly linked and children arrive at classes presenting a wide variety of emotions: happy, excited, sad, tired, angry, anxious… It is an important part of my work to help children understand their emotions and to teach them healthy coping strategies to self-regulate. At the end of the day, I believe everyone wants to feel good but we are generally not taught how to be!”

Drake teaches toddlers, children, teenagers, even families, in a variety of settings including multi-week yoga and mindfulness programmes at schools; private classes at clients’ homes and en plein air. She also teaches at birthday parties and special events. She says one of the highlights of 2024 was teaching Family Yoga classes at Clockenflap Music and Arts Festival — “a truly incredible experience” for her.

She says children are often expected to just know how to focus, how to be calm, not to worry, how to self-regulate their emotions, but if they are never actually taught how, it’s a very big ask. “Through yoga and mindfulness, children can develop their: emotional literacy, focus, concentration, confidence, healthy self-esteem and learn how to relax and feel calm. This, is in addition to the physical benefits of developing body awareness, strength, flexibility, balance and co-ordination”.

She emphasises that yoga classes for children are really different from the adult variant. “It is important to keep the practice age-appropriate and engaging. Classes are themed and include games, music, songs, props, mindful arts/crafts, discussions and partner/group yoga poses, making classes playful and meaningful,” she says.