Hemel yoga teacher publishes book of relaxations to help children's mental health and wellbeing

A yoga teacher based in Hemel Hempstead has published a book of relaxations inspired by walks in nature during lockdown.

Maria Oliver, of Boxmoor Yoga, published her book - Red Kites, Apples and Blood Cells - in October and has already received fantastic feedback about how it is helping children with their anxieties.

Maria teaches yoga to adults, expectant and new mums, and children.

In March, she started to teach her adult yoga classes online, she shared videos of her classes, but was not allowed to read aloud from books in any of her videos, without permission from the publishing companies.

Maria said: "It was easier to make up my own relaxation scripts.

"During lockdown, I took daily walks with my children around Hemel Hempstead, and found myself using these walks as inspiration for my relaxations.

"When we were allowed to travel further afield in the UK, I could draw on ideas from our holidays elsewhere.

“It was frustrating when I could no longer teach classes in schools.

"I wanted to find a way to connect with children and young people.

"There has been a lot of concern about the effects of the pandemic on children’s mental health, and this has been a brilliant way for me to help in another way.”

Maria says that parents and carers have been telling her about how the relaxing stories have helped their children.

She said: “Parents have told me that reading one of my stories has helped to calm a child with anxieties and soothe them to sleep, or has helped them feel calmer when they’re feeling upset or unwell.

"I feel that I’ve been able to offer an extra tool so that parents and carers can help their children feel safe and comforted.”

The book includes vibrant illustrations by local illustrators Ben and Steph Grandis.

Maria added: “They were brilliant to collaborate with and totally understood what I was trying to achieve.”

The book can be ordered on Amazon or a personalised copy can be bought from Boxmoor Yoga.

Maria will donate £2 from every copy ordered directly from the Boxmoor Yoga website - www.boxmooryoga.co.uk - between the December 12, and December 18, to Dacorum Emergency Night Shelter.