Class Tips, Fees and Policies

• Classes are offered in multi-class sessions requiring registration. No drop-ins permitted in kids and family yoga class series.

• Please register the child participant in all kids and family classes.

• One adult must be present for any class described as family yoga or for children under 4 years old: Family Yoga, Preschooler Yoga, Tot Yoga, etc. Up to two adults are welcome to participate these classes on weekly basis and the same adult need not be present every time.

• In order to create a safe space for the children and because of limited studio space, we request that students not bring observers to class. If grandparents or other special guests wish to see class, please encourage them to participate.
• Occasionally we offer single-date classes, typically for older children or infants, but sometimes as a demo and not associated with a series. Registration in advance is still required for these classes and those not meeting enrollment minimum in the week leading up to class may be cancelled.

Kids-only Classes

Kids and tweens yoga classes not described as family classes are for the children only. Due to limited studio space and to respect the students, family members and friends are asked not to observe these classes. Many of our venues are near cafes and shops.

Infant Massage

Course material is cumulative so drop-ins are not allowed. Families that miss a class are welcome to do an appropriate drop-in in another postnatal class as a makeup or attend the same week in a subsequent series.

Nope, sorry. We don’t offer drop-in options for classes for children or trial classes during the regular session.

Children really do need the consistency of a weekly class both for comfort and so they can best learn, and drop-ins can be disruptive to the class routine. Read more. Since it often takes several classes for a child to settle in, dropping in once is not really the best indicator of whether your child will enjoy class.

However, we get that it can be tough to commit to a class when you can’t imagine what happens or how your child will react, so:

1. We have a no-risk refund policy. If you register for a class and decide for any reason it’s a bad fit for you, your child, or your schedule, and you decide early in the series, you can drop the class and get a prorated refund. See details.
2. We occasionally offer trial/drop-in days, when the teacher will spend a little extra time explaining the class routine and parents get a chance to see a class in action.

We also understand that life is unpredictable and have a generous makeup policy for families that wish to commit to a series but know they will miss a class or two.

Breathing Space does not allow single class drop-ins for children’s or family classes. Why?

Semester Commitment is Best for Both Students and the Program

We’ve written before about the benefits of committing to a weekly yoga class. Children, even more than adults, benefit from the consistency and progressive teaching enabled by full registration.

We understand that may be different from what you are used to with yoga classes. Kids yoga operates in an unusual context. While adult yoga classes are very often drop-in based, you cannot just occasionally show up to any other kind of teacher-directed children’s class. There’s no drop-in ballet, gymnastics, music, art, karate, etc. All of these programs require registration in a series of classes or monthly membership. This creates a stable class and allows lessons to build upon on each other.

Session Commitment Encourages Consistent Attendance

As a parent, there are tons of demands on my time and regularly attending a class requires commitment. Paying ahead of time gives me that sense of obligation to actually go every week. This is true for me with my own classes and it’s doubly true for me to motivate my child out of the house, even for activities she (or we both) adore.

Session Commitment Enhances the Student Experience

As a children’s instructor, I find:

1. Drop-in classes are not in the best interest of the child. It often takes 3 or 4 classes for a child, especially a toddler, to feel comfortable with a new place, new people, and a new routine. Children benefit from repetition and structure. Since drop-in students tend to only show up once or twice a semester, they miss out on the full benefits of the experience.
2. Drop-ins detract from the experience of the students who have committed to a full session of classes because my attention is drawn to the new student – on everything from taking payment and filling in the parent on policies, facilities, and expectations, to making the new child feel comfortable.

But . . .

There are two major objections that we hear from parents to registering for an entire session:

1. That they aren’t sure if class will be right for their child. We get that. It can be hard to even imagine a toddler or preschooler yoga class if you’ve never attended one.
   
   That’s why we offer a No Risk Refund Policy – Not sure if class will be right for you or your child? Register and come to the first class. If you notify us in writing within 24 hours of class that you will not be able to continue the session, you will pay only $20 for the class you attended. (See refund policies for more information.)
   
2. That they have travel or other schedule obligations that prevent full attendance. We understand schedules can be tricky. We intentionally skip holiday weekends and other high-travel times and offer a very generous make-up policy. To make up a missed class:
   • Any family member may take any other appropriate class during the same session – this means a similar kids class or parents can take an adult class;
   • If there is space in your class, you may bring a friend as your make-up class. Please confirm space availability with your instructor.
   • Read our full make-up policy here.

• Classes are offered in multi-class sessions requiring registration. No drop-ins permitted in kids and family yoga class series.

• Please register the child participant in all kids and family classes.

• One adult must be present for any class described as family yoga or for children under 4 years old: Family Yoga, Preschooler Yoga, Tot Yoga, etc. Up to two adults are welcome to participate these classes on weekly basis and the same adult need not be present every time.

• In order to create a safe space for the children and because of limited studio space, we request that students not bring observers to class. If grandparents or other special guests wish to see class, please encourage them to participate.
• Occasionally we offer single-date classes, typically for older children or infants, but sometimes as a demo and not associated with a series. Registration in advance is still required for these classes and those not meeting enrollment minimum in the week leading up to class may be cancelled.

Kids-only Classes

Kids and tweens yoga classes not described as family classes are for the children only. Due to limited studio space and to respect the students, family members and friends are asked not to observe these classes. Many of our venues are near cafes and shops.

Infant Massage

Course material is cumulative so drop-ins are not allowed. Families that miss a class are welcome to do an appropriate drop-in in another postnatal class as a makeup or attend the same week in a subsequent series.

Children’s and family yoga (crawling babies to teen) is offered in multi-class series, like semesters, no drop-ins.

• Prices for series are a based on a $22 per class in the series, with a built-in discount for series longer than 8 weeks. For example:
  • 6-week series = $13222*8
  • 8 -week series  = $176
  • 10-week series = $200 (~10% discount)
  • 12-week series = $240 (~10% discount)

Classes prorate for the first 3-4 weeks of the semester for late registrations.

Up to two (2) caregivers may attend family classes with the registered child. The same adult need not attend every week.

Classes described as kids, preteen or teen yoga or Yoga Trapeze are intended for the child participant only. We kindly request that parents not watch class to give your student the privacy to engage without worrying about you. If you have any concerns about your child’s behavior or class experience, please discuss it with the instructor. We will work with you to ensure your child has the best class possible.

Discounts (apply automatically):

• 50% off for younger siblings attending family or early childhood yoga classes: Preschooler, Little Family, Toddler or Tot Yoga.
• 10% off for siblings/family members attending the same kids, trapeze, or adult yoga class.
• Newsletter subscribers: early registration discount – Discount codes are circulated in the newsletter for folks who sign up right away when registration opens. Subscribe to be notified.

Discounts are not cumulative.

All child attendees must be enrolled with the exception of non-walking infants or siblings on school-closed days. Sibling discounts are automatic. See our nanny share discount policies.

Should you need to miss a class in your session, we have a very flexible makeup policy.

The following discounts apply to full series registration of multi-week classes only:

Sibling Discounts

• Siblings in Child-Caregiver Classes – Siblings registering for the same class are eligible for a 50% discount after the first registration. See individual class descriptions for policies about younger and older siblings outside the stated class age range. All siblings older than 1 year must register for class. Read more.
• Siblings/Family Members in Other Classes – Family members automatically receive 10% discounts for multiple registrations. No code required.
• Twins in Baby Yoga & Play – Families pay for only one registration when bringing twins or two non-mobile share partners with one adult. Read more.

No code is required; simply register both children on the same account in the same class.

Nanny Share Discounts

• Nanny Shares in Child-Caregiver Classes  – Share partners are eligible for 20% discount but both families must register separately. Read more.
• Twins in Baby Yoga & Play – Share partners are eligible for a 50% discount when bringing twins or two non-mobile share partners with one adult. Nanny share partners must register both children separately. Read more.

Built-In Pricing Discount

• Long series – When series are longer than 10 weeks, we offer a per class discount. Final price is posted. No code required.

Early Registration Discount

• Early registration – Varies. Newsletter subscribers registering more than 30 days before a semester starts may use discount codes provided.

Discount codes do not combine. The registration system automatically applies the largest possible discount.

Staff are unable to retroactively add discounts.

Economic Hardship / Limited Income Discounts

• Limited income discount – We offer a 10 percent discount to non-profit employees, military families, or persons on a limited income if it makes attendance possible. Please contact us for the code.
• Pay What You Can – We don’t want a difficult economic situation to take yoga from your life. If paying full price for class is not possible for you at this time, find out about our pay-what-you-can enrollment option.

Nope, sorry. We don’t offer drop-in options for classes for children or trial classes during the regular session.

Children really do need the consistency of a weekly class both for comfort and so they can best learn, and drop-ins can be disruptive to the class routine. Read more. Since it often takes several classes for a child to settle in, dropping in once is not really the best indicator of whether your child will enjoy class.

However, we get that it can be tough to commit to a class when you can’t imagine what happens or how your child will react, so:

1. We have a no-risk refund policy. If you register for a class and decide for any reason it’s a bad fit for you, your child, or your schedule, and you decide early in the series, you can drop the class and get a prorated refund. See details.
2. We occasionally offer trial/drop-in days, when the teacher will spend a little extra time explaining the class routine and parents get a chance to see a class in action.

We also understand that life is unpredictable and have a generous makeup policy for families that wish to commit to a series but know they will miss a class or two.

Yep. We move a ton.

Generally, if you are enrolling in a class for your child’s age, we are prepared for your child to behave in age-appropriate ways.

For Little Families Yoga (2-4 yrs), we don’t use yoga mats and instead move all over the room. Some of our students are always on the go and that’s really quite alright. Some toddlers seriously need to move in order to pay attention. Those are the students parents assure me do the yoga poses at home, just never in class. Sometimes those students join in briefly whenever their favorite activities come up and then go back to running in circles. It’s all good.

For Kids or Family Yoga (ages 3-6, or 4+), we do use mats and are beginning to learn to be on the mats for much of the class. Class is still super active, we move off mats for all sorts of games, and we don’t expect stillness from young children.

If your child has special needs, it is helpful to check in ahead of time so the instructor can be prepared and think through lessons and activities with your child’s needs in mind. We are happy to have you enroll and decide after the first class or two if it is the right fit. Again though, check in with the instructor. Parents are typically more worried about possible disruptive behavior than our yoga teachers and will work with you on strategies to help your child succeed in class.

Poses and activities are designed with toddlers/preschoolers in mind. While your instructor will likely be able to make suggestions, we expect adults to take care of their own bodies during class.

It’s rarely a problem. Pregnant moms often skip or modify belly-down poses and anything else that doesn’t feel right and adults with special conditions adjusting accordingly.

The biggest challenge is probably for adults who have significant difficulty getting up and down from the floor. I’ve had mobility-challenged caregivers, usually older nannies or grandparents, do very few of the poses with no problem. My suggestion is to try it and see how it goes.

Do note that several of our class venues are down a flight of stairs (strollers can be left locked outside). Our Saturday and Sunday class venues are handicap accessible.

Family Yoga & Mindfulness is structured like an age-appropriate kids class – with yoga poses, sequences, mindfulness activities, songs, and games, and an emphasis activities for parents and children to do together. Classes often revolve around philosophical, seasonal, or narrative themes and always include some form of quiet relaxation. No yoga experience required for either parent or child.

family yoga

Parents should plan to fully participate in family classes. One adult must be present, up to two adults are welcome on weekly basis, and the same adult need not be present every time.

Age ranges and sibling policies vary by offering, so read individual registration descriptions for details. Generally, class is appropriate for siblings 1 year younger than the stated range. Sibling discounts are automatic.

Early Childhood Yoga and Family Yoga classes are registered per child with additional siblings at half price.

Breathing Space does not allow single class drop-ins for children’s or family classes. Why?

Semester Commitment is Best for Both Students and the Program

We’ve written before about the benefits of committing to a weekly yoga class. Children, even more than adults, benefit from the consistency and progressive teaching enabled by full registration.

We understand that may be different from what you are used to with yoga classes. Kids yoga operates in an unusual context. While adult yoga classes are very often drop-in based, you cannot just occasionally show up to any other kind of teacher-directed children’s class. There’s no drop-in ballet, gymnastics, music, art, karate, etc. All of these programs require registration in a series of classes or monthly membership. This creates a stable class and allows lessons to build upon on each other.

Session Commitment Encourages Consistent Attendance

As a parent, there are tons of demands on my time and regularly attending a class requires commitment. Paying ahead of time gives me that sense of obligation to actually go every week. This is true for me with my own classes and it’s doubly true for me to motivate my child out of the house, even for activities she (or we both) adore.

Session Commitment Enhances the Student Experience

As a children’s instructor, I find:

1. Drop-in classes are not in the best interest of the child. It often takes 3 or 4 classes for a child, especially a toddler, to feel comfortable with a new place, new people, and a new routine. Children benefit from repetition and structure. Since drop-in students tend to only show up once or twice a semester, they miss out on the full benefits of the experience.
2. Drop-ins detract from the experience of the students who have committed to a full session of classes because my attention is drawn to the new student – on everything from taking payment and filling in the parent on policies, facilities, and expectations, to making the new child feel comfortable.

But . . .

There are two major objections that we hear from parents to registering for an entire session:

1. That they aren’t sure if class will be right for their child. We get that. It can be hard to even imagine a toddler or preschooler yoga class if you’ve never attended one.
   
   That’s why we offer a No Risk Refund Policy – Not sure if class will be right for you or your child? Register and come to the first class. If you notify us in writing within 24 hours of class that you will not be able to continue the session, you will pay only $20 for the class you attended. (See refund policies for more information.)
   
2. That they have travel or other schedule obligations that prevent full attendance. We understand schedules can be tricky. We intentionally skip holiday weekends and other high-travel times and offer a very generous make-up policy. To make up a missed class:
   • Any family member may take any other appropriate class during the same session – this means a similar kids class or parents can take an adult class;
   • If there is space in your class, you may bring a friend as your make-up class. Please confirm space availability with your instructor.
   • Read our full make-up policy here.

Children’s and family yoga (crawling babies to teen) is offered in multi-class series, like semesters, no drop-ins.

• Prices for series are a based on a $22 per class in the series, with a built-in discount for series longer than 8 weeks. For example:
  • 6-week series = $13222*8
  • 8 -week series  = $176
  • 10-week series = $200 (~10% discount)
  • 12-week series = $240 (~10% discount)

Classes prorate for the first 3-4 weeks of the semester for late registrations.

Up to two (2) caregivers may attend family classes with the registered child. The same adult need not attend every week.

Classes described as kids, preteen or teen yoga or Yoga Trapeze are intended for the child participant only. We kindly request that parents not watch class to give your student the privacy to engage without worrying about you. If you have any concerns about your child’s behavior or class experience, please discuss it with the instructor. We will work with you to ensure your child has the best class possible.

Discounts (apply automatically):

• 50% off for younger siblings attending family or early childhood yoga classes: Preschooler, Little Family, Toddler or Tot Yoga.
• 10% off for siblings/family members attending the same kids, trapeze, or adult yoga class.
• Newsletter subscribers: early registration discount – Discount codes are circulated in the newsletter for folks who sign up right away when registration opens. Subscribe to be notified.

Discounts are not cumulative.

All child attendees must be enrolled with the exception of non-walking infants or siblings on school-closed days. Sibling discounts are automatic. See our nanny share discount policies.

Should you need to miss a class in your session, we have a very flexible makeup policy.

The following discounts apply to full series registration of multi-week classes only:

Sibling Discounts

• Siblings in Child-Caregiver Classes – Siblings registering for the same class are eligible for a 50% discount after the first registration. See individual class descriptions for policies about younger and older siblings outside the stated class age range. All siblings older than 1 year must register for class. Read more.
• Siblings/Family Members in Other Classes – Family members automatically receive 10% discounts for multiple registrations. No code required.
• Twins in Baby Yoga & Play – Families pay for only one registration when bringing twins or two non-mobile share partners with one adult. Read more.

No code is required; simply register both children on the same account in the same class.

Nanny Share Discounts

• Nanny Shares in Child-Caregiver Classes  – Share partners are eligible for 20% discount but both families must register separately. Read more.
• Twins in Baby Yoga & Play – Share partners are eligible for a 50% discount when bringing twins or two non-mobile share partners with one adult. Nanny share partners must register both children separately. Read more.

Built-In Pricing Discount

• Long series – When series are longer than 10 weeks, we offer a per class discount. Final price is posted. No code required.

Early Registration Discount

• Early registration – Varies. Newsletter subscribers registering more than 30 days before a semester starts may use discount codes provided.

Discount codes do not combine. The registration system automatically applies the largest possible discount.

Staff are unable to retroactively add discounts.

Economic Hardship / Limited Income Discounts

• Limited income discount – We offer a 10 percent discount to non-profit employees, military families, or persons on a limited income if it makes attendance possible. Please contact us for the code.
• Pay What You Can – We don’t want a difficult economic situation to take yoga from your life. If paying full price for class is not possible for you at this time, find out about our pay-what-you-can enrollment option.