... and the yoga baby boom.

(From Irish Independent)

First it was women, then men, then the elderly, the asthmatic and the arthritic - the boom in yoga converts around the country is unprecedented as thousands discover the emotional, spiritual and physical benefits it can bring to modern life.

Now, a whole new generation is being introduced to the ancient art and Ireland is seeing its first yoga classes specifically aimed at children.

Lisa Peterson, one of South Dublin's leading yoga teachers, believes yoga is an ideal activity for youngsters.

"Yoga is taught to children through stories, and the poses have very visual names like, 'tree', 'cat' or 'dog'. It gives them increased breath capacity, a wide range of mobility and, perhaps, most importantly it teaches them to chill out."

Lisa finds the 'crowd control' aspect of teaching the 'downward facing dog' to a class of fun-loving five-year-olds a bit daunting for now, but the yummy mummies who throng to her classes in Dublin's poshest suburbs are setting their children on the road to yoga enlightenment even earlier - often before they are even born.

Lisa, like many of her students, believes babies start to feel the benefits of yoga while they are still in the womb.