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photo by Ben Hillyer
Students perform the “downward facing dog” pose. The descriptive names help to spur the students’ imaginations, Combs said.
Yoga helps foster creativity for performers
Published Tuesday, June 16, 2009
In Jennifer Ogden Combs’ fairy tale world Cinderella would not make it to the ball without doing her yoga first and neither would prince charming or the evil stepmother. And if the the fairy godmother thinks she can get out of doing her poses she is mistaken.
That is because Combs knows how important yoga can be to anyone in the creative arts, especially young performers.
The exercises have become a crucial part of the annual Boys & Girls Club Camp for the Performing Arts. Taught by Combs, the camp teaches students from ages 9 to 12 about all aspects of the performing arts, from acting skills to script writing.
This year the students will be writing and performing a production of Cinderella. But before they sit down each day to focus on the fairy tale, the campers roll out their yoga mats to foster their imaginations.
“It stimulates their imagination in ways that they don’t get in today’s world,” Combs said. “With television, video games and the Internet they are being stimulated at. With yoga they are being stimulated from within.”
As a successful Hollywood producer, Ogden has witnessed first-hand the creative power in yoga. Many of her best movie ideas have come during her yoga exercises.
“It gives you a chance to relax. In doing so, it opens more creative space, provides for more creative energy,” Combs said.
Comments
Posted by stateofnatchez (anonymous) on June 17, 2009 at 2:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Natchez is becoming a blossoming yoga center.
Between Ms. Combs, Natchez Yoga studio and visiting instructors we are quite lucky.
I wish more kids dropped that Xbox and picked up a mat.
Posted by ntz143 (anonymous) on June 17, 2009 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
bravo Mrs. Combs, for introducing kids to something other than baseball and basketball. Your performing arts camp and now the inclusion of yoga is an example of the type of recreational programming the city needs to be engaging in for kids...programming that reaches everyone. Maybe Alderman Dillard will give you some of the funds for grass-cutting that he is saving us and you can run a year-round alternative recreational program. Keep up the great work!
Posted by digem (anonymous) on June 17, 2009 at 1:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yoga rocks!! Do it 3 days a week,its jammin!!
Posted by mrmojorisin (anonymous) on June 18, 2009 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My daughter has participated in Jen's camp since its inception in 2006. Her personality has bloomed brighter with each year, and so have many of the other children blossomed as a result of the care, respect, and love they are
shown by this wonderful woman. I've seen kids that could hardly look an adult in the eye begin to shine as they become stars in their own right.
These kids learn to write their own scripts, construct their own sets, and how to work together...and now, yoga!?! How incredible is that? When I was growing up, I thought yoga was some weird religious cult. I had no idea it was an exercise in stretching both the mind and the body.
I'm so glad my daughter has the Performing Arts Camp. Natchez DOES need more of this type of free recreation for our kids because more than ever we need to get them up off their behinds, moving around, and out of the house! Thank you Mrs. Combs for your enthusiasm, dedication and wonderful work on behalf of our children.
-----mojo
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on June 18, 2009 at 10:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes Yoga is wonderful in so many ways, I love it....
not only for youngsters but also for elderly to maintain their function, all ages really.....
it is also just fantastic for therapy in recuperation from injuries, maintaining overall flexibility, health of the spine especially, promoting harmony of the mind and body is awesome.
it's just so healthy for anyone to do
also athletes that execute rapid and/or powerful movement benefit greatly from regular yoga to minimize the danger of injury and recuperate from hard work-outs
I'm so glad to see people learning about yoga
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