Pretzel Kids Yoga Teacher Feature: Meet Anjana Chennagiri

By Risheek Priyadarshi, Pretzel Kids content writer

Let’s welcome Anjana Chennagiri, our July 2022 featured Pretzel Kids yoga teacher!

Our mission at Pretzel Kids is to teach yoga to as many children as possible. Anjana wholeheartedly agrees and has made this her own mission as well! She is a yoga teacher here at Pretzel Kids and has been practicing yoga since she was just 16 years old. 

Anjana is from India originally, but is living and teaching in Westborough, Massachusetts. She used to be a preschool teacher but has since turned to teaching yoga full-time (in fact, she is setting record amounts of classes taught in a week).

India is known as the birthplace of yoga, which is something that Anjana has not forgotten while living here all these years.

“I’m also passionate about bringing the ancient yogic wisdom and knowledge to the kids of this generation and teaching them the tips and tools towards healthful and joyful living,” she says.

We are thrilled to have Anjana on the Pretzel Kids team. Keep on reading to find out just how passionate she is about teaching kids yoga.

Pretzel Kids: Hello Anjana. Thank you for joining us. It’s wonderful to have this chance to get to know you better! To start us off, can you share a bit about yourself?

Anjana: It’s good to be here! I am a Pretzel Kids trained and certified yoga instructor, former preschool teacher and believer in holistic living. I’m also passionate about bringing the ancient yogic wisdom and knowledge to the kids of this generation and teaching them tips and tools about healthy and joyful living.

Pretzel Kids: Is there anything else you want to tell us about your life?

Anjana: Of course! I am a yoga educator and facilitator, dog mom, and mom of teens. I have been practicing other aspects of yoga, such as meditation, since I was 16, so I have a lot of experience.

Pretzel Kids: You’ve got quite the resume stacked up! Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

Anjana: I recently taught 25 kids yoga classes in a week! I had never done that before!

Pretzel Kids: That is absolutely incredible! It’s a wonder you have any free time when you’re not teaching. That brings me to this: What do you like to do in your spare time?

Anjana: I am a bit of a cinephile and love to watch Bollywood movies! The songs, dances, and storytelling really draw you in.

Tell Us About Your Yoga Journey

Pretzel Kids: Going back to yoga, what has your journey been like so far? When did you start practicing yoga and what brought you to it?

Anjana: I was introduced to meditation when I was 16 and I remember feeling really good by just being there as a part of this large community of healers and spiritual leaders. I had a general sense of well-being and peace. I took my first asana class 10 years later when I was 26. I loved that I was flexible and could do many poses, and that’s when I fell in love with yoga. I have continued since then on.

Pretzel Kids: How did where you live and where you’re from inform your decision to teach kids yoga?

Anjana: I live in Westborough, MA and I teach in my town. I am originally from India, the land of yoga. However, after living here for a long time, I realized that kids here need that spiritual element in their lives. That includes my own kids as well! This prompted me to teach yoga for kids.

Pretzel Kids: Practicing yoga definitely requires patience, consistency, and determination. What helps you keep practicing, or in other words, what are your favorite things about yoga?

Anjana: Teaching is definitely one of the best aspects. I love kids yoga; it is fun because I get to play lots of yoga games with them and share many laughs!

How Do You Hope to Make a Difference with Kids Yoga?

Pretzel Kids: We definitely agree! Since teaching is such an important aspect of yoga to you, how do you hope to make an impact with Pretzel Kids?

Anjana: Pretzel Kids is a great organization with a great mission of bringing yoga to schools, which is so crucial and something I wholeheartedly agree with. I hope to be part of that journey with Pretzel Kids!

Pretzel Kids: We love your dedication and shared vision. What do feel are the most beneficial aspects of the Pretzel Kids licensing and membership?

Anjana: The opportunities and the community are the most beneficial. The community is very supportive and I’ve been teaching now more than ever due to Pretzel Kids.

Pretzel Kids: Speaking of how much you’re teaching, do you feel that being part of Pretzel Kids gives you more visibility and helps you fill classes that you couldn’t do on your own? How so?

Anjana: Pretzel Kids definitely has opened doors for me, so I would say that this organization has certainly helped with filling my classes.

Pretzel Kids: We hope to keep helping you succeed. How did you hear about us?

Anjana: I looked for an online kids yoga certification and the first thing that popped up was Pretzel Kids! I have not looked back since.

Pretzel Kids: Thank you for your kind words! We’ll now move onto some more fun questions before we wrap this up. Since you love playing yoga games with your students, what’s your favorite Pretzel Kids game? What’s your favorite Pretzel Kids theme?

Anjana: “Red Light, Green Light” is my favorite game and a trip to the beach is my favorite theme!

Pretzel Kids: What’s your favorite Pretzel Kids pose?

Anjana: I must say that Flower Pose is my absolute favorite.

Pretzel Kids: Last but not least, what’s your favorite food!

Anjana: I love a good pasta.

Pretzel Kids: Thank you so much for talking to us, Anjana! We wish you the best of luck with teaching classes and on your personal yoga journey.

Anjana: The pleasure is all mine! Thank you.

Editor’s Note: Anjana’s story is the reason why we do what we do! If you want to enjoy sharing your passion for healthy living and children’s well-being then this is your sign. We can’t wait for you to join the Pretzel Kids yoga family!