Pretzel Kids Yoga Teacher Feature: Meet Tamara!
Meet Tamara Margas, our May 2019 featured Pretzel Kids yoga teacher!
Tamara was born in Quito Ecuador, and lived most of her young years in Chile, where she worked as a speech and hearing pathologist. She was the first SLP of the Neonatology Department of the Hospital Dr. Gustavo Fricke in Chile, where she was the also head of the governmental program (AUGE) for bilateral hearing loss in premature babies under/or 32 weeks or 1500g. In addition, she taught at two universities and worked with children and adults at their audiology laboratories.
When Tamara arrived to Berkeley, California in 2011, she spent almost three years working at a homeopathic pharmacy and health store, where she gained valuable knowledge about nutrition, vitamins, and health supplements. She complemented this experience with studies in Eastern medicine.
Currently, Tamara is the director of an in-home preschool in Berkeley, called Turquoise Dolphin Wonderschool. She is also a mom and loves experimenting with essential oils and healing herbs, and cooking new healthy recipes. Tamara has many other hobbies, including working with stones/gems and making her own lotions and makeup with natural ingredients.
Tamara – along with our founder Robyn Parets – was recently featured in Better’s article on Why Your Kids Should be Doing Yoga. We were thrilled to talk to Tamara about her journey with Pretzel Kids yoga. Here’s what she had to say:
Pretzel Kids: Can you tell us a bit more about your path toward natural medicine and kids yoga?
Tamara: When I arrived to Berkeley in 2011, I worked at a homeopathic pharmacy and health store and fell in love with alternative medicine. This drove me to start a Master’s degree in Eastern medicine and acupuncture. Also, I am a Reiki Master, and love blending all my knowledge in my work with children and animals.
Pretzel Kids: Can you tell us one fun fact about you (can be anything!)
Tamara: I love dancing while I am cleaning my house.
Pretzel Kids: What do you like to do in your spare time?
Tamara: I love spending time with family and friends, knitting, and hiking in the woods.
Pretzel Kids: What drew you to the online Pretzel Kids Yoga Teacher Certification course?
Tamara: Some time ago I bought a book about yoga poses for kids and taught some poses to the children at my school. I could see how much they enjoyed doing them, so I decided to take the Pretzel Kids yoga online course.
Pretzel Kids: What is your favorite thing (or two) about the course?
Tamara: My favorite thing about the course is the way that it helps children integrate mindfulness, fun and learning. I love that having a theme helps them to contextualize what they learn in the class. Also, you can teach them new words accompanied by their corporal movement; or yoga poses and games that make learning easier.
Pretzel Kids: Do you feel prepared to teach children’s yoga?
Tamara: I feel super prepared to teach Pretzel Kids yoga classes. Thank you!
Pretzel Kids: Apart from teaching at your Wonderschool, where else would you like to teach Pretzel Kids yoga in your community?
Tamara: I live in Berkeley, California, and I would love to also start teaching yoga at different places like the YMCA and yoga studios.
Pretzel Kids: How do you hope to make a positive impact with the Pretzel Kids yoga curriculum?
Tamara: I hope to make a positive impact with the Pretzel Kids yoga curriculum by teaching it at my school as a way to incorporate tools for life.
Pretzel Kids: You had the opportunity to create a couple of Pretzel Kids yoga lesson plans as part of your certification process. What was this creative process like?
Tamara: Creating the Pretzel Kids yoga lesson plans was so fun! At the beginning, I thought it was going to be difficult because I have never taught a yoga class, but having a theme, and following the 8 steps in the Pretzel Kids Yoga Method, made it much easier. I felt that I was creating a story for children!
Pretzel Kids: How did you hear about Pretzel Kids yoga? Would you recommend the Pretzel Kids kids yoga teacher training course to other preschool directors, childcare providers and educators? Why?
Tamara: It was recommended to me by Wonderschool as training. Yes, I would recommend it to friends, family, teachers, and everyone because it’s an excellent tool for incorporating mindfulness for all ages!
Pretzel Kids: What’s your favorite Pretzel Kids yoga pose?
Tamara: I love Butterfly and Ghost Pose.
Pretzel Kids: What’s your favorite Pretzel Kids yoga game? What’s your favorite Pretzel Kids yoga theme?
Tamara: My favorite Pretzel Kids yoga game is the Pose Factory, and my favorite Pretzel Kids yoga theme is the Magic Garden.
Pretzel Kids: Drumroll…..What’s your favorite food?
Tamara: I love Ceviche!
Thank you Tamara and we wish you continued success! Do you want to be featured in an upcoming Pretzel Kids newsletter or blog post? Let us know by emailing us at info@pretzelkids.com!
Editor’s note: Are you interested in taking the Pretzel Kids online certification course and learning how to run successful classes like Tamara? We’d love to talk to you and help you create bring Pretzel Kids Yoga into your preschool or daycare! We can’t wait for you to join our Pretzel Kids yoga family!
Got questions? Call us today!
