Arya News - From breath to being, these yoga and meditation classes for children allow young people to express their full rainbow of emotions.
MANILA – On a stretch of green grass, a group of children gathers in a circle. In sync, they sway and stretch, their breaths timed together in a yoga and meditation class.
This is the usual scene set at Batang Bathala, a mindful movement founded by Krissia “Teddy” Epress, a licensed professional teacher who is also a YACEP-certified children’s mindfulness and yoga instructor, with a background as a neurodivergent educator experienced in teaching special education through a holistic, child-centered, and trauma-informed approach.
Meaning “Child of God,” Batana Bathala takes from the ancient Tagalog concept of Bathala, the divine creator of the universe, the sky, the earth, and all living things.
Teddy explains how in Batang Bathala, “Every child is free to move their body and express their full rainbow of emotions. They’re free to speak their truth, shine their light, and simply be just as they are.”
Being as they are
Teacher Teddy’s path to founding Batang Bathala began with herself, and learning to be as she is. She recalls a childhood navigating a blended family, academic pressures, and the weight of feeling misunderstood. “I grew up seeing myself as different,” she says. “It was difficult to understand my emotions, especially as a teenager.”
But being present for young kids as a Family Life and Child Development student-teacher in UP Diliman became a mirror for her own growth. “These kids were healing me,” she says. “Without them, I might have never learned to regulate my own emotions or connect with my inner child.”
After years of teaching in the traditional sense at an international school, Teddy faced burnout. The pandemic only intensified the need for a nurturing approach to mental, physical, and social-emotional well-being. In her day to day life, yoga and mindfulness became her refuge, a toolkit she eventually brought to Filipino children, inspired by her professional training in Bali.
A Filipino variety of mindful movement
Founded just last 2024, Batang Bathala doesn’t have a brick and mortar studio just yet. The movement reaches as many Filipino kids as possible, traveling with different programs around the city, with plans to expand the movement to provinces across the country. All the while, it honors the Filipino identity, also catering to neurodiverse learners and children who have experienced trauma.
“We empower holistic well-being, grounded in our core values of compassion, empathy, and respect—the spirit of Kapwa,” Teddy says.
Classes are carefully designed to meet children where they are, too, depending on their age and specific needs.
The Sunbeam program for younger kids below six emphasizes play, energy, and body awareness. “They’re very wiggly and high energy, so they need a way to release it or express it in their bodies. It’s more play-based,” says Teddy. “So we do games and movement activities. It’s very music-focused so we use a lot of preschool songs.”
Older children from six to nine join Sunlight, exploring emotions in a deeper way. “So if Sunbeam is being aware of their body, Sunlight is about being aware of every part of their body. What does anger feel like in your body? Where is it? Or what does happiness feel in your body? Can you express that?” she says.
Meanwhile, teens participate in Moonbeam sessions, which encourage reflection, meditation, and journaling to look deeper into their inner world—a safe harbor in the often stormy seas of adolescence.
Classes often end with Diwa, a practice that encourages children to carry mindfulness when they go home, spreading kindness in their daily life to themselves, their communities, and the greater natural world around them.
Kaginhawaan para sa kabataan
Teddy emphasizes that every child has a unique way of opening up. One formative moment early in her teaching career involved a little girl diagnosed with autism and ADHD. Struggling to express herself and connect with her classmates, Teddy observed her interests, which were in princesses, fairies, and art. She then designed activities around these interests, and gradually, the child began to engage, smile, and play with her peers.
Batang Bathala’s mission extends beyond individual classrooms. Collaborations with organizations like Love Education Philippines bring workshops and events to underserved communities.
Looking forward, Teddy envisions a future where these mindful practices reach every corner of the Philippines, from Cebu to Baguio, giving more Filipino children access to holistic well-being.
“It truly takes a village to raise a child. We are fortunate to have parents, educators, and collaborators who support our work,” she says. “Together, we create safe spaces where children feel seen, heard, and valued.”
“Together, we create safe spaces where children feel seen, heard, and valued.”
Since its public launch in 2024, Batang Bathala has blossomed into a sanctuary for children and families. Programs adapt to different age groups, individual workshops, and even “Mama and Me” sessions for parents and children. Teddy is exploring programs for young adults, allowing mindfulness and inner-child work to continue through life.
In Teddy’s words, “When we say Batang Bathala, it’s a mindful movement that’s more than body in motion. It is a movement grounded in the collective mission of kaginhawaan para sa kabataan—well-being for all children.” And between the bright laughter, deep breaths, and imaginative play that fill its spaces, Batang Bathala is already achieving just that.