WHOLE FOODS MARKET VIRGINIA STORES SPONSOR THE FALL 2012 YOKID’S CHALLENGE

Whole Foods Market stores in Virginia are joining forces with YoKid, a non-profit that provides instruction in yoga for kids of all ages and is dedicated to encouraging kids to reach their full potential. The Fall 2012 YoKids Challenge, will focus on teaching kids a sequence 108 sun salutations of flowing yoga postures that energize and strengthen the body as well as calm and focus the mind.

The FREE family friendly event will begin with Goal Setting, a ten minute brief vision/motivation activity to enlighten attendees of their full potential.  Secondly, attendees will join in the YoKid Challenge in which participants will learn the yoga sun salutations and complete 4-sets-of-27 of each pose.  Lastly, a Healthy Eating Fair will close out the event and include a variety of vendors that will have healthy food options available for the crowds to experience.  A Healthy Eating Specialist from the Whole Foods Market Reston location will be on staff to demonstrate an interactive healthy eating display. 

Door prizes and snack will also be given out during the event. FREE t-shirts and yoga mats are also available for those who pre-register at www.yokidchallengefall2012.eventbrite.com.

This FREE event is open to children and adults of all ages.  No yoga experience is required.

By participating in kids yoga, children are able to foster greater self-awareness and, in turn, realize their full potential physically, academically, socially, and emotionally. A recent study of the YoKid yoga program revealed improvements in students’ mood and physical fitness levels based on participation in a YoKid yoga class.  Students who participated in the YoKid program were less angry, more relaxed, more flexible (physically), and showed improved concentration after completing at least 3 weeks of a YoKid class.  To learn more about YoKid, please visit www.yokid.org.

About Whole Foods Market® Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (wholefoodsmarket.com, NASDAQ: WFMI), is the leading natural and organic food retailer. As America’s first national certified organic grocer, Whole Foods Market was named “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store” by Health magazine. The company's motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet”™ captures its mission to ensure customer satisfaction and health, Team Member excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Thanks to the company’s nearly 60,000 Team Members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America by FORTUNE magazine for 14 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2010, the company had sales of more than $9 billion and currently has more than 300 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.