The Montessori School has been doing Acro-yoga and slacklining with Chip and Laura Fieberg, who have been doing these activities for about five years. The Fiebergs learned about Acro-yoga at a festival in 2008, and soon after discovered slacklining from their Acro-yoga teachers.
Acro-yoga is a combination of yoga and partner acrobatics. slacklining is similar to tightrope walking; it involves a one-to-two inch flat nylon or polyester line, stretched between two points; the objective is to walk from one side to the other. Chip’s record distance is 270 feet, and Laura’s is 180 feet. They practice one or two times a week.
As a warm up, students play games like freeze dance, follow the leader, and other memory and exercise games. Then they take turns walking the slackline or mastering balance with Acro-yoga.
“Chip and Laura are amazing. Their passion for Acro-yoga and slacklining really excites and motivates the students. All of the children look forward to the classes,” Montessori director and guide Jessi Beebe explains.
Chip and Laura have been traveling around the world on and off for the past four years. One of their favorite moments traveling was when they went to Korea to teach at a yoga conference. They were in the streets performing in front of coffee shops when they saw a group of children talking and playing, and they started to perform AcroYoga for them. The children were fascinated and cheered them on, while the teachers asked many questions.
When they’re not working with the Montessori students, the Fiebergs conduct yoga classes, and Laura has a massage therapy practice, both in Patagonia.
The students thoroughly enjoy Acroyoga and slacklining, and some even practice outside of class. “As long as there are smiles and laughter we feel like we are doing our job,” Chip explains.
To learn more about the exciting programs offered at Patagonia Montessori School, please call 394-9530.