Tucked inside the old firehouse on Wrightsville Beach, there is a studio where natural light beams on yoga mats and kids artwork covers as much space as possible. It is creative, welcoming and cozy. It is Sprout Yoga & Art for Kids, the creation of Wrightsville Beach mom Shannon Agee.
Shannon opened Sprout Yoga & Art for Kids about two years ago. While Sprout wasn’t necessarily a lifelong dream of Shannon’s, it is definitely the natural extension of her longtime love of art education. With dual degrees in both Fine Art and Elementary Education and her North Carolina teaching certification in Elementary Education K-6 and Art Education K-12, Shannon always knew what she wanted to pursue. She worked hard to follow her passion.
Agee’s love for children’s education
Shannon taught elementary grades in public schools for a decade, including as an assistant at Wrightsville Beach Elementary School and an art teacher in Pender County. And while she loved working with kids, she wanted to concentrate as much as possible on teaching kids art while adding in the benefits of yoga.
“I always wanted to teach yoga for children,” Shannon explained. “Art is like yoga in a way, they are both meditative. It all came together for me when I saw the old firehouse space. I asked about the building and found that it was available. So, I created Sprout.”
As of today, Sprout Yoga & Art for Kids currently has around 25 regular students and a variety of programs. There is after-school care (Shannon walks to Wrightsville Beach Elementary to pick up students registered for her program from the school), summer camps, preschool classes, birthday party packages, and drop-in options. Some of her current students come as often as three times a week. Shannon smiles as she shares the sense of ownership and pride her students have over their shared art studio and yoga space.
Art: A process, not a product
“My main goal is for kids to experience the process of art. Art isn’t an end goal. We don’t necessarily have to have a plan, we can just go for it. It is wonderful to see how they get so into it.”
While art has always been Shannon’s passion, she believes that yoga holds powerful benefits for children. Trained in Atlanta through the mini-yogis program, the approach she takes with children’s yoga is relaxed and fun.
“We spend about twenty minutes a day on yoga,” Shannon explained. “It helps kids focus and calm their minds. With the way things are in school today, this is so important. There is so much stress. It is nice to teach them the importance of stopping for a second to breathe.”
Taking yoga to the Wilmington community
Sprout’s success has Shannon dreaming about the future, too. She looks forward to doing outreach in the community, reaching school children who may have limited access and exposure to art and yoga. And, of course, she is gearing up for a big summer full of camps.
But regardless of the direction her business takes, it is clear that Shannon has found her calling.
“I have wanted to teach art since high school,” Shannon said. “This is what I have always wanted to do.”
Learn more about Sprout Yoga & Art for Kids online at www.sproutyoga.net.
5 Live Oak Drive
Wrightsville Beach, NC
910-599-2567
Sprout Yoga & Art for Kids is just one of the many fun family experiences the Wilmington, NC area offers. Read more about some of the Cape Fear’s other great things to do, or check out some of our featured families.
