'Chi Universe' teaches kids to enjoy movement, meditation

STUDIO CITY (KABC) -- Getting children to move more can be a challenge. One fitness expert invented a yoga game to help childhood obesity in a non-threatening way.

Yoga isn't new to most Los Angeles kids, but Bobbi Hamilton's yoga game seems to get their attention.

"We do this thing called 'phresh phreezing' where we add our peace sign and we focus for three breaths," said Hamilton, who created Chi Universe, a fun approach to make a difference fighting childhood obesity.

It's appealing to kids, and it also helps teach focus and body awareness.

"The key feedback I've gotten from parents and teachers is they can't believe how long a child stays focused on the product," Hamilton said.

It all started when one of her small students couldn't grasp the concept of certain moves. So she produced mats with symbols for proper alignment.

It was a hit with kindergarten kids at Carpenter Avenue Charter School in Studio City.

"The little ones are actually here for the full day, so as you can imagine, for the little 'teeny weenies' that is a very scary adjustment for them so this stuff really helps them," said Rae Toledo Latsch, director of creative movement at the school.

The program is a combination of proper breathing, meditative movement and fitness.

A study in the Journal of Preventative Medicine found that kids as young as preschool age were significantly underactive. So schools like Carpenter Avenue are offering the yoga game to help change that.

"We have P.E., and then they also have dance. So it's a really, really cool thing here to be able to get the kids moving," Latsch said.

"We are in about 40 schools, after-school programs, private and public schools. We're also in 11 countries," Hamilton said.

The mat, game and pose kit, which are available online, costs about $38 and is designed for kids of all ages so that everyone can attempt to be "calm, focused, happy," said Hamilton.