Legends are born and grown slowly and carefully. It might seem like the stuff of Hollywood lore but the truth about Tabay Atkins is exactly that—the truth—and the truth is much more fanciful than fiction.
The youngest certified yoga teacher in America, Tabay Atkins has been practicing yoga since he was just six years old. When he was just 10, he asked to get his certification to become a yoga instructor. Now at 11, he teaches three classes a week at Care4Yoga studio in San Clemente, California.
Tabay was inspired by his mother, Sahel Anvarinejad, who was recovering from stage 3 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and started practicing yoga as a part of her recovery. While still in active recovery, she became certified as a yoga instructor.
In 2012, she opened Care4Yoga, a yoga studio just one year after becoming yoga certified (located in San Clemente, California). She took the then-6-year-old Tabay to some of her certification classes, including training to teach yoga to children with autism, cancer patients, and other students that might have special needs.
Tabay saw how much yoga improved his mother’s health and when she beat cancer, he decided to start his training to become a certified yoga teacher. During the summer of 2016, after 200 hours of dedicated training, Tabay finally became a certified instructor.
“[Tabay] saw how much yoga helped me before I actually opened up the studio,” added Sahel, who now has more than 14 certificates including those that specialize in kids’ yoga, yoga for kids with autism, and cancer therapy.
Tabay’s studio classes at Care4Yoga are free! So anyone can afford it. “I teach all donation classes and whatever anyone can afford to pay (or not pay), is fine by me,” shared Tabay. “I just want to put yoga in everyone’s life to help them be happy or happier, healthy or healthier, and have a peaceful feeling. If I spread yoga it will help others heal!”
The health benefits from practicing this ancient art can help heal. Tabay’s father is Larry Atkins, a former NFL player and he attends his son’s classes every week. “Doing yoga with Tabay has helped me recover through the three knee surgeries I’ve had,” Atkins said.
“My son is the most incredible, sweet, loving, generous, amazing, sincere, honest, and passionate boy in the world,” said Sahel. “And I’m not just saying that because he is my son. He is really the most special human being. He is not your typical 11-year old boy. He was only 6-years-old when I had Non Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer. When I became cancer free and was in such bad physical and emotional shape from the effects of cancer and chemo, I [accidentally] got into yoga and it changed my world. [Tabay] saw how much yoga helped in the healing process, and he immediately said that he wanted to become a yoga teacher so that he could help heal people with the practice of yoga the way he saw it help heal me. That is not typical of a 7-year old kid. And he wasn’t saying that is what he wanted to do when he grew up, he wanted to do that as soon as he could. He is good with his peers, with little kids, and super kind and respectful to adults too. He has such a beautiful soul. Anyone that gets to be around him is so lucky. He is the first person to offer help to someone if they need it. And he always shares, and is so loving and amazing to me. He is my snuggle boy (smiling). He has the biggest heart in the world!! And I am beyond lucky and grateful to be his mom.”
Here is what Tabay Atkins of Care4Yoga had to say about health, life and living your dreams and being the youngest certified yoga instructor, in America!
Los Angeles Sentinel: What are you most proud of Tabay Atkins?
Tabay Atkins: I’m proud of myself for accomplishing such an intensive training at just 10 years old but I am more proud of myself for the fact that I am doing something positive and helping people get healthier and happier, which was the reason why I wanted to become a yoga teacher.
LAS: Name one thing that you love most about the practice of Yoga, please.
TA: I love EVERYTHING about Yoga!! I love what it represents …. to love yourself and others, mind and body strength, personal growth, self acceptance, peace, health, self awareness, helping each other, happiness, and so much more.
LAS: Do you remember the exact age you were when the Yoga bug bit you? When you knew, this was going to be part of your life?
TA: I was 7-years-old when I knew I wanted to become a yoga teacher. I saw how much it helped in the healing process of my mom’s recovery from cancer and chemo. I wanted to help heal people through the practice of yoga, the way I saw it help my mom heal.
I was determined to achieve this goal as soon as I was allowed. My mom and my teacher believed in me and allowed me to join other adults in a very intensive 16 – 10 and a half days of adult Vinyasa yoga teacher training, and I was treated equally and not given any short cuts or special treatment because of my age.
My goal wasn’t to be “the youngest certified yoga teacher in America” … my goal was to help spread yoga and teach yoga to as many people as possible because I saw the benefits first hand. There is no competition or judgment in yoga. If a kid has a passion and dream and it is positive, I think they should work hard to achieve it and never give up. I want to plant this yoga seed the way my mom has done with me, to everyone I possibly can, all over the world, young and old, so that they can plant the yoga seed into others and then everyone will experience all the benefits of yoga.
LAS:What is the easiest yoga pose for any age to master, first?
TA: There are so many great and easy poses to do and you can do them anywhere. I have a YouTube channel, Tabay Atkins Yoga, where I post videos of my classes, different poses, and other fun stuff!
Also, my studio classes are FREE! I teach all donation classes and whatever anyone can afford to pay (or not pay), is fine by me. I give all the money I make from my donation classes to kids who have cancer, so that I can help them, too.
LAS: Describe your mother?
TA: The English dictionary doesn’t provide a word to describe how amazing my mom is. She is the best mom ever! She always makes sure I am happy, healthy, protected, and safe. She is the best cook and always teaches me how to make new dishes. She is the most outstanding mom ever. She is so nice to me and to everyone else. My mom is my best friend and biggest supporter. And boy does she have quite a shoe collection!