by Elizabeth Reese, Ph.D., E-RYT, RCYT
Photo credit: Elizabeth Reese
It brought tears to my eyes. And when I say tears, I mean the streaming ones with trembling, smiling lips.
In a PE class at a Corpus Christi elementary school last spring,
about 40 kids took their new journey to begin PE class. Singing and
practicing the Yogiños: Yoga for Youth® sun salutation,
Toco el Sol,
it looked and sounded like they had been doing this all year. When the
music player stopped suddenly, it didn’t stop them; with only four days
of this vinyasa shining in their lives, they kept the light flowing.
This team of PE teachers, faculty,
administration and students were part of a three-school Pilot Program
implementing a sample, five-week Yogiños: Yoga for Youth® curriculum
based on the story of Ganesha into their existing program.
The teachers first attended a workshop. Here they received a
curriculum including five weeks of daily lessons featuring our version
of
The Story of Ganesha, a poster of a work of art of the “hero” Ganesha from the
Crow Collection of Asian Art, our bilingual
music, custom latex-free
mats, and our award-winning
DVD.
These materials empowered teachers to weave original art, music, games,
stories, and other sensory-integrated activities into their existing
curricula. This Pilot Program reached over 600 elementary students and
about 275 middle schoolers.
The pilot program of integrating yoga into schools was needed.
In the 2010-2011 academic year, test results
indicate that Corpus Christi Independent School District (CCISD) 3rd-5th
graders averaged between overweight and obese, and that 48% fall below
the National Fitness Zone. To investigate physical benefits, we used
existing State of Texas Fitnessgrams as pre- and post-tests to measure
physical changes encouraged by the addition of yoga. We also taught
pranayama, like
Flower Power.
Across the board there was an increase in physical flexibility. And
some youth reported additional ranges of flexibility as well.
“What I like best about Yogiños
is that I feel more flexible….and not just here in PE, but everywhere,”
shared one 5th grader in an exit-interview.
Many yoga for kids programs—
International Association of School Yoga and Mindfulness,
ChildLight Yoga,
Yoga in My Schools,
Little Flower Yoga and
Shanti Generation,
to name but only a few—provide support, training and techniques for
teachers, faculty, staff and administrators of schools and organizations
to integrate aerobic, strength, flexibility and rejuvenation activities
into the daily lives of students and families in safe, healthy,
engaged, supported and
OHMazing™ ways.
Bringing yoga into schools is important for the integration of body, mind and heart.
Scott Eliff,
Superintendent of Corpus Christi Independent School District says that
many schools have focused only on academics and the mind for too long.
“We are now learning we need alignment of the whole body, heart and mind
for optimal learning,” Eliff said when we met to discuss bringing
Yogiños: Yoga for Youth into the district.
Indeed, current brain, academic and cardiovascular research provide
scientific evidence that practices related specifically to yoga and
breathing techniques offer:
~ 27% increase in
GABA levels (calmness, anti-anxiety);
~
Improved academic achievement through learning how to improve focus and handle stress;
~ Increased academic interest through
providing integrated movement in traditionally sedentary, academic settings;
~ Interactive experiences with team-building,
cooperation and tolerance.
Since the completion of the Pilot Program last spring, Yogiños: Yoga
for Youth® facilitated our basic two and half days training with 80 PE
teachers from CCISD last summer. We also provided this training to all
faculty and staff at Corpus Christi Montessori School where we currently
are in a full-school integration. Here we are conducting
scientific-based research investigating the various impacts and benefits
of weaving the program into the school’s curriculum. This study
includes research with both students and teachers.
Elizabeth “Beth” Reese, Ph.D., E-RYT, RCYT, is the
founder and executive director of Yogiños: Yoga for Youth®. A yoga
practitioner for over 13 years, Beth is the mother of three OHMazing
yogis under the age of 13. Her oldest daughter, Jordan, is part of the
inspiration for Yogiños: Yoga for Youth® as she learned to navigate
challenges associated with Sensory-Integration “Disorder” through
practicing all 8 Limbs of yoga.Yogiños: Yoga for Youth offers classes
for children and families as well as trainings for classroom teachers,
yoga instructors, parents, and others interested in bringing yoga and
healthy choices to all ages. elizabeth@yoginos.com and here.
on Apr 13, 2012
Learning how to mindfully breathe was tough for me as an adult. My mind tugged on the rest of me to knock-this-off and return to old habits of reacting rapidly rather than responding responsibly. The key that unlocked my paths to 
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