Handstand….. during the school day?!
Have you heard about the awesome initiative I get to pilot for Boston Public Schools? Two years ago, I left all of my yoga jobs to devote my full schedule to teaching at the Lilla G. Frederick Pilot Middle School in Dorchester. Here I have created a yoga classroom, and as a member of the Elective Team, teach daily yoga classes to 6-8th graders. Four times a day, I host up to 30 kids in my classroom, and I am ever-trying to make class engaging and exciting for them.
Via their own enthusiasm, I am able to introduce practices that can eventually assist our students in self soothing, regulating emotional responses, and managing personal stress. I am still learning how to be effective, and still learning what excites them!
Studies have shown that yoga in schools has a positive impact on student behavior.
The coming school year will be my third in this important endeavor. It feels incredibly gratifying to walk into my school every day and know that the tools I have to share can potentially benefit the mental and emotional health of our students on a sustained and profound level. While I am inspired and uplifted every day by this important work, I require YOUR assistance to make it possible. Please consider donating to my Classroom Campaign. This year, in addition to new mats, I have requested breathing visualization tools and enormous jenga sets for yoga competitions. I have also included a headstand stool, so that our kids can feel empowered by bringing themselves upside down!
Every gift matters, from $5 to $500,
there is no donation too small!
Please donate here today
Thanks to Donor's Choose, I was able to provide brand new mats and supplies last year, as well as a projector that has been invaluable to bringing yoga videos and calming exercises into the classroom. In the photo below, you can see one of my students holding a plank for nearly 15 minutes using the timer projected onto the wall!
In short, I couldn't make yoga exciting without your help. Thank you in advance for donating and sharing my campaign, and for bringing yoga into schools... It is my hope that these practices can captivate the hearts and minds of our youth while they are still developing, and become a beneficial part of their personal journey and growth for many years to come.
In Gratitude,
Ms. Shanti
