It’s another Thursday morning and I’m getting ready for school. UGH! (Yeah - that’s how I feel!) I put on the same jeans as yesterday, smell a shirt as I pick it out of the laundry basket (just to confirm I can walk around the hallways without a musky odor following me) and head to the kitchen for some breakfast.
Hopefully.
As I grab a yogurt, mom asks me to help with my younger sister. I do, as I do most mornings, but naturally feelings of irritation and worry fill my body. My mind begins with the usual;
“Why can’t she dress herself?”
“I’m going to miss the bus and then I’m going to get in trouble.”
“I don’t even want to go to school. Missing the bus would actually be a good thing.”
“Yeah right. I’ll get grounded. And not that kind they talk about in yoga class.”

My body begins to tense up and I don’t know if it’s the yogurt I just ate, or what, but my stomach starts to hurt.
I close my eyes, take a few deep breaths and sign it out of your mouth.
(That’s what they say to do in that yoga class, anyways. I don’t even know if it works.)
My stomach feels a little better now.
Running, to make it to the bus on time, I hop in, find a window seat (at least one thing is working out for me!) and plug in my headphones. As I try to drift into the music, I can’t help but think about how much I DO NOT want to run into that kid. It just seems that the more I try not to think about it, the more that stomach ache comes back.
I take a few more deep breaths. I close my eyes and begin to clench my fists and then relax them. I imagine that I can take these feelings, (annoyed, kind of scared, stressed) bring them all into my hand, (when I make a fist) and then literally let them go (as I release my hands).
It’s cool to think I have the power to do that.
(That’s what they say to do in that yoga class, anyways. I don’t even know if it works.)

School is school. It’s almost over. I am walking towards my last period and that kid looks at me funny. I know he’s tryin’ me and I feel all this anger take over my body. I look at him and say something.
He laughs and walks up to me.
He’s so close I can smell his breath. Gross.
I think, ‘I can’t get suspended again,’ but that anger feels like I can’t control myself.
I take a deep breath in, ball my hand into a fist and before I realize it, I let go of my breath and release my fist. It’s like my body (or something!) knew what to do.
I laugh (I don’t know why) and say, “It’s not worth it. Get out of my way.”
I feel my heart pounding in my chest. I wonder why I didn’t punch him, again. I was really mad.
Walking away, I smile, and I realize I feel proud of myself and even more strong, than when I actually did fight him. Weird.
I take a few more deep breaths, to help my heart slow down.
(That’s what they say to do in that yoga class, anyways. Maybe it does work.)

Imagine a world where our youth are taught not only math, science, history in their schooling but also how to understand their own bodies and regulate their very BIG and real emotions? What if we could send our kids to school knowing that their mind, body, and overall energy will be acknowledged and fed. Think about your kid coming home and teaching you a thing or two about how to “calm down.”

This is a very real thing in many schools; and you don’t need to travel to Asia to find young kids learning about the power of mind-body practices. Cities such as Baltimore, Miami, Atlanta and San Diego have been implementing some form of mindfulness, yoga, and/or meditative practices for years. And the results are in: something powerful is happening here!

New research has shown that mind-body practices such as yoga, meditation, and mindfulness have many positive benefits on persons diagnosed with PTSD and chronic illness/pain, as well as in reducing stress and enhancing mood and well-being in adults.

Although there is less research on the effects of these practices on children, studies are emerging and their results are promising! One study actually showed the decrease in cortisol (a hormone associated with stress) in hospitalized children who practiced relaxation exercises.

Getting back to our schools. Schools that have been implementing these mind-body practices have shown positive effects on the following factors:

Emotional Balance
Attentional Control
Cognitive Efficiency
Anxiety
Negative Thought Patterns
Emotional and Physical Arousal
Reactivity
Negative Behaviors

In case you are wondering how results are being measured, keep reading.

Multiple measures have been used. One measure is called the Attention Network Test - which is basically a test measuring attention. Another measure went straight to our chemical composition and measured cortisol levels through the collection of saliva. Teachers were also asked to complete behavioral observations surveys.

If more evidence is what you’re looking for, we can always take a look at the testimonials from parents and the students themselves.

The truth is - more evidence alone is not where our collective energies can best be focused on.

The NOW questions are not about if these practices work; they are about how can we get these practices to all of our youth?

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Connection Coalition has been providing these tools to youth since 2003. Our teachers are passionate and trauma-informed. And we’ll keep doing this, because everyone deserves to feel peace within their bodies (and have access to the tools to achieve this!).

If you’re interested in learning more about us, visit our website or follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

Yoga In Schools - It's a REAL and EFFECTIVE Thing!