Ready, steady, focus- K-5
The intention of the Ready Steady Focus program is to cultivate and build on students' existing social and emotional learning skills. Together we practice pausing, noticing and regulating our bodies through fun mindfulness exercises including yoga poses, breath awareness and meditation. I like to tailor my program to each individual school's SEL approach e.g. character traits. During our sessions students are invited to explore being still, noticing how our bodies have become so used to being busy, constantly moving, fidgeting and thinking. We then practice mindful movements at our desk, seated and standing. Students are invited on this journey of waking up and becoming more aware of the present moment. With this awareness we all become more mindful of our thoughts, our words and our actions. Students are more able to respond rather than react, are available for learning within the classroom and able to participate and engage in the actions of being Respectful, Responsible, Safe and Kind.
This program can be practiced in the classroom or as part of the Physical Education Curriculum.
The classroom would be a push-in 20 minute movement break e.g. Day 1: K-2 (10 x 20min breaks if 3/4 sections per grade), Day 2: 3-5. In the classroom we tailor the breath awareness and movement to how the energy is in the class paying attention to where we have come from e.g. cafeteria/recess and what's next e.g Math test. We practice calming breathing exercises with slower movements to get more organized and/or we bring awareness to simple energizing breathing exercises e.g. power up breath and practice some warrior poses to become more awake, alert and focused. Students learn to notice what their bodies need to be able to build their "attention muscle" and pay attention.
The PE program is usually carried out over a week Mon-Fri and each student gets two Yoga & Mindfulness sessions or 2-3 days so that each student gets one session. Sessions include breath awareness, short meditations listening to the bowl, yoga poses and every session ends with relaxation. Mats / blocks are provided.
KYIS – Kripalu Yoga in the Schools- Middle and high school program
KYIS (Kripalu Yoga in the Schools) is presented in three modules (8 sessions per module).
Module 1: Developing an Awareness of Self: Stress and Self Regulation
Module 2: Self-Management: Riding The Waves of Life's Experiences
Module 3: Cultivating Connectivity: Developing Compassion for Self and Others
KYIS targets Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) skills, including stress management, emotional regulation, self-appreciation and confidence, and strong peer relationships. The KYIS framework fosters these SEL skills in adolescents through a yoga and mindfulness based curriculum.
The KYIS curriculum is entirely secular and incorporates mind-body practices such as breathing exercises, warm-ups, experiential activities, yoga postures, deep relaxation and meditation techniques. The class sessions are structured to include approximately 5 minutes of centering and breath work, five minutes of warm-up, five minutes for an experiential activity, 20 minutes of yoga postures, and five minutes for relaxation, integration and/or meditation. Each session is designed with a theme that is covered in the lesson and explored as a group.
Since 2008, the IEL (Kripalu's Institute for extraordinary living) has conducted an array of qualitative and quantitative research examining the KYIS curriculum. Initial research showed that the KYIS yoga curriculum reliably improved resilience and prevented increases in negative emotional states in high school students (Khalsa, Hickey-Schultz, Cohen, Steiner& Cope, 2012). The KYIS curriculum also attenuates anxiety and stress and improves the ability to self-regulate. We have found that high school students that practiced yoga as part of their PE curriculum experienced decreased tension, anxiety, and negativity.
KYIS has recently been accepted as a SEL program by CASEL.
The KYIS program can be modified to suit your school's needs and funding. The program can be provided as part of the Physical Education Program or an after school program.
School Consultations
A school Consultation can be set up between the Yoga Teacher and the classroom teacher. This consultation involves discussion and demonstration of movement breaks e.g. yoga poses suitable for the classroom and mindfulness exercises that can be used to create a more focused and motivated learning environment.
Professional Development: In Service Workshops
These workshops are open to all staff in the school. They will provide an introduction to yoga and Mindfulness for Staff and an experience of the many benefits that come with engaging in mindful movement and mindful moments. Yoga and mindfulness exercises are explored and demonstrated that work within the classroom environment. The theme of the workshop is to create a more responsive and mindful classroom environment, both for the student and the teacher that supports success and learning.
Sample of school yoga program as part of the physical education curriculum
Grades: 6-12 (Total Students 360, Smaller School District)
Class sizes: 25-35 students
Plan to Provide two classes per grade (4 Day Program, 6 sessions per day, 24 sessions total)
Class Time: (41 minute period, 5 mins at beginning and end allocated for locker rooms) Total Class time for Yoga (30 mins approx.)
Mats provided by School (e.g.PTA funding), Straps and Blocks provided by YogaMinds@School, Music and Speakers, Large Gym exclusively for Yoga Program
Yoga and Mindfulness Program (Session 1)
Introduction to Yoga and Mindfulness
Centering and Breath Awareness
Warm up
Yoga Poses (Introduction to Basic Yoga poses e.g. Downward Dog, Table, Plank etc)
Integration/Relaxation
Close
Each Session or Program has a Theme e.g. Stress Awareness and this idea is integrated throughout the session as we focus on our Breath and learn about the impact of stress on our bodies and some simple ways to manage stress e.g. breathing exercises
Funding Sources
Arts in Education Grant (BOCES)
AfterSchoolAlliance.org (After School Programs)
Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Adirondack Trust Company Fund