Flint Schoolchildren to De-Stress with Yoga on June 21
Students at New Standard Academy will learn Isha yoga to combat stress on International Yoga Day
FLINT, Mich. – For the first time, schoolchildren in Flint, Michigan will mark International Yoga Day on Tuesday, June 21 with school-wide yoga practices. The New Standard tuition-free charter public school in Flint will offer students in grades 2 through 8 as well as teachers a day of yoga provided by volunteers from the international Isha Foundation.
In 2014, the United Nations proclaimed June 21 as International Yoga Day in recognition of the mind and body benefits of practicing yoga and its increasing popularity worldwide.
According to New Standard’s Assistant Superintendent Jenna Darnell, “Yoga can help with controlling stress as well as improving focus, which can make a big difference in school and at home, too. I hope all our students and teachers will take advantage of this opportunity to give yoga a try.”
The idea of a school-wide yoga day originated with New Standard special-education teacher Ranjini Warrier, who practices Isha yoga herself.
“I see a lot of stress, and sometimes anger and resentment in students,” says Warrier. “Stressed-out students cause stress in teachers. Even though there are stressful situations in my job, I may get tired but never stressed out. I know deep inside that it is due to the Isha yoga practices I have been doing for the past 16 years.”
After watching a video and reading articles about how yoga and meditation helped to raise test scores and reduce suspensions in schools, Warrier decided to try teaching yoga to her special needs students.
“After the first class, I could see an immediate effect in the children’s energy levels and just an overall ease,” she explains. “I felt the urge to have all our students experience this. I’m thrilled to have the Isha volunteers here to introduce yoga to all our students.”
A variety of easy and enjoyable yoga sessions will be offered to students and staff throughout the school day on June 21, with parents encouraged to attend.
More than 3 million people worldwide have participated in the yoga and meditation programs offered by Isha Foundation, an all-volunteer, nondenominational nonprofit founded by renowned humanitarian Sadhguru. Participants in Isha’s flagship program, Inner Engineering, have reported significant improvements in mental clarity and sleep quality, increased energy levels, the ability to better handle stress, a greater sense of connectivity and joy in everyday life, and even relief from serious and chronic diseases.
For more information about Isha programs, including Inner Engineering, free webinars, 5-minute yoga solutions and simple but powerful guided meditations, visit www.ishausa.org.
