The Importance Of Yoga In Public Schools

The typical day in an American life is busy and hectic. Many people are searching for effective and useful ways to channel or eliminate the stress in their day to day. Physical exercise is a wonderful way to do this and is proven to reduce stress and increase endorphin production. Normally, the stressors that we talk about as adults are not considered a problem with youth; however, this is a gross understatement and, quite honestly, a “head in the sand” view of what our children are facing today. As parents, educators, leaders, or just the generation watching the up and coming, we need to offer our children many different opportunities to be well-rounded, mentally, and physically alert healthy people. Historically speaking yoga is rooted

In a Google search there are multiple articles, including many that highlight very specific controversies surrounding the use of yoga in the schools. Some of the key terms include: religious indoctrination, banning of ‘Namaste’, promoting Hinduism, and more. Without the use of mantras, underlying promotion of atman, or any other specified mental awareness related to the India school of thought there are no religious correlations. The benefits of yoga in schools include physical activity, time away from the mental stress of school work, or emotional stress from peers, and promoting calmness and relaxation. Bottom line, there is a specific agenda to yoga in the public schools which does not include any religious undertones. Dana Santas wrote an article for CNN.com about the health and wellness of yoga in the public schools. She states, “…what the concerned parents probably don’t realize is that the popular Americanized version of yoga being taught in schools is a secular form of mind-body exercise focused on mental and physical benefits, not

There are five elements of this project which are: connect, breathe, move, focus, and relax. The descriptions of these terms are not at all religious in nature, but rather focused on the child and how to enhance their physical and mental awareness in school. The history of yoga and the founding religions must be respected; however, the physical act of yoga is nothing more than stretching, breathing, and flexibility. Should the term ‘yoga’ not be used? Possibly, maybe it should be called nothing more than stretching and breathing exercises. However, the term is too Americanized and completely integrated into our society by now. The benefits of the physical act cannot be ignored and should be utilized, especially in the school systems across the United States. Yoga, used in the schools, should be viewed the same as a game of kickball, dodgeball, or running track. It should be encouraged and welcomed by all because of the benefits our children will surely experience for years to