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Wall Street Journal Features Kids Yoga

DonnaKFreeman — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:20:49 +0000

Monday, March 28, 2011 was a great day, a momentous day, a once-in-a-life time kind of day. It was the day I woke up to find my name in the Wall Street Journal. Yes, the actual Wall Street Journal.

In mid-February I was contacted via e-mail by WSJ reporter Emily Glazer who had heard about Yoga In My School from Shari Vilchez-Blatt of Karma Kids Yoga in NYC (a million thanks to Shari). Emily was looking for information on yoga in schools, yoga for special needs, interesting/creative ways of teaching kids yoga. You’ve come to the right place!

I remember calling my husband, as he was out of town on business, and saying I’d received an e-mail from the Wall Street Journal. He chuckled and said to make sure it wasn’t spam but was actually from wsj.com. It was. Emily & I e-mailed back and forth and set up an interview date & time.

The interview lasted over an hour – a little longer than the 20 mins we’d planned on. Emily asked a lot of interesting, thought provoking questions and was intrigued by the interconnections between the brain’s function and movement. She was kind enough to ask about my personal story, how I came to be an expert in kids/teens yoga, and wanted as much information as possible about the kids yoga community and others involved in doing amazing things in bringing yoga to kids. For this we kept referring back to the Yoga In My School Blog Talk Radio series and many of the Yoga In My School give-aways.

As well she wanted proof: studies showing the claims stating the benefits of yoga for kids were true. This is the Wall Street Journal after all, not a feel good article or a personal interest piece.

Needless to say my follow up e-mail was lengthy with lots of links to substantiate the kids yoga and mindfulness movement and shine a light on the many amazing people with whom I have the privilege to work (check out our Yoga Links I Love list).

Emily then pitched the story to her editors. She came back with further questions via e-mail and phone calls on various occasions wanting to know the number of schools in the US who use yoga, the costs of funding a yoga program, training expenses, locations where it is especially popular, and hurdles or obstacles which prevent yoga from being adopted into all schools. Some of these questions were challenging as I felt I was representing all kids yoga instructors with my answers and I wanted the information to be accurate, informative and authentic.

Emily then let me know that the article would be published on March 28th. I waited. In the meantime I learned that WSJ was also filming a video regarding kids yoga and that elementary students in Encinitas, CA were involved in a photo shoot. By Sunday the 27th I was simply happy to have been part of the process, that getting the message out regarding kids yoga and the good it can do for children of all ages and abilities was what was most important. I hoped that the WSJ’s article was open and fair, and that thanks to its reach and credibility more schools would offer yoga to their students.

It was with some trepidation that I googled the article Monday morning. First I found the video. How fun! Then I clicked on the article and found myself in tears as I read. Emily had done a fabulous job with the material … and I even got quoted.

So yes, Monday, March 28th, 2011 was a great day! A great day for yoga for kids and teens.

Please share the article with parents, teachers and school administrators in you know. Together we can make a positive impact on children’s lives, their mental, emotional and physical health.

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Yoga on Wheels with I Love Yoga: Green Bus Project

DonnaKFreeman — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:20:00 +0000

With over 108 stops in 27 states during the course of 12 months the I Love Yoga: Green Bus Project brings yoga to studios, conferences, campuses and festivals in a unique way. Get in touch with the founders of the Green Bus Project, learn the challenges of life on the road, discover wonderful ways to make dynamic, positive change in your life and the world. All this and more during this interview with yogis Moses Love and Zeina Smidi.

Original Air Date: February 22, 2011

Download this and other great interviews with yoga experts at Yogainmyschool.com on iTunes.

Connect with the Green Bus Project via Facebook.

I Heart YogaDork: Live and In Person Join your fav yoga peep, YogaDork, as she tells all...
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I Heart YogaDork: Live and In Person

DonnaKFreeman — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 18:01:20 +0000

YogaDork, Jennilyn Carson, is our guest as she shares her experiences writing a popular yoga blog, detailing celebrity yoga sightings, attending yoga school, and poking fun at the status quo of the yoga world. Join your fav yoga peep as she tells all including the highs and lows of reporting the latest yoga news with wit and wisdom.

Original Air Date: February 11, 2011

Download this and other great interviews with yoga experts at Yogainmyschool.com on iTunes.

Embrace your inner YogaDork and join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

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CTV Interviews Donna Freeman: Bringing Yoga to Schools

DonnaKFreeman — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 20:58:55 +0000

A local yoga instructor is doing her part to promote healthy living for children. Donna Freeman is the author of the new book Once Upon a Pose and today she joins us in studio. She’s also brought along some kids.

We are talking about yoga and kids and how fun it can be. But you’re specifically looking at how to get yoga into schools.

Yes, yoga in schools is a really wonderful combination of bringing the health benefits and the intellectual and emotional training into the classroom. It’s just vital to bring it into the classroom these days. Kids need these skills.

Q: What’s some of the stuff you are able to do in the classroom?

You can use what we are doing today which is a whole lot of partner poses. Partner poses develop cooperation and team work and they get kids talking with one another and working together in a really unique way.

Another thing that is nice about a school is you can use what’s in a school, a desk and a chair, to do yoga. A lot of people don’t think of that because in their typical class, which is in a studio, and there is a mat and they aren’t sure how to adapt it to a school.

Q: What are some of the benefits for kids?

Increased focus, improved concentration, their creativity skyrockets, their impulse control is greater. As well, it reduces their stress so that they are in a mental and emotional place where they’re ready to learn.

Q: And you think you can use this in different subjects?

For sure. You can use yoga in a science classroom, mathematics classroom, language arts classroom, even in an art classroom. Y0u can incorporate yoga poses in all those subject areas.

Watch video for more …

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Yoga during Algebra? – Donna Freeman talks about the benefits on Breakfast Television

DonnaKFreeman — Mon, 10 May 2010 06:28:57 +0000

Yoga during algebra? A good arguement for it in this BT Bite!

It’s great for your breathing, flexibility and stress relief and it isn’t just for grown-ups. Donna Freeman is the founder of YogaInMySchool.com, an innovative program aimed at kids and teens, and she joins Breakfast Television with a few young friends.

Teens are at an ideal age to practice yoga. It helps them de-stress, focus, develop mentally, emotionally and physically, get to know themselves and become all they can be.

[flv]http://yogainmyschool.com/video/YogaInHighSchool.flv[/flv]

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Once Upon A Pose – Donna Freeman on Breakfast Television – Edmonton

DonnaKFreeman — Mon, 10 May 2010 06:15:05 +0000

Yoga instructor Donna Freeman chats about her new book, Once Upon a Pose, which makes it easy to bring yoga into the classroom during this BT Bite. She also brings some kids along to demonstrate various poses and show how fun and easy yoga for kids can be.

Once Upon a Pose is written specifically for parents, teachers, daycare workers, youth leaders, health care professionals and anyone interested in promoting healthy living for children. At a recent conference one attendee said, “This is by far the best teacher resource I’ve ever bought.”

[flv]http://yogainmyschool.com/video/OnceUponAPose.flv[/flv]

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Tim Thomas Hockey All Star & Yoga Master

DonnaKFreeman — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:59:40 +0000

The Boston Bruins are on a roll. Monday night they won against the Sabres and are now heading into the next round of the NHL playoffs.

Tim Thomas, a goalie for the Boston Bruins, uses yoga to enhance his hockey performance and stay on top of his game both physically and mentally. Check out this video to discover how he does it.

Tim Thomas is considered one of the Top 10 Goalies in Bruins History. We are thrilled with the example he is setting for young hockey players and other elite athletes.

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What adults can learn from kids

DonnaKFreeman — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:29:40 +0000

Adora Svitak, prolific short story writer and blogger, addressed TED recently. At the mature age of 12, she promotes more “childish” thinking to solve many of the world’s problems. She encourages adults to dream big, go after bold ideas, approach learning as a reciprocal activity and always have high expectations of themselves and others. She promotes an improved tomorrow by striving to make the new generation better than the current one. This is progress. This is how we develop the leaders of tomorrow.

Absolutely love her enthusiasm, her clarity of thought, her quest for a brighter tomorrow.

Go Adora!

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John Friend’s Yogic Prescription for Health

DonnaKFreeman — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:06:42 +0000

On Monday, March 8th John Friend, founder of AnusaraYoga and pre-eminent yoga teacher, gave a lecture at USC, Health Science Campus, entitled ”Yogic Prescription for Health.” This was the first lecture of a series to bridge the gap between western medicine and homeopathy. Having grown up with a homeopathic Grandmother, I find western and eastern medicine wonderfully complementary. Each can build off of the strengths of the other.

Friend underlined how yoga can assist western medicine by working on balancing the whole person, increasing mobility, and cultivating a positive, loving attitude. He said:

A patient’s mental state is now acknowledged as a key contributor to physical health. Yoga helps develop a positive, strong-willed attitude.

Natacha Sagalovsky Lovering was able to attend the event and graciously shared her notes with Yoga In My School. Our favourite concept was:

John stresses that there is a pulsating consciousness that underlies everything that is physical, our bodies (and everything in this physical world) are made up of an energy that is supremely intelligent, that is orderly and that doesn’t want us to suffer, it is benevolent. Our body knows where proper alignment is, and how to heal itself if we give it space and help it pulsate. Bend over, twist, move around – get your blood, cerebrospinal fluid and lymph system moving – increase your vitality so that the cells and organs in your body can pulsate. Stand up straight, give your spine a healthy curve, don’t collapse into your lungs and heart, they need space! Cultivate a positive and life affirming attitude, and never underestimate the power of a caring look, a loving touch, a sweet smile, kind words and humor.

What a wonderful way to approach health and well-being. Here is a sample of John Friend’s teaching as he encourage us to cultivate a positive mind set and say “Yes” to life.

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Children’s Relationship to Food Needs an Overhaul

DonnaKFreeman — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:31:04 +0000

Today children are inundated with poor food options. From chicken nuggets to processed treats, its all readily available and marketed to the hilt. One of the worst culprits is school lunch. School cafeterias often don’t have a single ‘from scratch’ option made without preservatives and chemicals. Where are the fruits and vegetables that are supposed to make up the largest portion of the daily intake? And ketchup is NOT a vegetable!

Educating children about healthy eating is critical. There is much we can do to promote fresh, healthy, delicious food. It is essential to change children’s relationship to food so that they understand that what they put into their bodies effects how their bodies feel and perform.

Here is a 20 minute talk by Ann Cooper, the renegade lunch lady, who is passionate about changing what kids eat for lunch. She promotes a local, sustainable, seasonal and educational diet.

There are numerous ways to change how children relate to food. Here are a few suggestions

Teach proper nutrition- develop awareness for the food groups, portion size, and label reading
Involve kids in the kitchen - even the smaller kids can help in the kitchen, get them involved and empower them with life long skills
Eat together – studies show famlies that eat together have better health habits
Grow your own food – even a small garden can grow fresh produce for the table
Appreciate the body - learning basic anatomy develops an appreciation for and awareness of the body, its systems, and how to care for it with proper nutrition

Other articles with a focus on improving the health and nutrition of children include:

Food Issues — Karmaspot’s Blog
Kids are Eating a Wheelbarrow full of Sugar — Young Yoga Masters
Food, Mood, Behavior and Learning — The Kids Yoga Resource
Yoga Can Help Diminish Childhood & Teen Obesity — Shanti Generation Blog
Eating Local Tips for Busy Moms on a Budget — The PranaMama
Watermelon Pose — Alluem Kids

If you have a related article or website please post a link in the comments.

Together we can make a difference. This is something we are completely in control of, so get involved, make an effort, take the time.

Over the next couple of months I’ll be ellaborating on ways to change how children relate to food so be sure to subscribe by RSS or e-mail.

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