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

Go Adora!

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Lately there has been a debate raging around the yoga community regarding developing competitive yoga with an eye to having it accepted as an Olympic sport. Some find this philosophically wrong as yoga is about acceptance and personal growth. While others enjoy the individual challenge that the competitions emphasize.  To see the two sides of the argument visit YogaDork‘s Competitive Yoga:Vicious or Vindicated: Ask Bikram and the flipside at the Bikram Yoga NYC blog Yoga Competition: Perspiration and Inspiration.

Today NY Times enters the fray with this article on how Rajashree Choudhury (wife to Bikram) is trying to build momentum for competitive yoga in North America and the Yoga Community’s response to that effort.

From what I know about yoga competitions I tend to agree with Michael Alba, a yoga teacher in Boston, who is quoted as saying, “It perpetuates the idea that yoga is for lithe-bodied contortionists.” A concept I completely disagree with. Yoga is for every body. See Yoga Accessible to All.

Competitive yoga is yoga at its pure physical extreme. Even Choudhury admits “We are not trying to judge any kind of spirituality when they are out there.” I think that is exactly the point. Yoga is, after all, a body/mind discipline and yoga competitions simply celebrate the physical aspect in a quick three minute performance, even if part of the path to achieve that physical performance was spiritual, mental, and emotional.

Jon Gan, a Bikram Yoga instructor and Director of the United States Yoga Federation, hopes that yoga competitions will help inspire yogis and non-yogis alike. “When I was a kid, I played tennis, and whenever I watched players on Wimbledon I’d want to get out there and play like them,” he said. “It inspired me. I’m hoping the same kind of things will happen here.”

Maybe, maybe not. In the meantime I’ll continue to teach all kids, teens and adults, regardless of ability, strength, flexibility, body shape, or special challenges, how to harness the many benefits of yoga and access their personal path to acceptance and understanding.

Namaste.

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With those kind of statistics it was good news last week when Time magazine brought to our attention, with this article, scientific proof from the Journal of Adolescent Health that yoga helps those struggling with eating disorders. (Shout out to YogaDork and Yoga Buzz for highlighting this.)

Yoga has proven to be highly therapeutic and relatively non-threatening when working with those struggling with eating disorders. It provides a gentle awakening of the mind with a soft embrace of the body as it helps to re-establish the connection between the mind and body which can become highly disengaged for individuals with eating disorders. Yoga’s focus on fostering self love and helping to eliminate negative emotions while developing body awareness and acceptance make it an ideal therapy.

Physically yoga helps as it is a non-aerobic form of exercise. In other words it gets the blood flowing, releases positive chemicals into the brain which help overcome anxiety and depression, is weight bearing (a necessity for anorexics who may be at risk for osteoporosis), and doesn’t lead to weight loss but helps build and tone the body. In addition, it is a skill which can be kept up throughout life promoting health and vitality for years to come.

One further benefit of yoga class for teens struggling with eating disorders is that it is a forum for discussion. Topics such as personal boundaries, comfort zones, levels of trust, body image and others can find voice in a safe and nurturing environment.

For more information on how you can help those struggling with eating disorders visit the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)  and download a copy of their Educator Tool Kit.

You may also appreciate the article Moving Again, a personal account of how yoga aided Margaret E. Juliano’s in her fight to good health.

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“Professor Boyd Swinburn, director of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, says: “This is provocative in many ways . . . but my concern is that if we put the emphasis on exercise we are unlikely to tackle the obesity problem as we are not driving at the root cause.””

This is shocking as it attacks the entire culture that exercise is key to losing weight which has been accepted as fact since the 1980s aerobics boom. So why doesn’t exercise work? Two factors are key:

1. We overestimate calories burned typically doubling the figure
2. We eat more to reward ourselves for exercising

OK, guilty as charged.  I’ve been known to enjoy an extra slice of cheese cake if I went to spin class. And I know that when my kids get home from their evening sports activities their first stop is the fridge. In fact, in “a review of 18 studies of new school exercise programmes, published in March in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, found that in none of them did increasing PE reduce the children’s weight.” So where does that leave the Daily Physical Activity requirement? (see the post Yoga and the DPA Requirement)

We are now forced to consider the other side of the “eat less, move more” equation. Yes, the four letter word, “diet.” A simple mathematical equation of “calories in = calories out” and you won’t gain weight. Put emphasis on either side and you have either weight gain or weight loss depending on how you mess with the balance. True, it sucks, as you actually have to watch what you eat, make healthy choices, and be aware of your consumption habits.

Its always been easier to simply enrol Junior in a sporting activity and allow free reign at the table. Therein lies our problem. Constant snacking, high fat/high sugar foods, easy access to fast food, excessive consumption of soda and juice, highly refined products, convenience over nutrition. All these are contributing to an epidemic which is killing our children.

In order to truly combat the childhood obesity we need to follow the Surgeon General’s three pronged attack to:

• Help kids stay active
• Encourage healthy eating habits
• Promote healthy choices

For ideas on how to implement these goals check out the suggestions for Schools & Teachers and Parents & Caregivers.

Its not a case of diet vs exercise but more a lifestyle shift which includes both diet AND exercise. Yes, this means hard work, consistency, and actually eating 5-10 serving of fruit & veg a day. For a multitude of suggestions on how to accomplish this visit Diet-Blog. When we finally figure this out we’ll be well on our way to healthier living for ourselves and our children.

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Are we motivated only by competition?

The Telegraph recently reported on a government study in the UK which found that fewer students are participating in competitive sports. There is a general decline in competing school against school and an increase in non-competitive “fun” endeavors like cheer-leading (they obviously aren’t on a competitive cheer team), yoga, and circus skills (not too sure what that is but it sounds fun).

Interestingly the article is against this shift. Quoting Nick Seaton, Chairman of the Campaign for Real Education:

“Non-competitive sport can never be a substitute for competitive sport which stretches young people to the utmost and help them get used to winning and losing.”

In addition, the article appears to blame non-competitive sports for the increase in childhood obesity.

Hold on! I don’t think so.

Simply by increasing opportunities for non-competitive activities that doesn’t mean the activities are any less  physically demanding. The idea that kids are motivated to excel physically simply due to their competitive natures is so wrong. Yes, healthy competition may bring out the best in some. It is always great to win. However, there are numerous individuals who simply opt out, knowing that they will never be fast enough, strong enough, good enough to win the gold medal.

Providing non-competitive options in school settings allows all students (jocks and nots) with an opportunity to develop their physical abilities. Yoga in particular will explore other aspects of the individual, and definitely challenge those who believe they are strong and fit, while involving non-physically inclined participants. I applaud the schools in the UK who are offering students a variety of competitive and non-competitive options in their PE curriculum. By providing a variety of options more kids may discover ways to stay fit and healthy throughout their lives.

What do you think? Are we motivated by competition? What are your motives for getting fit? Why do your kids exercise?

A shout out to Yoga Buzz for highlighting this article.

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Emily Cook

Check out these two interviews with Olympic athletes Emily Cook (freestyle skier) and Katherine Ruetter (speed skating) in regards to their yoga practice.

Interview with Emily Cook

Katherine Ruetter

Interview with Katherine Ruetter

Thanks to Ann Pizer, of About.com for posting these.

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Yoga can be a tremendous aid to cancer patients, survivors and family members as they battle the disease. Physically, mentally, and emotionally yoga provides the care, security, support, acceptance and rehabilitation needed during these crucial times. Breathing techniques, visualizations, and gentle asana practice all contribute to a healthy lifestyle and help cope with the ravages of cancer.

We’ve all been touched in some way by cancer. My grandparents have died from it, numerous friends are survivors, and a high school girlfriend’s little boy continues to fight brain cancer. I encourage you to show your support of these brave individuals by getting involved with your favorite cancer charity in the coming months. Kids and teens are often especially willing to lend a hand or help raise money and awareness demonstrating a high level of empathy and understanding. Get them involved in serving in the community. Here are a couple of my favorites.

Yoga Bear, an organization which aids and supports cancer patients & survivors, is encouraging an awareness campaign which encourages people to wear yellow on October 2nd to recognize the anniversary of Lance Armstrong’s cancer diagnosis. Learn more about Lance Armstrong and LIVESTRONG here.

Movember, a world wide movement which started in Australia, is bringing back the ‘stash’. Men begin clean shaven on November 1st and grow a moustache throughout the month to increase prostrate cancer awareness. Learn more here.

The St. Valentine’s Day Hair Massacure, an annual event to raise money for the Stollery Children’s Hospital. To date this annual fundraiser has raised over $3 million with celebrities, families, 24 participating schools, even dogs participating by dying their hair vibrant pink and/or going bald.

Show your support. Get involved. Make a difference.

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An excerpt from their write up about the event reads:

“The yoga comes naturally to the children as we play with poses on our mats. We progress through series of animal asanas in chorus of  Mooos, Meows and Howls. We conquer our fear in Peaceful Warrior and fly high to let our light shine bright in Airplane. The parents and children show much trust in us, sometimes holding hands or climbing in our laps.We teach that yoga is about friendship and seeing the good in others. Each one of us is perfect just the way we are.”

Supposedly all the Obama women (Grandma Marian Robinson, First Lady Michelle Obama, and First daughters Sasha & Malia ) all enjoy doing yoga. One report about  the event asks “Could this be the beginning of mainstream acceptance of yoga as part of a healthy lifestyle? To have it promoted by our nation’s highest family is a pretty good endorsement for many.”

I don’t know about the political fallout from adding yoga to the list of endorsed activities, but I think its pretty cool when you can do yoga on the White House Lawn. What a fun way to spend the day. Celebrating life, joy and unity in the shadow of such a building.

Thanks to elephantjournal for sharing. Here are a bunch of photos from the event.

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