Let’s hear from Jo Ibarra, an experienced educator with endorsements in Spanish and ELL at Rustburg High School in Rustburg, Virginia. She is also the Varsity Swim team coach. She has taught students ranging from pre-K to community college, in Guatemala and the U.S. An avid yoga practitioner, she is enthusiastic to share this practice with others. Two […]
Mainstream yoga publications often feature photos of willowy, flexible people performing fantastic gymnastic feats that would leave most of us crippled for life. Impressive? No doubt. But is it yoga? Sort of. While the postures, or asanas, are perhaps the best known aspect of yoga, they are far from being the whole of yoga. For […]
As adults, we’re very sensitive to the demands of our own circumstances and the stress they produce. Many of us balance work responsibilities with raising children and maintaining a household; we juggle relationships with our partners, care for aging parents, and undertake volunteer and other personal commitments – all while trying to honor our own needs. Life is busy. Is […]
Imagination makes it possible to perceive a whole world inside the space of the mind. We can travel at the speed of light, visit foreign lands or alien worlds, and transcend the limitations of time and space. We can be anywhere and do anything . . . Imagination is a place of absolute freedom. It’s […]
Check out our Yoga 4 Classrooms’ “Favorite Things” series on YouTube. It is a fun exploration of some of our favorite tools in the world of education and mindfulness for both educators and students. This engaging series showcases a diverse array of resources, children’s literature, and professional development books specifically tailored for the classroom setting. […]
Anyone who has sat for long periods of time understands the stress and strain sitting has on the body. In the absence of movement, the muscles shorten and become stiff, joints lose their range of motion, and blood and lymphatic fluid collect in the lower body. This latter fact is of particular concern, as lymphatic […]
Learning begins with movement. Before a child is able to verbally communicate, he has an implicit ability to express and understand ideas through movement. We call this body language. Body language begins as a means of communicating his needs; then, as his command of body language develops, he begins to understand what is being communicated […]
Of all the aspects of a well-rounded yoga practice, breath is the most essential. Yoga is defined as “yoke” or “unite” and generally refers to the union between body, mind, and spirit. Imagine the breath (in yoga, called prana) as the thread, the essential life force energy, that ties these three elements together. Breath is […]
In an ever-evolving educational landscape, where we seek to nurture young minds and support their emotional development, the concept of calming corners has emerged as a powerful tool. These dedicated spaces in classrooms are more than just a trend; they are essential for promoting emotional resilience and well-being in our students. Let’s delve into the […]
Morning Meetings in classrooms hold significant importance for several reasons. They serve as a valuable tool for building a positive classroom culture, establishing routines, promoting social and emotional development, enhancing communication, improving attendance, and setting the tone for the rest of the day. Often Morning Meetings include a Greeting, Sharing, Activity, and Morning Message. The […]
