Poses to Pages: Mindful Moments That Boost Reading

Meet Floretta! Floretta is a certified educator with ten years of experience, specializing in early childhood education. With over 25 years of dedication to yoga and meditation, she integrates these practices into her daily classroom routine to foster emotional well-being and self-awareness in young learners. She believes that even brief moments of stillness can empower children to hear their voices and discover the strength of inner calm. She believes this approach blends academic growth with mindful practices, creating a nurturing and balanced learning environment.

Yoga 4 Classrooms was the perfect next step for enhancing my Zen Warrior Reading Club, where I blend my love of reading with yoga. The “Yoga and Mindfulness in the Classroom” training helped me align my intentions with clear, actionable steps. Each lesson was thoughtfully structured, professional, and packed with practical strategies I could use right away.

I first started using breathing techniques two years ago in my class to prepare us for our reading time and to allow focus… basically to just get through it. This led to “The Zen Warrior Reading Club,” which started last school year and serves ages 3-8. I started it as a way to give students some time to have fun with reading. I love both yoga and reading, so I decided to give it a powerful name. Reading is a big struggle for children. In today’s classrooms, it’s difficult to just read for fun and enjoyment. It all comes with a structured lesson and stories that are directed by a curriculum that sometimes doesn’t have personal connections to students. The Zen Warrior Reading Club allows children to find the LOVE of reading and where it takes them. There are short lessons that are hands-on, creative building, not worksheet-related. But most of the class is finding the center, opening our minds, and having fun with reading.

This summer’s reading club was our best yet! We now begin each session with a feelings check-in, a “Let’s Breathe” breathing activity, and an affirmation—setting a calm, focused tone. From there, we move into reading instruction, phonics or comprehension practice, and wrap up with a fun game and a short flow of 5–8 poses. (The “Stand Strong” activities can easily be combined to create a mindful movement flow to fit the amount of time you have available.)

The impact has been incredible. My reading group is more engaged, planning is smoother, and the entire experience is more joyful and meaningful for both me and my students. The integration of mindfulness and movement from the Y4C Activity Cards has truly elevated our learning environment.

It brings us great joy to hear about Yoga 4 Classrooms being combined with academic interventions to facilitate learning readiness and improve student achievement. Thank you, Floretta, for the many ways you make a difference in the lives of your students! We would love to hear how you are using Yoga 4 Classrooms at your school, too. Contact us and share your story.