Erin Hurley, a School Counselor, has been implementing Y4C for over ten years. Learn more about the amazing work Erin is doing at Cherry Run Elementary School:
How did your school first learn about Yoga 4 Classrooms, and what inspired you to start the program? I learned about Y4C during a breakout session with Lisa Flynn at the American School Counselor Association conference in 2013. In 2015, I completed the 1-day Y4C training in Washington D.C. and haven’t looked back.
How often do your classrooms practice yoga or mindfulness techniques in your classroom? Are there specific times during the day that seem to work best? As a school counselor, I teach monthly lessons focused on Social Emotional Learning to all students in grades K-6. I easily integrate aspects of Y4C into all my classroom lessons. I also use breathing, movement, and guided visualization activities in my work with small groups and individual students. Our school has integrated the use of Y4C into our School Improvement Plan for several years to boost student’s self-awareness and self-management skills. Any time of day, is a good time for Y4C!
What’s one favorite activity or pose that students love? This year, I have started to utilize our outdoor learning space for my monthly lessons. Students love to do Washing Machine to release any tension and to help them prepare for learning.
Have you noticed any positive changes in students since starting the program? We have integrated the use of Y4C into our School Improvement Plan since 2017. We have seen improvement in both academics as well as behavior.
How do students feel about practicing yoga in the classroom? Students welcome the opportunity to use breathing exercises and yoga poses throughout the day. Not only do we use Y4C in the classroom, but we use it outside as well. Moving and breathing increases our self-awareness and self-management skills as well as improves our ability to make responsible decisions. Moving and breathing in nature takes it to a whole new level. The opportunity to practice mindful awareness while in relationship with the natural world has been a game changer for our students.
How has the program impacted your teachers and staff? Have they found benefits in their own well-being? Teachers are stressed, overwhelmed, and have limited time. The thing that the teachers love the most about Yoga 4 Classrooms is its accessibility and minimum time constraints. Teachers have reported using the activities for themselves while at the same time modeling for their students how to successfully self-regulate.
Do you have any advice for other schools that are thinking about starting a yoga and mindfulness program? Don’t be afraid to take the first step. Start small and move forward. You will be glad you did.
If you could sum up your experience with Yoga 4 Classrooms in one word, what would it be? Inspiring.
Thank you for the incredible work you do to support your students and the staff at Cherry Run, Erin! You make a tremendous difference and inspire all of us!
Are you implementing Yoga 4 Classrooms and want your school to be featured? Reply to this newsletter and let us know— maybe your school will be the next Y4C Spotlight School of the Month!
