A Yogi Walks Into A School
Spende geschützt
THE WHAT
I have touted the benefits of mindfulness and yoga ever since I established my own practice some years ago. I began teaching students of all ages different tools that they can use to practice breath control, stress management, mindfulness, and kindness during a summer school program for students in Title I schools. Recently, I took a giant leap and obtained my official Children’s Yoga Teacher certification through a Yoga Alliance registered company, Kidding Around Yoga. They do just what I have always wanted to do! Bring yoga to children in a way that appeals to them and for which they are developmentally ready through laughing, playing, stretching, learning, and meditating. This lays the groundwork for a lifetime of mindful practice. I now have countless tools in my toolbox to share with however many children and teachers I can find! So join me in this quest to get yoga into as many schools as we can and to as many children as possible!
THE WHY
Today’s students face tremendous pressure to achieve within a world that is often overwhelming. There are so many of us who want to help; teachers, parents, grandparents, school administrators, politicians, your next door neighbor…and the list goes on. As an educator myself, I know that many of us continue to try in various ways without enough success. Well, I want to do better, I want to do more, I want to make a difference! Anti-bullying, health & wellness, and character education are common themes in American schools today, all focusing on educating the whole child; mind, body and spirit. Yoga, by nature, supports this learning. Studies have shown that school yoga specifically, helps to reduce problem behavior, test anxiety, and anger. It has also been shown to increase academic achievement, positive behavior and the physical and mental well-being of students.
ABOUT ME
I started my teaching career in 2003 with the help of the New York City Teaching Fellows Program, a division of Americorps that placed selected teachers into high-needs schools in New York City. The intrinsic reward was enormous and I realized that I was destined to help and prepare kids for their future in some way shape or form. I relocated to Charleston, SC following my term of service. I continued to work in various high-needs schools in the area gaining more experience with more children which made me become more determined to do more for kids. Over the next ten years I worked in the Charleston County School District as a classroom teacher, an Instructional Resource Teacher, a Reading Interventionist, and a district-based Instructional Coordinator, all while I earned my 2nd Master’s degree in Educational Administration. I am currently a Transformation Specialist with the department of School Support at a school that struggles with a low performance rating. Given that the job to transform the state of this particular school is so multi-faceted, it occurred to me that I should take my energy, passion, and creativity and fine-tune the direction in which I place my efforts.
HOW
This is where you come in because I simply cannot do this on my own! It takes a village, right?!
My Contribution
1. I made a difficult decision to reduce my time as a school district employee in order to allow me to get into schools as an independent contractor and continue to spread the love and benefits of yoga to more kids.
2. I have started a donation-based yoga for kids pop-up series, Little Yogis Home of Om, in neighborhoods around town in order to assist with the cost of getting into more schools.
3. I am working toward becoming a trainer for Kidding Around Yoga so I can train and certify as many teachers and adults in the community that want to fill their toolboxes with useful strategies and ideas.
Your Contribution
1. A portion of your donation will help cover some of my expenses to go out & TMTO, teach my tush off!...a little KAY mantra we like to use;-))
2. A portion of your donation will help to offset the cost of the already discounted KAY training and certificiation program for educators. Dollars and cents should not be the deterrent for educators to miss out on such a great opportunity.
3. If you believe in this project and would like to help in a non-monetary way, simply sharing this campaign with your friends would be greatly appreciated.
IN CLOSING...
This campaign is a practical one which truly puts our children first and teaches them how to help themselves be mindful, thoughtful, and strong individuals…all on their own. So let’s do it, let’s get these kids what they need to succeed and really make a difference!
Check out these websites to see how far the mindfulness journey has taken some kids!
http://riseyogaforyouth.org/
http://www.yoga4classrooms.com/
www.kiddingaroundyoga.com










I have touted the benefits of mindfulness and yoga ever since I established my own practice some years ago. I began teaching students of all ages different tools that they can use to practice breath control, stress management, mindfulness, and kindness during a summer school program for students in Title I schools. Recently, I took a giant leap and obtained my official Children’s Yoga Teacher certification through a Yoga Alliance registered company, Kidding Around Yoga. They do just what I have always wanted to do! Bring yoga to children in a way that appeals to them and for which they are developmentally ready through laughing, playing, stretching, learning, and meditating. This lays the groundwork for a lifetime of mindful practice. I now have countless tools in my toolbox to share with however many children and teachers I can find! So join me in this quest to get yoga into as many schools as we can and to as many children as possible!
THE WHY
Today’s students face tremendous pressure to achieve within a world that is often overwhelming. There are so many of us who want to help; teachers, parents, grandparents, school administrators, politicians, your next door neighbor…and the list goes on. As an educator myself, I know that many of us continue to try in various ways without enough success. Well, I want to do better, I want to do more, I want to make a difference! Anti-bullying, health & wellness, and character education are common themes in American schools today, all focusing on educating the whole child; mind, body and spirit. Yoga, by nature, supports this learning. Studies have shown that school yoga specifically, helps to reduce problem behavior, test anxiety, and anger. It has also been shown to increase academic achievement, positive behavior and the physical and mental well-being of students.
ABOUT ME
I started my teaching career in 2003 with the help of the New York City Teaching Fellows Program, a division of Americorps that placed selected teachers into high-needs schools in New York City. The intrinsic reward was enormous and I realized that I was destined to help and prepare kids for their future in some way shape or form. I relocated to Charleston, SC following my term of service. I continued to work in various high-needs schools in the area gaining more experience with more children which made me become more determined to do more for kids. Over the next ten years I worked in the Charleston County School District as a classroom teacher, an Instructional Resource Teacher, a Reading Interventionist, and a district-based Instructional Coordinator, all while I earned my 2nd Master’s degree in Educational Administration. I am currently a Transformation Specialist with the department of School Support at a school that struggles with a low performance rating. Given that the job to transform the state of this particular school is so multi-faceted, it occurred to me that I should take my energy, passion, and creativity and fine-tune the direction in which I place my efforts.
HOW
This is where you come in because I simply cannot do this on my own! It takes a village, right?!
My Contribution
1. I made a difficult decision to reduce my time as a school district employee in order to allow me to get into schools as an independent contractor and continue to spread the love and benefits of yoga to more kids.
2. I have started a donation-based yoga for kids pop-up series, Little Yogis Home of Om, in neighborhoods around town in order to assist with the cost of getting into more schools.
3. I am working toward becoming a trainer for Kidding Around Yoga so I can train and certify as many teachers and adults in the community that want to fill their toolboxes with useful strategies and ideas.
Your Contribution
1. A portion of your donation will help cover some of my expenses to go out & TMTO, teach my tush off!...a little KAY mantra we like to use;-))
2. A portion of your donation will help to offset the cost of the already discounted KAY training and certificiation program for educators. Dollars and cents should not be the deterrent for educators to miss out on such a great opportunity.
3. If you believe in this project and would like to help in a non-monetary way, simply sharing this campaign with your friends would be greatly appreciated.
IN CLOSING...
This campaign is a practical one which truly puts our children first and teaches them how to help themselves be mindful, thoughtful, and strong individuals…all on their own. So let’s do it, let’s get these kids what they need to succeed and really make a difference!
Check out these websites to see how far the mindfulness journey has taken some kids!
http://riseyogaforyouth.org/
http://www.yoga4classrooms.com/
www.kiddingaroundyoga.com
Organisator
Melody Herscher
Organisator
Charleston, SC
