Help Bring Trauma-Informed Yoga & Mindfulness to Schools

Hello! My name is Ashley Krstulovich. I am an E-RYT (Experienced Yoga Teacher), YACEP (Yoga Alliance Certified Education Provider), and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner in my Advanced year of training. I own and operate WholeSelf Healing Resilience Center, a trauma-informed yoga & meditation center in Springfield, Illinois. And I’m on a mission. My mission is to bring the benefits of trauma-informed yoga & mindfulness training into the community, beyond yoga studio walls, and specifically to children.

I’ve mostly volunteered my services or raised funds on my own, for the past 9 years, to bring said mindfulness & yoga programming to countless community events, as well as a variety of public schools (in Springfield, Riverton, Rochester, Chatham, Chandlerville, Virginia, and Decatur). In the last 3 years, I have branched out my services to include various community organizations, homeless shelters, and company staff trainings.

Knowing very well that a lot of education professionals lack funding for such services, I have always been determined to network and strategize to get my foot in the classroom door. That’s to say, I am not one to let lack of access keep me from finding ways to make my services accessible— especially when it comes to the children in our community. After three local teachers recently reached out to help bring my services into their schools, I thought, “That’s it. It’s time to get this ball rolling again.” As I’ve done many times in the past, I am hosting this virtual fundraiser to hopefully raise enough to cover the cost of (AT LEAST) two of my 10-week programs. What does that consist of, you might be asking?? Well, here you have it:::

I visit the class and instruct youth in brief yoga & mindfulness lessons, ranging from 30-45 minutes, once a week, for 10 weeks. Teachers and youth continue short mindfulness practices on their own once the program is complete. Students learn to apply mindfulness to all daily experiences. Lessons include:

• Mindful listening

• Body awareness

• Mindful breathing

• Mindful movement

• Mindful eating

• Mindfulness of thoughts

• Mindfulness of emotions

• Mindful test-taking

• Cultivation of positive states like kindness, generosity and gratitude

•Both classes will receive teacher manuals, workbooks and a sound bowl for their classrooms.

I will let teachers, parents, and school staff throw their names in the hat these coming two weeks, via Facebook, Instagram, and email, and I will randomly pick the winners on Facebook Live on Monday, August 12th.

The beginning of the school year can be incredibly challenging for both students AND education professionals. My hope is that, no matter how much we are able to raise, I might have the opportunity to reach and provide these life skills, support, and some relief for a couple lucky classrooms, as we make our way into Fall 2024. Our students, teachers, supporting staff, and community deserve it!!!

As always, thank you from the bottom of my heart, and here’s to a more mindful midwest!!!