Strategies for Implementing Yoga Instruction in Schools, Suggested by an Educational Leader Honored as Superintendent of the Year
Dr. Barbara Malkas, the Massachusetts Superintendent of the Year, has been instrumental in implementing yoga and mindfulness programs in schools, starting with the North Adams Public Schools in 2021. The initiative was born out of a personal need for self-care during high stress levels caused by the pandemic.
Malkas's passion for yoga and mindfulness began when she became interested in Breathe for Change, an organisation that trains educators in yoga, social-emotional learning, and wellness practices. She went on to become a certified yoga instructor.
Inspired by the success of the program in North Adams, other school districts such as San Francisco Unified School District and Denver Public Schools have also adopted similar yoga initiatives.
Malkas emphasises the importance of collaboration in implementing these programs. She advises encouraging teachers to help shape the programs instead of prescribing them. District leaders, she says, should commit to the program for some time and build its capacity.
Data is tracked to gauge the impact of the Breathe for Change yoga programs. The focus is on behavioural incidents and discipline referrals, as well as teacher surveys about strategies and outcomes. Predictably, behavioural incidents have gone down and teachers are seeing an impact from the programs.
To ensure maximum utilisation, classes are offered during the school day and as part of after-school classes, with some students attending as an alternative to detention. Malkas offers yoga classes for teachers and has trained over 30 educators, including the football coach, to teach yoga. Today, these educators offer yoga classes for students, teachers, and North Adams community members.
Malkas is careful to never force these programs on students or teachers. She believes that making them available is key. She also warns against making assumptions about the acceptance of yoga and mindfulness programs in schools.
Malkas notes that yoga and mindfulness have existed for thousands of years and have helped people through difficult eras. She believes that these practices are helping students learn skills not just in their learning, but in their practice in life.
In the words of Malkas, "The times we live in are not the most challenging, as life is always challenging and these practices have withstood the test of time." She encourages everyone to embrace these practices as a means of coping with life's challenges.
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