Top Tips For Teaching Yoga In Schools - Tip #53: Find Other Ways To Fit Yoga In

Hi there, and welcome back!

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As I was reflecting on what to share with you all this week, I thought about all of the conversations I’ve had in the last year about where / how to fit yoga OUTSIDE of my regular classes. 

Last fall, I met with our Community School Coordinator to discuss hosting a family yoga night, and later met with our art teacher tomorrow to discuss how one of her projects on gratitude connects with and intertwines with my unit on gratitude, and exploring gratitude through yoga. 

In a session with one of my mentorship clients, I suggested that she invite the teachers to participate in a session with the kids, not a session of their own, since some teachers were curious about what she was doing and how it worked. 

Thinking outside of your own program box not only allows for a larger number of people to be exposed to yoga, but it puts your work into context in a new way. It allows students, families, and staff to see how it intersects and aligns with struggles they’re having, or things they’re already doing. It allows you to build partnerships within the larger school community (maybe even with outside community stakeholders) and find your allies and champions within the building. 

You don’t have to be creating an entirely new program or event - you can simply find ways to enhance or add to what already exists. 

Tip Takeaway: Reflect on ways that you can expand your teaching and offerings outside of your program model. Collaborate with other teachers in the school, where appropriate, to help them enhance their curriculum, or add to a project. Consider offering yoga to your students and their families at a school-wide event. Then, have conversations with these people and co-create a plan of action! Remember your allies as you build partnerships, within and outside of your classes.