A Success Story . . .
In the fall of 2022, a second-grade boy joined Lotus Center’s Yoga in Public Schools’ (“YIPS”) after-school program at Bayard Elementary. He was a highly energetic boy who couldn’t sit still and would constantly blurt out silly things while YIPS instructor Patricia Stone was trying to teach. The boy was unable to stay on his yoga mat, so the PE teacher sat next to him during class.
After a few weeks of the boy’s disruptive behavior, the PE teacher asked Patricia if she wanted her to call his parents and tell them that he wasn’t listening or behaving in class and that he could no longer participate. Patrica said, “Absolutely not! This boy child needs yoga the most!”
They made it through the rest of the semester, and it wasn’t until after the Christmas break that Patricia really noticed the change in the boy’s behavior: He no longer yelled out or interrupted the class in other ways, and he was able to mostly remain on his mat. He fully participated in doing the breathing and focus exercises as well as all of the yoga poses. He became quite flexible and always does the poses with zest! He’s got a great personality; Patricia says, “Truth be told, he’s one of my favorite students!”
Yoga is a powerful practice that can bring positive change to young people’s lives. We are grateful for the privilege of bringing these life skills of connection, deep breathing, focus, movement, and relaxation to this young person, and all the children in YIPS.
Epilogue: This boy participated in subsequent fall and spring YIPS classes and has become a leader whom other students look up to!
Your donation to Lotus Center via Give Grandly will support YIPS, a community service project of Lotus Center, which began during the 2017/18 school year. Our mission for YIPS is to bring non-religious yoga classes, as part of their Physical Education curriculum, to public schools in Grant County, New Mexico. Thus far, Lotus instructors have taught yoga to students at ten different public schools and one Montessori school. YIPS is part of Lotus Center’s community service program, and is provided at no cost to the schools or the students.
To support Lotus Center and all of our community service programs, please visit:
https://www.givegrandly.org/organizations/the-lotus-center
Thank you for supporting our nonprofit, community-owned Lotus Center!