Yoga expert partners with local schools to develop pilot program

Date: 11/25/2014

GREATER SPRINGFIELD –  Wilbraham resident Kate Forest, founder of Self Care Yoga, is piloting a yoga and mindful living program designed to reduce stress in the lives of students, which she hopes to bring to schools across the country in the future.

Forest said a pilot program began at Minnechaug Regional High School (MRHS) in 2013 and physical education and health teachers are also currently being trained to utilize the program in Longmeadow Public Schools for K-12.

“It’s a 14-lesson plan and it stems from work that I've been teaching and developing during these last 15 years,” she added. “The intentions for the program are really to help the kids release stress because they're under so many demands from parents, school, peers, and themselves.”

Forest said the K-8 portion of the program is anticipated to begin sometime next year. The pilot will be developed during the next two years in order to solidify the teaching program.

“It’s a very gentle approach to yoga that really any student can do and if they need to sit in chairs they can do it in chairs as well,” she added. “The skills that we teach on the yoga mat, we give them as a life practice to take home with them to practice in their life. It’s not just about a physical practice; it’s a physical, mental, social, and emotional practice.”

The program is based upon five principles and eleven skills of self-care and mindful living, Forest explained. Some of the principles include be mindful in your thoughts, feelings, and actions; practicing kindness, seeking balance in all areas of life; and cultivating gratitude for individual gifts and moments.

“They’re really short simple skills,” she added. “They’re not complicated and I’ve been working really hard on this for 15 years to make them accessible to the kids and to the teachers.”

One skill that is woven into every lesson is the body-mind breath connection, she added.

“For instance, [a teacher] will say, ‘How are you breathing? Can you lengthen your inhale and extend your exhale?’ and [they will] weave that question throughout the yoga practice and at the end the kids will create, for the life practice, [a life care reminder card about how they're breathing,]” Forest said.

“So, when they look at [the life care reminder card] and they see ‘How am I breathing?’ they’ll notice how their breathing, they’ll notice their breath is tense and shallow and barely there and they’ll deepen breath, which will help to calm their mind, release their stress, [and] balance their emotions,” she continued.

MRHS Physical Education Teacher Melissa Doe said student reaction from the program has been overwhelmingly positive.

“They express that yoga, breathing, and mindfulness activities help them reduce stress and anxiety, while strengthening their physical, social, and emotional health,” Doe said.

“It enriches their focus and enhances their connection with themselves and others,” she said. “It is really beautiful when the students tell me that they use these skills outside of school and at times have shared this with their family and friends,” she added.

Doe said the practice of Self Care Yoga has inspired her to also share the program with students, faculty, and community members.

“I continue to watch the transformation of the students and it touches my heart each time I share this work with them,” she said. “As I reflect upon the students responses, I see and feel the positive impact Self Care Yoga, Stress Release, and Mindful Living has had on them. They are learning to be more compassionate humans towards themselves, others, and our world while strengthening their mind and body.”

Last year, MRHS students also showed interest in starting a Self Care Yoga Club, which is now established, Doe noted. 

“Teachers, counselors, and staff continue to support this curriculum and the Self Care Yoga Club because they know the positive effect it can have on our students,” she said. “The administration was supportive when Kate and I showed interest in implementing a pilot program three years ago into the P.E. setting and they continue to show support today.

“I am excited to move forward on this journey of training with Kate so that I can continue to share this work with my students and community,” Doe continued. “It’s really great to pass the kids in the halls and to share a peace sign together. This positive energy is so contagious.”

Forest said during the next two years DVDs and a mentoring manual will be created from the studies of pilot programs.