3 Ways Yoga Can Improve Schools

Every time I practice yoga I feel better; I’m more balanced, centered and even creative. I try to bring that practice from my yoga mat into my world, and especially in my work as an educator. I have found 3 simple practices using yoga philosophies and teachings to nurture confidence, patience and balance.

1. No Judgment.
Students and teachers are judged throughout the day in many different ways: scores, reading levels, overall development and behavior. Subsequently, students and teachers judge themselves. Judgment is a dangerous practice because it limits potential. The result of all this judgment and comparison is a school full of compliant teachers and students afraid to think beyond what is in front of them. The fear of failure supersedes the desire to read aloud, offer an idea to the class discussion, or push beyond barriers in teaching and learning.

In yoga, we practice no judgment. The instructor iterates, “Observe yourself without judgment. Don’t be concerned with what is happening on the mat next to you.” This means, if you see the person next to you doing a crazy arm balance as if it is the easiest thing in the world and it’s all you can do to hold a simple pose, that’s ok. No judgment also means, if you want to try that crazy arm balance, go for it. If you fall on your face, that’s ok too. No one in the room will judge you for trying or not trying. This freedom from judgment eradicates the fear in the room and opens the space up for people to try new things and be ok with where they are.

Think about what would happen if we applied this in our schools. Tell students and teachers to observe themselves and others without judgment. Where we are is exactly where we need to be. No test scores or reading levels, no deficit in our abilities. The possibilities are endless when judgment is taken out of any situation.

2. Nothing to do.
Too often, students and teachers are concerned with all of the many things they have to do and complete. Students are stressed because of a looming exam, homework in another class, or problems at home. Teachers are preoccupied with thoughts of paperwork, conferences, lesson plans and test scores. The noise becomes so overwhelming we become stuck. We have a hard time putting one foot in front of the other to move forward, even a little. Students get in a rut and think, “screw it, I am too far in the hole to even try.” Then the student spirals down further and further. For teachers there’s so much to do, and they think, “I can’t get my head above water.” And they become resentful, angry and burnt out.

Multi-tasking in your head while practicing yoga is not an option. Just try to practice yoga with a head full of stuff and see what happens. The result is almost always loss of balance. In yoga, the teacher says, “There is nothing to do, nothing to complete, nothing to finish.” She means, the only thing we have to concern ourselves with in that moment is the task in front of us. Our minds will wonder all over the place if we let it. It starts on school and then moves into work. Then we think about how we need to stop at the store to pick up sponges. And then it’s all over. Our consciousness has gone off the rails. Usually my teacher senses this lapse of focus on the current task and says, “Don’t worry about anything else. On this mat is the only place you can possibly be. So just be here.”

As educators we can combat stressors by simply saying and practicing, “There is nothing else to do, nothing else to think about. Be present in this moment.” It seems like a simple concept. Of course there is nothing else to do. However, sometimes we need to be told it’s ok to let go of things occupying space in our heads. Powerful things happen when we are able to let everything else go except what we are doing in the present moment.

3. Small movements with intention can bring big change.
In education we are constantly thinking about outcomes. We focus on being an A school or getting our students to proficiency. We make big changes to policy, initiatives and instruction based on these desired outcomes. We are an instant gratification society and get very frustrated when things do not change or work in the moment we expect them to. We often forget impacting change is like turning a battleship; it takes many small movements to make real change possible.

When practicing yoga, big movements can make things more difficult. For example, when in a balance pose, trying to move too rapidly can cause the pose to crumble. However, small adjustments done very intentionally can change the pose and even make for more balance.

In education, the small changes we make now may not impact change for a while. However, we shouldn’t abandon those changes midway and try something else. Sometimes we need to stick it out to see the real change take place. If we are doing something we feel may not be effective, rather than scrap it and start over, we could make small adjustments to bring more balance.

These three practices are subtle but extremely impactful and when practiced on the yoga mat, our practice evolves. When practiced off the yoga mat, the possibilities are endless and our intention becomes clear. Once our intention becomes clear, reflection and transformation can take place.