My students live in northwestern Montana, close to Glacier National Park. While we are lucky to live in such a beautiful location, there aren't many opportunities or advantages for these rural and small-town kids. We are a Title I school where more half of the students in the district are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Half of our students live in low-income households, and often have to help support themselves and their families with after-school jobs. Many of my students are defined as homeless, sometimes uncertain where they will rest their heads at night.
My students, despite the obstacles placed in their way, have the potential to do great things.
I am energized by the idea of these industrious and creative teenagers one day becoming the leaders of our society. All are capable of achieving their goals, but sometimes they need a little help getting there.
I would like to help my students cope with their stress and chaos. Restorative yoga will help them re-channel that energy into reaching their positive potentials and teach them to take control of sometimes uncontrollable lives.
My Project
My students often come from families who struggle financially which can bring high levels of stress and chaos. In my psychology class, we do a standard unit about altered states of consciousness. Often, yoga is a part of that lesson. Two years ago, I decided to try another type of yoga - Restorative Yoga.
The goal of Restorative Yoga is to find stillness and silence in a chaotic world - something my students need desperately.
I wasn't entirely sure how my students would take to it, but they loved it. In fact, they asked to do it every day. They reported feeling calmer, more focused and less reactive to the small and large stressors of daily life - those stressors that often get in the way of being a successful student. Unfortunately, the only mats available to us are ones we borrow from the PE department, and it takes precious class time to procure them if they are even available.
I would like to extend the gift of Restorative Yoga to all of my classes, not just psychology. We may not be able to do it every day, but readily accessible classroom yoga mats and bolsters will allow us to quickly do 10-15 minutes throughout the semester.
The thicker mats will be warmer and more comfortable on a hard and cold tile floor. The washable bolster covers will be filled with thrift store blankets to save money, and the yoga blankets will be used in place of the bolsters, which is economical and allows for some flexibility. While this request isn't a typical one from a school, I have already seen the benefits that a few moments of mindfulness bring to my students' days.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Lovering and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
