Recently I spoke with Karma Carpenter Shea of K-12yoga.org  as we discussed some of the challenges facing educators and students today.

Karma advocates in-school yoga and mindfulness programs to achieve Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) and develop leadership skills in youth.

Included in the conversation were Amy Haysman of Grounded and Susan Solvang of Growing Minds. They both shared their hands on experiences working with youth in Atlanta and Milwaukee respectively.

What we all agree on (and what the research is proving again and again) is that teaching yoga and mindfulness techniques in schools develops leadership skills, improves self-regulation and builds social emotional skills in children. Teaching mindfulness and yoga skills in schools reaches 100 percent of kids, as well as teachers, parents and the greater community helping all to live healthier lives, get along better, reduce anxiety and succeed at life’s many challenges.

What we’re not sure about is how to extend the reach of these programs, find funding and convince an inundated and overburdened educational system to integrate these successful techniques into their daily routines.

Join the conversation. Listen here:

For more information about Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) visit PBIS.org

For more information about Response to Intervention (RTI) visit National Center on Response to Intervention.

~

Ed: Kate B.

Like elephant yoga on Facebook.