- Promote the benefits of joyful movement to students for physical and mental health
- Allow teens to see movement as something to be enjoyed, instead of a punishment
- Encourage students to try yoga as a healthy coping strategy
- Create connection, belonging, and fun for students
- Students are reporting higher levels of stress and anxiety since the pandemic.
- Additionally, this is the age where many teens start to view movement and exercise as punishment/a way to change their bodies.
- Joyful movement not framed around weight loss, such as yoga, is a healthy coping strategy.
- Moving your body regularly has major mental, emotional, and physical benefits.
- Entire school
- Extracurricular clubs
- Secure administrator approval before hosting the event
- Partner with PE or Health teachers for supplies, space, and potentially teaching the class if they are certified in yoga
- Find a certified yoga instructor to facilitate an introductory yoga class that is accessible to all
- Options for finding an instructor:
- Ask students and staff/faculty for suggestions from the school or community. If you are having trouble finding an instructor, consider using the Yoga Alliance to find someone in your community
- Check out free Youtube channels Body Positive or Aham Yoga for dozens of free beginner classes
- Coordinate the logistics:
- If going with an in-person instructor, ask if they provide any pro bono classes
- Or, if your club has a budget, you can discuss compensation ($100-$300).
- Choose a date and time that won’t interfere with other school events.
- Theme ideas include:
- Rainbow yoga: dress like your favorite color
- School spirit yoga: dress in your favorite school shirts
- Blacklight yoga: dress in white or neon colors and provide glow bracelets
- Or choose a genre of music such as hip hop or pop
- Reserve space to host the event, such as the cafeteria or gym
- Have club members create posters with art supplies or on the computer with the details about the yoga event
- Coordinate OMM club members’ roles for the event, such as set-up crew, welcome station, passing out yoga mats/blocks, and clean up
- As students arrive, have some music playing to get the energy up and OMM members there to escort folks to a yoga mat
- Once the instructor begins teaching, have a few staff members available to supervise the room and ensure everyone is doing okay
- Be sure to provide water (and snacks if budget allows)
- Consider taking a photo with students’ consent to share on OMM social media or school communication channels.
- Submit details about the yoga event to be included on the school calendar, read during the daily announcements, and disseminated in any school-wide communication that goes out to students, parents/guardians, and staff
- Hang up posters inviting students to participate at least one week before the day of the event
- Use this sample language to promote the campaign. Feel free to adapt as needed for your school
- “You are invited to OMM (insert theme) Yoga!
- DATE
- TIME
- LOCATION
- DETAILS
- Students can bring yoga mats, blocks, water, and towels. Extra mats will be available
- Dress in your favorite color of the rainbow
- No yoga experience is required! Come and have fun with us.”
- Number of students who attend the event
- Consider asking students to complete a Feedback Form after the event to get a general reaction and ideas for what to improve or offer in the future.
- What was your reaction to doing yoga?
- Would you like to try it again? Why or why not?
- What reactions did you notice from other students who participated in the event?
- Was the yoga event inclusive and accessible to everyone? Why or why not?
- What could we improve for an event like this in the future?