FAMILY & KIDS
Yoga and Movement in Middle School By Ryan Baggett
Many people are ready for a nap in the early afternoon , but the 8th grade girls in Greta Wilson ’ s 1:35 pm yoga class seemed happy to enter the room . Several greeted Wilson with genuine excitement while rolling out their yoga mats . As everyone took their positions , they went through the basic elements you might find in any beginner ' s yoga class at a local studio , from warm-ups , to sun salutations , to savasana . Even a few sanskrit words were incorporated , all taught with an easy grace and gentle demeanor that did not remind me of my middle school teachers .
Behind me and my camera , half the eighth grade girls opted out of getting their picture taken by some strange magazine guy . The other half had agreed to be photographed , but in the end they were all doing yoga , and all put forth a lot of effort to enter the poses properly . And I heard zero complaints .
Principal Alecia Ostler runs this Health and Wellness Magnet School of Indianapolis Public Schools ( IPS ). She told me the concept for the school was developed in conjunction with Riley Hospitals after P . E . assessment tests ranked it to be one of the top five most obese schools in the district . Formerly known as Frederick Douglas Elementary , it is now named SUPER School 19 . The “ SUPER ” stands for Students Understanding through Powerful and Energetic Routines .
These “ energetic routines ” include replacing some of the chairs with exercise balls which burn many more calories and force the children to engage core muscles . Other classes have standing desks , and teachers look for ways to make movement a part of their lesson plans : Imagine hopscotch while practicing vocabulary words . Physical Education is taught
46 INDIANA & YOGA MAGAZINE ISSUE I
FAMILY & KIDS
Yoga and Movement in
Middle School
By Ryan Baggett
Many people are ready for a nap in the early
afternoon, but the 8th grade girls in Greta Wilson’s 1:35 pm yoga class seemed happy to enter
the room. Several greeted Wilson with genuine
excitement while rolling out their yoga mats. As
everyone took their positions, they went through
the basic elements you might find in any beginner's yoga class at a local studio, from warm-ups,
to sun salutations, to savasana. Even a few sanskrit words were incorporated, all taught with
an easy grace and gentle demeanor that did not
remind me of my middle school teachers.
Behind me and my camera, half the eighth
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