While most students in Edison go to the weight room or outdoors for gym, the minority take a different route which is the yoga class. In this quiet classroom students can focus on mindfulness, breathing, and movement as a way to take a break from the hardships of school and manage their stress.
As students’ mental health concerns and stress increase due to upcoming regents, AP exams, and SATS, the yoga class gives an alternative to gym activities by focusing on stress management and mindfulness. Even though it’s helpful, this class is one of the least talked about, making many students not know about a source that can help them improve their well being.
Ms. Trebour, a yoga and mindfulness instructor at Edison, helped bring the school’s yoga class to life after completing a 95-hour training course through the Department of Education during the COVID-19 pandemic. She had said that the goal was to create a space where students could learn ways to cope with stress and emotions.
“We were really excited and inspired to bring yoga to the Edison community,” Ms. Trebour said.
She explained that the class isn’t just meant for those with prior students but it should be open to all students. “Its more about moving with your breath than doing extreme poses,” Ms. Trebour said.
For student Malaak Abukar, the yoga class helped better her stress during school.
“I saw that yoga was an alternative, so I decided to pursue that,” Malaak said. She added that mindfulness activities helped her cope with stress. “Meditating and doing certain activities help de-stress your body,” she said.
Another student, Jordan Brown said he joined because he felt that male student’s mental health are commonly overlooked. “I joined because I feel like as a man our mental health is something overlooked,” he said.
Jordan said yoga helped him feel way more relaxed and calm. “Yoga has made my mind more relaxed,” he said. He also noted that students tend to take breaks or slow down during the school day.
Both Jordan and Malaak had said that the class is commonly overlooked because many students don’t understand what it actually offers. Jordan said more students would most likely join if they were better informed about the benefits.
Student-led lessons, journaling, and breathing exercises are mindful activities also included in yoga class to help students cope with their stress.
As awareness for student mental health continuously grows, classes like the yoga class may increasingly become important in schools. Currently, it is a quiet and valuable class for students to find a way for managing stress.
