April 25, 2014
A13
T he C oast News
Homegrown yoga program is now expanding to other states By Jared Whitlock
ENCINITAS — At Broome Street Academy, a school that serves homeless and foster-care teens in New York City, students have been doing yoga since January. The template for their program: Encinitas Union School District yoga. “I’m actually surprised at how it’s been embraced,” said Barbara McKeon, Head of School at Broome Street Academy. “Even the hardnosed streetball guys are doing downward dog.” In 2011, a representative from the Sonima Foundation, previously known as the Jois Foundation, introduced yoga at Capri Elementary in Encinitas. Encouraged by the results, in 2012 the organization put together a $700,000 grant for yoga and nutrition at EUSD schools. That was followed by a $1.4 million grant from the foundation for this school year, which increased the number of yoga teachers at all nine district schools. Drawing from EUSD best practices, the Sonima Foundation developed a yoga curriculum. The foundation has since exported the program to 10 schools over the past year, including in Florida and New York. In the county, yoga has made its way to two schools in the Cajon Valley Union School District and the Monarch School in San Diego. McKeon said she’s grateful for the program because her average student doesn’t have a lot of exercise opportunities. And many are grappling with social and emotional issues. Anecdotally, McKeon said, yoga has reduced stress levels and promoted reflection among students. “Students are using the calming techniques outside of yoga class, we’ve noticed,” McKeon said. She added Broome Street Academy is partnering with the University of Virginia to research the program’s impact on students. Culturally and geographically speaking, Broome Street is very different from EUSD schools, McKeon said. Not to mention, Broome Street students are older. So, the program had to
reporting that yoga is im- doing yoga performed slight- And they compiled survey proving younger students’ ly better on flexibility tests. data from these groups. “We started in Encinitas For the study, researchself-esteem. He added that yoga provides needed time ers interviewed students, and now we’re reaching about for self-reflection. parents and district officials. 10,000 students,” Ruffin said. Scott Himelstein, director of the Center for Education Policy and Law at the University of San Diego, said results from the first of a three-year USD study shows yoga’s positive influence on EUSD students. Notably, as a result of Students at Paul Ecke Central participate in a yoga class. Developed in yoga, teachers reported fewEncinitas, the program has since spread to New York and Florida. File er instances of disruptive behavior, according to the study. photo by Jared Whitlock And students developed better coping skills for potentialbe adapted to fit her school. ly come by August. Still, she said yoga seems Ruffin is especially ly stressful situations. Additionally, students to help people of all stripes. encouraged by comments And unlike the EUSD program, Broome Street yoga hasn’t encountered any set backs, she said. Last year, an Escondido-based lawyer sued EUSD, arguing that yoga teaches Hinduism, adding the program violates what’s commonly known as separation of church and state. Ultimately, a San Diego judge ruled EUSD yoga has religious elements, but passed constitutional muster. Following the decision, the Jois Foundation felt more confident bringing yoga to other districts, said Eugene Ruffin, CEO of the Jois Foundation. “We’re getting phenomenal feedback from educators,” Ruffin said. “Even those who were a little hesitant are coming back with positive comments.” The reluctance typically stems from educators who aren’t familiar with how yoga could benefit students, he added. “We went through that hesitancy in Encinitas, and you’ve got yoga programs on every corner,” Ruffin said. “So if you’re going to go through it here, you’re defiRSM NEWPORT BEACH DEL MAR nitely going to go through it in Harlem. 949.858.9455 949.644.6672 858.481.6672 “But we’ve overcome that in a very short period of time thanks to teachers demonstrating the benefits for children.” He expects the program to expand to other schools in the near future, but declined to elaborate because a final agreement hasn’t been reached. An announcement from the foundation will like-
We Love Moms... Moms Love Spa Gregorie’s
Family Memories…
Hand Picked Daily!
The Carlsbad Strawberry Co.
U-Pick and Fresh-fromthe-Stand Strawberries 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Cannon Rd. Location Open During Construction The Carlsbad Strawberry Co. is open during Carlsbad Desalination Project pipeline construction along Cannon Road! Just follow the strawberry detour signage!
Or visit one of our other stands at:
Coast Hwy 101 - Encinitas @ the Lumberyard 937 s coast hwy 101, ste C100 encinitas, ca 92024
760.942.4254 - www.deepfling.com - m-f 10:30-5:30, sat 10-5, sun 11-5
Palomar Airport Road and Paseo del Norte at the Flower Fields in Carlsbad
Quail Gardens Drive and Leucadia Boulevard in Encinitas
www.CarlsbadStrawberryCompany.com • 760.603.9608