According to WHO, one in seven 10-19-year-olds experiences a mental disorder, accounting for 14% of the global burden of disease in this age group. After COVID-19 pandemic mental health problems in adolescents have become an even bigger public health challenge.

Breath-centric yoga is a proven modality to reduce anxiety and depression, increase self-esteem and body confidence, and overall quality of life.

Yoga Education in Schools Project (YES) delivers an inclusive, highly effective eight-week yoga programme in schools around the world to support the mental and physical wellbeing of teenagers as they navigate formative years of immense change within an uncertain world. Is an experiential learning process for young people to connect with their breath and bodies, through learning a simple breath-centric daily yoga practice adapted to their needs.

The programme includes a weekly class with a trained facilitator, printed resources, and supplementary practice videos for ongoing use.

Key features of the programme

• Inclusive and accessible to all different body types and abilities, including those with physical or mental disabilities. 

• Non-competitive and non-religious. 

• Developed by experts around the world in the fields of yoga therapy, youth work, youth psychology, addiction, and working with high needs and neurodivergent young people. 

• Learns from the successes of other yoga and mindfulness programmes in schools, whilst introducing the crucial missing element of deep breathing linked with body movement.

• No physical contact of any kind between facilitator and student.

• Teachers can implement the programme either as compulsory or as optional extra-curricular activity.

Yoga Education in Schools Facilitator Training

30-hour online training from OCTOBER 14 — NOVEMBER 18

A 30-hour online training to become a certified Y.E.S Facilitator. You will learn how to deliver our flagship 8-week Yoga programme for young people aged 11-18 in your local community.

This training consists of:

• Six 2-hr sessions live on Zoom

• One 30-min 1-on-1 session with one of the teachers

• Ten hours of recorded practices

• Facilitator manual and readings

• Mentored practical teaching assignment

• Resources to print and use when you teach teens

• Heart of Yoga Alliance certification

• Support group afterwards as people teach in their local communities

Led by Mark Whitwell, Rosalind Atkinson, and Andrew Raba.

We are committed to fully funding this training for those who can commit in advance to offering the full 8-week programme for teens in their community. Email studio@heartofyoga.com for more info if this is you.

Download PDF of syllabus and full info about the programme here

Live Zoom sessions will be held every Saturday at 4 - 6pm US Pacific / 7 - 9pm US Eastern / Sunday 9.30 - 11.30am Australia time / 12 - 2pm NZ time

What we aim to do in 2023

• Develop full package of learning support materials to accompany the programme

• Translation of materials into another language

• At least two Facilitator training for people to be able to facilitate eight-week YES programme

• One 6-month Leadership training for people to learn how to facilitate a Weekend facilitator training

• Specifically designed App with practices and ongoing support for students and facilitators

• Free Resources for general public

Funding goal for 2023: 

An initial projection of $100,000 dollars for the first year, increasing over the next five years is estimated to be needed to support the Yoga in Schools Program to become well-established. We are currently generating funding through a combination of private donors, educational grants within the EU, and income from the Heart of Yoga general courses and trainings.

Help us reach our Vision: “A yoga teacher in every school!”

A Proven Approach: Pilot Programme Results

The Heart of Yoga in Schools program was launched in New Zealand in July 2021 at a busy inner-city Auckland school with 2000 students on the roll, ranging from age 12 to 18, as well as 200 teaching staff. Yoga classes were introduced into the daily rhythm of the school with weekly classes for teachers, teens, and high needs students with disabilities. 

Sessions were also integrated into the school curriculum of Physical Education under the topic of “non-competitive sport” and Science during units on “mental wellbeing.” 

The program was also able to deliver Yoga to students and teachers within the Māori immersion school Ngā Puna o Waiōrea by collaborating with students and adapting the practices of Yoga to respect and acknowledge their cultural framework and worldview. 

Achievements: 

Over the past 18 months, the program has delivered

• 75 classes for teachers;

• 50 classes for teens; and

• 35 classes for high-needs disabled students. 

The success of the program saw it spread to a further 12 schools within the Auckland region reaching over 100 teachers and 200 students. The program featured twice at the Regional Wellbeing Expo held in Auckland. 

All classes received positive feedback from teachers and students, and have been reviewed by senior management, approved for further funding, and are scheduled to begin again at the start of the school year in 2023. 

Program Feedback: 

“The practice instills a sense of quiet joy within me that lasts throughout the day. The breath brings my attention back to the world that I am so easily distracted from”—Cade Robbins, History Teacher, Auckland.

“I sometimes feel stressed by everything that’s happening at school and at home. The practice helps me put myself together in the morning”—student, Western Springs College, Auckland

“Kia ora. The yoga classes are most enjoyable. I use them as a great way to start a Friday. The easy to follow instructions make for a class that I look forward to coming back to. Mauri ora!”--Matua Craig Baily, Ngā Puna o Waiōrea (Māori immersion unit)

Who is Involved?

With thanks to

The New Zealand Government, Auckland City Council, Urban Family Foundation, Yoga Alliance US, Auckland Regional Wellbeing Expo, and the many parents of young people around the world who have supported the development of this programme thus far.