Yoga poses can benefit children in a number of ways, from boosting energy to enhancing concentration in the classroom. While some people are wary of integrating this ancient practice into the classroom, many are embracing the plethora of ways it can improve physical, mental and emotional wellness. One such person is San Francisco Bay Area resident and yoga practitioner Erin Lila Wilson.
As an instructor for nearly a decade, Wilson has taught a variety of people, from the elderly to cancer patients. But according to GOOD magazine, she was reluctant about teaching children, as she believed they wouldn't be able to appreciate the practice. However, she was proven wrong after reluctantly agreeing to teach yoga to at-risk students.
"I was pretty intimidated going in initially," Wilson said. "But once I started actually teaching the teens, I was just blown away at how transformative the practice is in their lives."
Since then, Wilson founded the organization R.I.S.E., which aims to introduce yoga poses and wellness programs into the school setting. It serves students at a dozen schools on the West Coast and she hopes to keep expanding with the help of a recent Indiegogo campaign that proved to be immensely successful – it raised more than $31,000 in about a month. With these funds and Wilson's commitment to yoga and children, more students can strive for greater health and academic achievement.