MESD School Nurse positively impacts student lives through Yoga instruction
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From Tammy Cooley:
Here's a quick feel good story for you. I wish I had a "before 3 months" of yoga video to show the amazing progress these students have made. They all have challenges and are in a self contained special education classroom. Those challenges range from autism, developmental delays, genetic abnormalities, liver transplant with G-tube, serious behavior issues and emotional disturbances as well as mental illness. One student is even in a wheelchair and we get him on the floor with us so he can do as much as he can and he LOVES it.
One day a few weeks ago, I was not going to make it back in time to lead the class because of a Partnership meeting and I assumed that they would probably just skip yoga that day. I was wrong! I came back just in time to witness them in the library, on their mats, taking turns leading the poses and calling them by name. They were also giving each other compliments for leading the poses. I was moved to tears and hid behind a shelf so I could continue to watch them demonstrate amazing leadership skills and self control. My mind was blown! They actually had been absorbing and listening to everything I had been teaching them since January. I really questioned whether or not this could have an impact on them because of all their challenges but they taught me to never underestimate them. When we first started, they could only handle about 5 minutes of yoga and we mostly just concentrated on breathing. Now, they are able to do yoga for about 30 minutes and can even be so in control of themselves, that they can lay down at the end of yoga and listen to a guided imagery story without acting out or distracting others.
It's a little thing, but it feeds my soul to be able to do this with students.
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