The mindfulness movement has been gaining momentum this year at Huber Ridge Elementary, where students have been practicing being present in the moment and learning tools to build their self-esteem, manage stress and approach challenges.
“Mindfulness promotes self awareness,” Principal Sheri Chaffin said. “So offering these types of activities provides an opportunity for students to practice focusing their attention, regulating their emotions, and interacting with peers. Application of these skills helps cultivate a culture where students can grow academically, emotionally, and socially which aligns with our goal of educating the whole child.”
Leading the charge at Huber Ridge is school counselor Amy Van Sickle, who teaches guidance lessons in classrooms in addition to guiding yoga sessions. She also helped launch “Morning Mile, Huber Style,” a Thursday morning run/walk group that gives students opportunities for reflection and movement before they start school.
Van Sickle, like school counselors and various staff members across the district, have been trained by the Youth Yoga Project, a Columbus-based nonprofit that provides educators with tools, lessons and strategies to support students who need help managing their emotions and coping skills.
Previously, Van Sickle and mental health specialist Sheila Ebbrecht, taught yoga lessons to classes as space and time permitted. This year, Van Sickle moved into a new space that provides less set up time and more flexibility.
“I truly love this,” fifth-grade teacher Melissa Workman said. “My students are more calm after their lessons. I feel like they really need this.”
She has woven mindfulness practices throughout the day with her students, from kicking off with breathing exercises in the morning to providing a mindfulness break during the day.
On Tuesday, her students walked into Van Sickle’s room for their lesson. Yoga mats circled the room and each of them claimed a mat as Van Sickle prepared them for the practice of the day.
“Remember, this is a practice,” she told them. “It doesn’t have to be perfect. All of our bodies are different. We have to give ourselves grace and be kind to ourselves and each other.”
At the end of the lesson, Van Sickle asked them to lay in a comfortable position and encouraged them to tune into their senses as they laid in quiet repose. Students shared how they felt from the practice: Calm. Relaxed. Better.
“I hope that they get some mindfulness gems that they will hold onto throughout their lives,” Van Sickle said.