BEDFORD-STUYVESANT — Every Thursday, third and fourth graders at one Brooklyn school spend their lunch hour in deep meditation.
The Human Plant Project, which brings yoga to underserved communities in the city, is introducing the art of relaxation to Bed-Stuy students through a series of “mindful writing” classes.
The organization works in partnership with InspireCorps, an artist-led teaching program at P.S. 81.
During the 45-minute sessions, kids are encouraged to let go of the day’s worries and express their emotions through journaling and yoga, according to InspireCorps founder Steph Thompson.
“Healing arts like yoga and meditation are becoming increasingly crucial in schools,” Thompson said. “Especially in environments where kids can be in some pretty tough situations, it’s great to talk to them about finding peace.”
In a quiet space of P.S. 81's auditorium, students are asked to write down and share their feelings, then lie down for a series of breathing exercises.
While the DeKalb Avenue school already offers a standard yoga course, students are still unfamiliar with the concept of “mindfulness,” said Human Plant Project instructor Saskia Layden.
Discussion and writing provide an expressive outlet for the participants, the instructor added, and yoga can help students with focus and in-class learning.
Journaling prompts encourage students to describe their “happy place,” with each class focusing on specific themes such as belonging, anger, and stress.
“I tell them their minds are always in the past or the future, and they need to be in the moment,” Layden said. “They’re either thinking about the birthday party this weekend or the bad grade from last week.”
While it can be difficult to get the young yogis to focus, organizers said many kids notice a difference after each class.
“It’s important to really appeal to the emotional sides of kids that may be overloaded by life and give them a little break,” she said. “Why does nap time have to end in kindergarten?”
