185CHaPtEr 9
Yoga aS EmBodiEd SElf-rEgulation
and EngagEmEnt: from traditional
PracticES to ScHool
I can
control my destiny,
but not my fate.
Destiny means there are opportunities to turn right or left,
but fate is a one-way street.
I believe we all have the choice
as to whether we fulfill our destiny,
but our fate is sealed.Paulo Coelho (2014; emphasis added)Yoga is a set of tools for well-being that integrate the mind and body through physical
postures, breathing exercises, relaxation, and meditation (Cook-Cottone, 2015; Flynn, 2013;
Harper, 2013). Lisa Flynn, author of Yoga for Children (2013), defined it this way, “[Yoga],
the 5,000-year-old discipline[,] was designed to empower health, happiness, and a greater
sense of self” (p. 14). Yoga is rooted in the belief that human suffering is a result of our
minds continually thinking about the past, worrying about the future, and not being simply
present, tuned in to this current moment and the world around us (Harper, 2013). Research
indicates that yoga can help manage stress, improve focus, regulate emotions, increase
positive behaviors, enhance learning outcomes, and support physical fitness (Butzer, Bury,
Telles, & Khalsa, 2016; Cook-Cottone, 2015; Douglass, 2010; Felver, Butzer, Olson, Smith, &
Khalsa, 2015; Flynn, 2013; Harper, 2010; Khalsa, Hickey-Schultz, Cohen, Steiner, & Cope,
2012; Serwacki & Cook-Cottone, 2012). Because of these findings, yoga is taught at growing
rates in schools across the United States. From school to school and district to district, the
type of yoga being delivered varies substantially (e.g., Flynn, 2013; Harper, 2013). With all
of the possible options, it can be difficult for yoga teachers and school personnel to sort out
what is best for their students, schools, and families. The next few chapters give you the
context and background, and provide a review of the practices and programs to support
your integration of yoga into your district, school, and classroom.