Enhancing Health and Wellness: Yoga in NPSD Schools

Yoga is known globally. Regular practice of Yoga helps improve the practitioner’s physical, intellectual, and emotional health. In particular, Yoga helps build stamina and endurance, boosts flexibility, increases focus, reduces stress and anxiety and a lot more. Recognizing the significant impact of Yoga on human life, the United Nations has declared June 21 as International Yoga Day that is celebrated by most of the countries all over the world. Hindu Swayamsevak Sangha (HSS – www.hssus.org) volunteers practice Yoga regularly and also help others learn Yoga, especially Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation).

Surya Namaskar is a sequence of 10 steps encompassing 8 different Asanas (postures) and is considered as one of the top five Asana sequences for physical and mental fitness. As a contribution to the society, we live in, HSS, with the support of North Penn School District as well as school PE teachers, conducted Surya Namaskar training sessions for the students of one High School and four Elementary Schools in the North Penn School District. The schools were North Penn High School as well as Montgomery, Nash, Hatfield and Oak Park Elementary Schools.

In all, 54 sessions were conducted by 13 volunteers committing 108 volunteer hours on working days to train 2256 students. The training was very well received and helped the students and teachers learn about Surya Namaskar, the sequence of Asanas as well as some finer details of each Asana.

The teachers and students appreciated the effort of volunteers. According to them, it was a valuable experience. And the impact on students could be seen as they left the gym at the end of the session – more energized and restful at the same time. The teachers and students were curious if more such sessions could be organized – for students as well as a deeper dive for the teachers.