Power in Energy: Thrive 2 Survive Yoga

We all possess an energy within us. If we can teach our scholars the power to harness positive, motivated, inspiring energy as children, they are more likely to become positive, motivated, and inspiring adults. This is where the power in energy can change lives. 

In partnership with Jamilla Carney and her organization Agape Yogastry. We provide specialized yoga classes that go far beyond stretching and breathing for our Leadership Intern scholars. The specialized yoga curriculum helps youth explore and learn self-care techniques that lead to improved mental, emotional, as well as physical health. Through these yoga sessions, scholars learn more about themselves, and how to better interact with their peers and the world around them. 

“Our yoga practice is centered on the four values of FUL; inclusivity, grit, empowerment, and dignity. I use yoga and mindfulness as a way to further help scholars learn, embrace, practice, and embody these values in a physical sense through moving their bodies and mindfulness, “stated Jamilia

These weekly classes often begin by providing scholars with a prompt. As an example, ’respect’. The class discusses how we respect ourselves and our bodies, and how when we are able to respect our own bodies we can respect those around us and be better members of society. 

The class then moves into a series of yoga poses and breathing techniques that focus on respecting ourselves, we keep an open dialogue about how it feels to be respected and why this feeling is an interracial part to them succeeding and reaching their goals. 

Each class ends with a grounding activity and or breathing exercises that forces scholars to slow down and just be for 5-8 minutes. Taking a pause and calming our minds can have huge impacts on our cognitive abilities.

“I have seen scholars tap into their energy in my class. When we recognize, feel, and harness the energy within us. We can then tap into our power to control our energy and lead with it,” said, Jamilia