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A recent New York Times piece highlighted a key insight: self-control isn’t about gritting your teeth—it’s a skill that can be nurtured. When kids learn to pause, breathe, and redirect their attention, they strengthen the very muscles of willpower. Yoga is one of the simplest, most effective ways to help kids practice this skill daily.
Through mindful breathing, balancing poses, and relaxation practices, yoga helps children:
- Pause before reacting when emotions run high.
- Build focus by paying attention to breath and body.
- Strengthen resilience when facing challenges at school or home.
These skills translate into better classroom behavior, stronger learning outcomes, and healthier relationships.
The State of San Francisco Schools
A recent Neighbors for a Better San Francisco poll shows just how much these tools are needed. Trust in the district is shaken:
- Only 9% of San Franciscans think SFUSD is moving in the right direction.
- Among public school parents, just 8% agree, while 51% say the district is headed in the wrong direction.
Parents want schools to return to basics:
- 73% prioritize improving academic performance for all students.
- 66% want stronger literacy and math outcomes.
- 52% seek expanded access to college and career pathways.
On ethnic studies, most parents support the state’s one-semester requirement, with goals of cultural awareness (49%), understanding U.S. history (49%), and preparing students for a diverse society (47%). Still, major concerns remain about consistency (63%), displacement of advanced classes (63%), and transparency (61%).
Looking Beyond the District: New Models for Education
Given these challenges, families are seeking alternatives that combine academic excellence with emotional well-being. Programs like Coherence Education offer a fresh model—integrating project-based learning with emotional intelligence and mindfulness. By cultivating self-control, curiosity, and resilience, this approach prepares students not just for tests, but for life.
Bottom line: With trust in traditional systems faltering, schools must return to proven fundamentals—while also equipping kids with tools like yoga to navigate stress, strengthen self-control, and thrive in today’s complex world.
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The fall equinox marks the moment when day and night are equal, reminding us of the importance of balance in life. For kids, this season of transition—new routines, cooler days, and shorter nights—can bring both excitement and restlessness.
Kids yoga is the perfect way to help children find their own sense of balance, inside and out. Balancing poses like Tree Pose or Warrior II build strength and focus, while breathing exercises encourage calm and resilience. Just as the earth shifts toward stillness, yoga teaches kids to pause, reflect, and stay grounded.
This equinox, invite your child to celebrate the season of change by moving, breathing, and practicing gratitude. Together, we can embrace the lessons of nature: balance, harmony, and the beauty of letting go.
The IYK® Family Yoga Fall Equinox Event is September 21 at 11am at Metta Yoga, San Rafael. Join us!
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It’s my birthday (again!)—and with each year, my wish stays the same but grows even stronger: I want to train 10,000 leaders so that 10 million kids have access to yoga and the skills they need to succeed in life.
Through It’s Yoga Kids® (IYK®), we teach the High5 Habits—simple, powerful practices that help children feel healthier, happier, and more resilient every day. These habits build confidence, self-regulation, and compassion, creating a foundation for lifelong well-being.
But here’s the truth: the kids can’t do it alone. They need you.
They need warriors—parents, teachers, coaches, caregivers, community leaders—ready to step up, train, and share yoga in their own schools, neighborhoods, and communities. When you train with me, you’re not just learning poses—you’re learning how to empower children with tools to handle stress, focus on learning, and thrive in today’s challenging world.
✨ Imagine this: 10,000 trained leaders ripple out into their communities, and together we reach 10 million kids. That’s not just a dream—it’s a movement.
So for my birthday, I’m asking: help me make this wish come true.
Train with me. Become a Warrior in your area. Share the gift of yoga with kids who need calm, confidence, and connection now more than ever.
Because when kids rise, we all rise. 💛
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Grandparents Day is a wonderful reminder of the special connection between generations. Yoga offers a beautiful way for grandparents and grandchildren to come together, share quality time, and strengthen their minds and bodies side by side.
For children, yoga builds focus, resilience, and self-regulation—skills that serve them both in and out of school. For seniors, yoga supports balance, flexibility, joint health, and mental clarity. Practicing together creates a shared experience that fosters communication, empathy, and joy across the generational gap.
Kids can guide grandparents through playful poses like Tree or Cat-Cow, while grandparents bring wisdom and patience to grounding postures like Mountain or Warrior. Breathing exercises and short meditations can help both generations find calm and connection.
The real magic lies in the laughter, storytelling, and mutual encouragement that emerges. Kids gain a sense of history and belonging, while grandparents feel renewed purpose and vitality. Together, they cultivate gratitude and compassion—gifts that last well beyond the mat.
This Grandparents Day, invite a little yoga into the celebration. It’s more than exercise—it’s a bridge of love, health, and togetherness for families across generations.