English teacher Carrie Abel Shaffer proposed yoga classes six years ago with the intent of helping the campus achieve mindfulness. Some classes already took moments to practice mindfulness, but in Abel’s experience, while these moments didn’t do harm, they didn’t help much either.
By teaching students both physical movements and self-care tools, the proposed course would more effectively promote mindfulness. The class was approved, and Abel began her journey to become a yoga instructor. Although she was only required to get her physical education credentials to teach the class, she chose to complete the recommended 200-hour training certification for yoga instructors as well.
“Getting certified was a lot of work, a lot of after-school nights, a lot of weekends,” Abel said. “It was a very challenging year to get certified while being a full-time English teacher, but I learned a ton.”
As for the physical education credentials, Abel had to take an online class and pass three tests. The process was unfamiliar to Abel, who, as an English teacher, had no background in physical education. Yoga class being approved for school schedules — despite her not having passed the tests yet — increased the pressure.
“I’m not a sports person,” Abel said. “I don’t know the terms for anything. It’s kind of a miracle that I passed. I think it helped that I know how to write essays because the test questions were essay questions.”
After getting her credentials, Abel officially became a yoga teacher and began teaching yoga alongside her English classes. Now, her first three class periods are dedicated to yoga due to the course’s popularity.
“There’s this idea that you’re just going to lay on your backs and breathe the entire time, and that’s not at all what yoga is,” Abel said. “My year-long goal is to get students to build a relationship of trust and understanding with their bodies using yoga postures to help them.”
“I’m not very flexible, so I wanted to try something new and signed up for yoga,” senior Maulik Dhakal said. “I’ve definitely seen myself get more flexible over the first quarter.”
Abel offers different posture options, accommodating students with different flexibility levels.
“There are some crazy postures I can’t do, but there are kids in class who do them easily,” Maulik said. “One ends up with me looking like a pretzel.”
Not only do yoga students strengthen their bodies physically, but they get to strengthen their bodies mentally as well. The teachings they learn from yoga help them relax throughout the school day and during their daily lives.
“I have yoga first thing in the morning,” junior Kimberly Rodriguez said. “After class, the rest of my day feels more relaxed.”
Another way Abel promotes relaxation is through a popular activity that she practices in her yoga classes: savasana, a yoga pose in which the participant lies on their back to relax completely.
“My favorite part of class is when she has us do savasana for the last five to seven minutes,” Kimberly said. “You lie there listening to calm music and get a chance to reflect on yourself or what you’re going to do later. You have a moment to yourself.”
And on top of physical and mental bonds, Abel also works to strengthen the bonds of her classroom. Every week, she has her class do shout-outs, in which the students gather in a circle and compliment each other.
“Yoga is more of an individual thing, so I feel like shout-outs is one way Ms. Abel tries to get everybody closer together,” sophomore Dhruvi Malu said.
“Receiving compliments isn’t a thing that high schoolers are really skilled at,” Maulik said. “So I think the shout-outs are really interesting.”
Abel wants her yoga class to be a safe environment for all of these things — a place where students can relax and replenish their energy while working toward a goal.
“It’s okay to be tired, it’s okay to have sore muscles, and it’s okay to try scary things like handstands,” Abel said. “It’s very empowering to understand your body and know what you can do to make it feel better.”
