Students in 'City Year' Program introduced to Meditation

Yes, even the auditorium at Intermediate School 204 can be turned into a meditation hall!

With the help of The Yoga Room, twenty students that participate in the City Year after-school program at I.S. 204 (Long Island City, NY) were able to experience the benefits of meditation, as I had the privilege to lead them through a breathing practice and exercises to get them into a mode of consciousness and awareness. 

Many of the students immediately benefitted from the "relaxation," and grasped on to the techniques I instructed them through to improve and enhance their focus, attention span, reduce their stress and anxiety and increase their self-confidence, happiness and creativity. 

At their official site, the City Year program states, "Our culture is the air we breathe - it is the set of values, structures and practices that creates an environment in which idealism can be successfully practiced."

That breathe and harvesting a culture of union is what I focused on and what the students grasped onto, as they were introduced to breathing techniques to alleviate stress and to guide them through their first ever meditation experience as a community. 

We focused on relaxing the body, breathing deeply and connecting with the breath, concentrating the mind, expanding it with guided imagery and allowing the students to expand their inner awareness. 

The results were reflective. The smiles and tranquility established in the auditorium was palpable. 

A special thanks is extended to everyone involved and to those that facilitated this great afternoon. 

For more information on the enrichment clubs (science, art & sports) service-learning (community service) and all things City Year, check-out their site here.