It was the famed French romantic, poet, novelist, and dramatist, Victor Hugo who said, “There is nothing like a dream to create the future.” Visions are often referenced as dreams and those “dreams” create the future. When those dreams create the future they become alive, Living Visions.

Some time ago, Lily Goodale had such a dream – a vision if you will – that focused on her “passion for working with children” and “making yoga available for children.” Lynette Moore shared Lily’s vision and together, they organized the non-profit organization, YoKids (www.yokids.org). Their mission is to offer yoga in local schools, teaching children to reduce stress, support health and well-being, and help children “become comfortable in their own bodies by teaching them awareness, self control, strength, and flexibility through different (yoga) poses.”

Yoga is usually associated with adults, but some are recognizing the importance of training youth in Yoga not only in the west, but in the east as well. Former Indian Health Minister Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss shared plans to introduce yoga in schools during a medical professionals workshop in New Delhi in 2006. Ramadoss wished to encourage school students to adopt a healthy lifestyle and saw yoga as one of the methods to promote that healthy lifestyle. Dr. Ramadoss considers yoga as a “good friend” and a way to lead a healthy life cost-effectively.

The exact history or origin of yoga is uncertain, but there are some points of information that may contribute to a better understanding of the practice. In short, yoga has its origins in the Eastern traditions that address traditional physical and mental disciplines for the student. Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism suggest the meaning of the term yoga as “spiritual discipline.” Most think of yoga because of the physical application of activities associated with various postures, stances, and poses. Yet, deeper examination reveals several additional qualities that are also associated with the practice of yoga. It’s known that yoga has been practiced for thousands of years. Over the centuries, yoga has evolved and changed, with some of the earliest evidence found in ancient Shamanism including some artifacts dating back 5,000 years. The “Rig-Veda,” a compendium of hymns covering topics like prayer, divine harmony, and higher states of being, contains evidence of the practice of Yoga.

Yoga first focused on the application and better understanding of the world altogether, but over the years the attention shifted to focus on a deeper understanding of the “self.” Around the sixth century B.C., poses and meditation became critical elements of yoga as implemented through Buddhist teachings. The teachings of Swami Sivananda indicate that modern yoga is based on five basic principles: Proper relaxation – Proper exercise – Proper breathing – Proper diet – Positive thinking and meditation.

YoKids shares several positive results from practicing yoga. Those that practice yoga are found to possess increased attention spans and self-control, greater communication skills, and a reduction of anxiety. They often have better memories and motor skill performance. Yoga students are more muscularly fit coupled with a decreased heart rate. They also have better postures. These are just a few of the positive results from the regular practice of yoga.

According to Lily Goodale, “All these benefits are achieved by utilizing yoga based techniques such as conscious breathing, basic yoga poses, and simple movement games and visualizations.”

YoKids’ Lily Goodale and Lynette Moore have sought to introduce yoga to students and teachers in Maine including Glen Cove, Camden, Belfast, North Haven, Islesboro, Rockport, and Brunswick. Other YoKids instructors have worked in Bangor, Mount Desert, Liberty, South Bristol, and Searsmont.

YoKids offers yoga classes for students and teachers taught by a certified lead yoga instructor and a support teacher. Classes include: blankets, mats, and other supportive materials, and the set-up and break down of the classroom or gym. Yoga classes for children teach the anatomical aspects of poses which help to relieve children of stress, tension, and worries as they learn to focus on minute and intricate movements of the body. This method of teaching yoga helps children think from the inside out as they connect and become familiar with their bodies. Classes concentrate on posture, aims, goals, and how to choose specific poses to reach desirable levels of calmness, energy, focus and concentration.

Lily says, “YoKids has also been providing instruction to teachers. Sessions conducted in Nobleboro, Sugarloaf, and Hope was funded by the University of Maine, the Department of Education, and Maine Community Foundation. Additional sessions have been held throughout Maine including North Haven, Portland, Freeport, Rockland, and in 2009 Falmouth and Ellsworth.”

YoKids has various levels of training for teachers available. YoKids Teacher Training for Preschool through 2nd grade is a three-hour course of study where teachers are introduced to various books and materials that they can use for everyday teaching. Some of the materials include stationary works, games, yoga cards, yoga theme posters, and story-time yoga.

Then, there’s YogaEd Tools for Teachers Training, also a three-hour course. This course of study is an introduction and practice of the four yoga tools: time in, postures, games, and relaxation. This workshop uses YogaEd, as a curriculum to equip schoolteachers with yoga tools that can be used in the classroom for 5-10 minute sessions. It instructs teachers on how to incorporate yoga into their everyday teaching. Students and teachers will learn poses that can be used at their desks, sitting or standing, as well as in limited space classrooms. Teachers also learn the four yoga tools, as well as aims and focuses of yoga postures and breathing exercises in this course.

YogaEd also offers a full day in-school Teacher Training, which is typically scheduled for six hours of training. This is an in-depth study of the YogaEd Training manual. Lily explained, “We will look at all four chapters of the text and each teacher will have an opportunity to experience yoga in action. We will see how certain poses, games, breath work, and relaxation can gain the desired behavior for specific times of the children’s school day.”

Schedules and fees for YoKids Yoga Classes and Teacher Training can be found on line at YoKids.org or by telephone. To encourage study by others Lynnette Moore and Lily Goodale produced a Yoga DVD, and Guidebook titled “Moore Yoga,” a home room teacher’s guide to the simple application of yoga in the classroom. Copies of these instructional tools are available just contact YoKids via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or telephone (207) 236-6001.

As a parent or teacher with an interest in Yoga, you may wish to contact YoKids to encourage the practice of Yoga by our youth. The concept of ensuring a fruitful and beneficial future can be realized through young people, Living Visions of the Future.

Kevin Pennell, an author from Bethel , Maine, wrote Two Feathers–Spiritual Seed Planter and has written for other periodicals and media. Kevin Pennell is an Usui and Karuna® Reiki Master Teacher, Herbalist, Certified Hypnotherapist, Shamanic Practitioner, and Psychic Empath. He conducts Reiki and other workshops that assist spiritual and personal development. Kevin, with his wife, Vickie Cummings, own and operate Spirit Wings, their Compassionate Healing Center and Therapeutic Store located in Bethel, Maine.Contact www.spiritwingsbethel.com or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .