Namaste In School with Tori Klein

October 2018

Last year fourth-grade-student Tori Klein began hosting her own yoga classes in the mornings at Crowders Creek Elementary.

“Well I definitely think it [yoga] is important because it not only stretches the body, which is really important because you probably don’t want to get up in the mornings, but also the mind because sometimes you get stressed on Mondays if you have tests or stuff like that,” said Klein. “And it just kind of gets you ready and makes you feel relaxed that way you can be ready in the morning.”

Every Monday CCE students go through the cafeteria and some choose to pick up Namaste in School passes. They enter the classroom, grab a mat, and perform a series of stretches while listening to Klein’s guidance and relaxing instrumental music. Afterwards each student hears a Monday Motivation quote and receives a treat as a thank you for coming from Klein. Then they are ready to take on a new day of classes.

Dr. Dickey says this year Klein’s class perfectly coincides with CCE’s Mindfulness Mondays where students are learning healthy living as well as ways to take care of their minds and bodies.

"It [Namaste in School] really sets the day off to a great, positive, very calming start,” said Dr. Dickey. “I would love it one day if we could do like a school-wide session with her because I think it would be very beneficial. Hopefully by the end of the year we’ll be able to create something a little more widespread.”

Klein started practicing yoga with her Mom at the YMCA and said she fell in love with the movements and how it helped her body. Not long after she decided to share this activity with her peers.

“I definitely wanted to teach my classmates yoga because I’m already a student ambassador and I love helping others and being a leader and a role model,” said Klein.

According to CCE Principal Dr. Kershena Dickey, last year Klein set up a meeting with her to present her proposal for the Namaste in School holding room, and she just couldn’t say no.

“We really try to teach our kids to be empowered, to use their voice, to advocate for themselves and for their rights, so I just thought that was a wonderful example of her actually putting into action some of the things that we’ve been trying to instill in our kids.”