Skip to Content

South Graham Elementary School helps kids de-stress with ‘Panda Yoga’

Click here for updates on this story

    GRAHAM, N.C. (WGHP) — At South Graham Elementary School, they call it Panda Yoga.

It is slow and relaxing and a time when students can forget what may be troubling them.

Fourth-grader Clarissa Gibson says it makes her day.

“I do like doing it because if I am mad or something, then when it is time to come in here, I’ll come in here and all the stress is released,” she said.

School Social Worker Kerrie Ann Brown was searching for something that could help some of her students refocus some of their behavior, and yoga seems to work perfectly.

“Yoga helps them be able to slow their minds down a little bit and concentrate on breathing,” Brown said. “We are really big on taking those deep breaths, because that’s something they can do when they have conflict with classmates or at home if things get chaotic. They’ve learned to stop and breathe, and it gives them time to think, and then they can respond instead of just a quick reaction which might be a bad decision.”

The class is held once a week and is a reward of sorts for good behavior and classroom performance.

It is so popular, she is adding a boy’s yoga session this month and will expand the girl’s program in the near future.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Article Topic Follows: Regional News

Jump to comments ↓

Author Profile Photo

CNN

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

KVIA ABC 7 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.

Skip to content