In-school yoga classes are one of the new glowing aspects of Bronx Science’s Physical Education courses. Aimed to regulate and cultivate the body and mind, many students have come to appreciate what our school is doing to make the school day a little less stressful.

In gym classes throughout the day, students practice mindful meditation. To many students, this is their time to sit back, unwind, and feel their stress disappear.

“The main goal of this unit,” said Ms. Marion Dietrich, one of Bronx Science’s Physical Education teachers, “is to open the world of relaxation, body-awareness, meditation and mindfulness through yoga to the student body of Bronx Science. Students often have no idea how beneficial yoga can be until they experience it themselves.”  

“The main goal of this unit,” said Ms. Marion Dietrich, one of Bronx Science’s Physical Education teachers, “is to open the world of relaxation, body-awareness, meditation and mindfulness through yoga to the student body of Bronx Science. Students often have no idea how beneficial yoga can be until they experience it themselves.”  

Students such as Thamima Khan ’20 find the Physical Education yoga experience to be quite beneficial. “I am usually stressed at the beginning of the day with either studying or finishing my homework, but having yoga classes during first period helps me calm down a little and destress,” noted Khan.

One of the most notable aspects of this unit is stretching. Bronx Science physical education teachers stress its significance in their students’ daily lives. Before beginning the yoga unit, they make sure that their students understand its importance and impact. They emphasize that a simple stretch can reduce the risk of injury and increase flexibility and overall mobility. Injuries such as sprained ankles, pulled muscles and ligaments, and simple cramps can be avoided by stretching. Athletes especially are urged to increase their flexibility, as it aids in the explosiveness of their movements and their ability to change positions quickly. Even students who do not participate in strenuous physical activity should stretch daily. Students carry around heavy backpacks all day and hunch their backs while they’re on laptops and other electronic devices, which can cause permanent damage to the spine in later years; stretching each day can prevent this long-term damage.

Controlled breathing is another emphasized topic of this class. During yoga, students attempt to reach the ideal breathing rate when resting, twelve to twenty breaths per minute. While students hold poses like Sun Salutations, the Corpse Pose, Downward Dog, Child’s Pose, and the Cobra, they aim to control their breathing at the same rate, resulting in a relaxing experience that many students say they would want to continue in the future.

Rafi Talukder ’20 appreciates that the yoga classes in Bronx Science encourage relaxation and help to improve his balance and flexibility.

“I know for a fact that other students feel the same as me and think that the yoga classes are beneficial,” he said. “Right after class, I hear all the students talking about how great they feel.”

Athletic Director and Assistant Principal of the Physical Education Department, Mr. Michael McGrath, gives advice to students, like Talukder, who plan to continue yoga independently in the future. He encourages interested students to try yoga for a few weeks.

“It may be difficult at first, but just like anything, the more effort and time you put into it, the better results you will have,” said McGrath. “There are several resources on the internet with theme based workouts and illustrations. Yoga Journal and Namaste T.V. can help.”