YOGA IN CHICAGO SCHOOLS

Our vision is to make the lives of everyone in your school easier.  Since 2014, 5KY has been serving Chicago area students of all ages and abilities in their schools.  Our instructors' certifications in Yoga for All Abilities® (YAA) - The Sonia Sumar method makes us uniquely qualified in Chicago to work in special education settings.  

The Classroom Yoga Chicago Project uses traditional yoga techniques that have been passed on for centuries, which are also supported by on-going research on the Get Ready to Learn Program (GRTL).  GRTL is a YAA based and video-delivered yoga intervention used in a landmark study published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy.  We use the same approach, activities, and structures as GRTL for schools in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.

How the CYC Project Works

Internal Supports

Uses self-regulation, sensory-motor registration and sensory-motor integration tools, such as calming, repetitive exercises, weight-bearing, compression, deep input and a multi-sensory learning strategy.

External Supports

Gives staff and students stress-tolerance and coping skills through structured, routine activities and an opportunity to move.  We also coach classrooms on the optimum layout and organization for yoga.

Evidence-Based

Based on YAA, a 50+ year old developmentally tiered curriculum, CYC also utilizes the methodology of the Get Ready to Learn Program,  which has been quantitatively validated through scientific studies.

Our Curriculum

Class Supports & Structure

Upon pairing with The CYC Project, an individualized school plan will be developed for you.  This plan will include an on-site visit and professional development workshop for staff before classes begin.  We will develop an action plan for your team to set up and prepare their classes for success.

Your school will also be paired with a facilitator, who will ensure classrooms have access to your selected video programs and that yoga classes are run according to our methodology.

Components of Class

Based on the YAA and GRTL methods, each class will include time for
  • Centering as a group, which gives the classroom a regular routine to start their yoga practice.
  • Simple mantras for peace, love and light, which stimulate areas of the brain related to language development, pattern recognition and sequencing, and teach a valuable self-regulation tool.
  • Eye exercises that reduce eye-strain and improve coordination of the eyes and concentration.
  • ​Breathing exercises that teach students to get in tune with their inner state, develop self-regulation skills and better manage their energy levels.
  • Yoga poses that develop the strength, flexibility and balance of students' bodies and provide opportunities for sensory-integration and sensory-regulation activities.
  • Deep relaxation that is guided in a developmentally-appropriate manner to release stress.
  • Closing as a group, which gives the classroom a regular routine to end their yoga practice and move onto academic learning.​
Classroom Yoga Chicago is comprehensive and holistic.  The steps in the program are designed to be used together in their entirety.

Stages of Implementation

Many students cannot look, listen, and initiate at the same time.  They need time to process each sense and integrate that information before they achieve familiarity with the routine.  
Setting an intentional period for students to process and join at their own pace gives the entire team a sense of the true level of participation each student is capable of without prompting.  Once the baseline is established, gentle prompting can be implemented as appropriate, guided by your facilitator.

Measuring Impact

The final step in The Classroom Yoga Chicago Project is systematically measuring our impact and following student outcomes.  We do this by collecting feedback in three ways. 
1) Baseline and follow-up anecdotal data from classroom teachers.
2) Weekly data collection points measuring self-regulation, attention, performance and communication of each student participating are validated by a classroom fidelity checklist.
3) Qualitative data from staff, students and their families.
At the end of the year, your school will have a clear picture of how The CYC Project impacted participating classrooms and students.

Types of Classrooms We Serve in Schools

ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOLS

For elementary, middle and high schools students, we provide a series of traditional mat yoga classes, based on the evidence-based Get Ready to Learn curriculum.  Classes are taught by video to create consistency and facilitated by 5KY staff, to ensure proper implementation.
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PRE-SCHOOLS

​Our youngest yogis (up to age 6) have a yoga class developed just for them!  This class is structured just like the older kids' classes but taught in a developmentally appropriate way.  Classes are taught by video to create consistency and facilitated by 5KY staff, to ensure proper implementation.
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SPECIAL EDUCATION

The CYC Project is appropriate for special education settings and we also have a separate series of traditional yoga classes, designed to be practiced seated (on a mat or in a chair) to accommodate students who are not standing independently.  Classes are taught by video to create consistency and facilitated by 5KY staff, to ensure proper implementation.

​We are CPS suppliers and can accept Purchase Orders from Chicago Public Schools!
GET STARTED WITH THE CYC PROJECT!