Page 140 - Adhiyoga Purana

Yoga & Mindfulness for Challenging Young Minds Riverview Middle School, Bay Point, California — May 2018
In May 2018, Adhiyogi brought his unique blend of yoga, mindfulness, and meditation to three classes of sixth-grade students at Riverview Middle School in Bay Point, California. Each class had more than 50 students—both boys and girls—aged 11 and 12, many from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The school’s diverse population included numerous English language learners and students with specific learning disabilities, ADHD, and emotional or behavioral challenges that often made focus and learning difficult.
Against this backdrop, Adhiyogi stepped into the classroom with calm confidence and took complete command. Over the course of each 40-minute session, he guided the students through asana practice, breath work, mindfulness activities, and a shared meditation to close the class. His presence and teaching style held the students’ attention, drawing even the most restless participants into a state of focus and engagement.
It was not only the students who felt the transformation—the principal himself remarked that he had never seen these students so peaceful before. Mrs. Lori Hartline, a retired Special Education teacher with a master’s degree in educational psychology, observed with joy as Adhiyogi connected with each group, offering them tools for self-awareness, calm, and focus that could last far beyond the classroom walls.
For Riverview Middle School, these sessions were more than just a yoga class—they were a rare and powerful experience in stillness and inner peace for students who needed it most.
OM Shantiḥ.
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