Page 155 - Adhiyoga Purana

Shiny Schaffer’s Journey: Teaching Yoga to the Youngest Hearts
Shiny Schaffer, a dedicated yoga teacher and educationist from Alexandria, Virginia, first met Adhiyogi when she enrolled in his Basic Authentic Yoga Teacher Training. The experience transformed her — not only deepening her personal practice but giving her the courage and skills to share yoga in ways she had never imagined.
Upon returning to her work as a school counselor, Shiny began integrating yoga into the lives of her youngest students. She introduced weekly classes for preschoolers through 3rd graders, often drawing groups as large as 28 eager children. In her sessions, yoga became more than physical exercise — it became a lesson in respect, compassion, and mindfulness.
Each class began and ended with a heartfelt “Namaste”, which the children understood as: “The light, goodness, and forgiveness in me respects and honors the light, goodness, and forgiveness in you.” Shiny would also remind them: “Each person is very special because they are the only one of them in the entire universe! We are all teachers and learners.”
The results were remarkable. The children not only learned āsanas but also began demonstrating them to their classmates — proudly showing off the tree pose and explaining the meaning of “Namaste” to others. In one memorable class, when Shiny arrived late, a 3rd grader took the lead and taught the session with confidence — a moment that filled her with pride.
Shiny’s work carried forward year after year. She saw yoga bring peace to restless minds, focus to active bodies, and a sense of self-worth to young hearts. She credited much of her ability to lead these sessions to Adhiyogi’s unique teaching approach — holistic, culturally rich, and deeply attuned to the needs of each student.
Her long-term dream remains to take Adhiyogi’s advanced teacher training, further refining her skills and expanding her impact. She continues to hold yoga classes for children, sowing seeds of mindfulness and compassion in the next generation.
“Thanks to Adhiyogi’s training,” Shiny says, “I know I have so much to share — and the courage to share it.”
OM Shantiḥ.
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