MINDFULNESS ON THE MAT (MotM) 

 Goals

The primary goal is to assist students with sensory focus and improved breathing skills by teaching them how to quiet the mind through breath, movement, and meditation. The secondary goal is to assist teachers by improving classroom attentiveness.

 Benefits

The advantages of this course are stress reduction, enhanced self-confidence, better balance, improved fitness and boosted classroom focus. Students will learn greater awareness, better posture and increased tolerance of themselves and others. Each is expected to gain body awareness, stability, balance, energy and relaxation. As a result, teachers should notice students’ improved attentiveness, self-control and respect for others, which will contribute to more peaceful classroom environments. 

Instructor Qualifications

Ellen Emerson Yaghjian has taught yoga in Columbia since 2000. She completed 500 hours of teacher training with Esther Myers from the Esther Myers Yoga Studio in Toronto, Canada and has been a registered teacher with Yoga Alliance. In addition, she has attended workshops on Yoga for Scoliosis, Yoga for MS, Acu-Yoga, Yoga for Seniors and is an International Yoga Warrior (teaching yoga for veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and their families). According to a current yoga student, Ellen makes it easy to “check my stress at the door and enjoy breathing and relaxing for an hour.” Another student appreciates having a “fun and very enjoyable” time as she learns “self-acceptance, self-awareness, relaxation and stress relief.”