Author: jennafaubion

Creative Work

Film: I am Maris

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In the Netflix film, I am Maris, a young girl is able to use yoga to heal herself mentally, physically and emotion. Maris was about twelve-years-old when she began harming herself physically and emotionally. She was a perfectionist that needed some type of control over her life which is when she began harming herself. It wasn’t until she became extremely ill that her family realized the degree of her illness. At rock bottom, her therapist suggested that she should try yoga. It was after her first class that she knew she need more of “that”. After many classes at Just Be Yoga in Walnut Creek, CA and a teacher training, Maris was finally able to heal herself physically and emotionally and find self love and accept. 

For Maris, yoga was the catalyst for her physically, emotionally and mentally healing. The documentary taught me that yoga is much more than the physical act of moving through a sequence of poses. I learned that yoga is a connection of the body, mind, and spirit and that when one aspect become ill, all three parts suffer. The film helped answer my content question regarding if the facilitation of yoga can act as tool of healing for individuals. 

Film: Vanzee Taylor, L. (Director). (2018). I am Maris [Video file]. United States: Netflix.

Experiential

Interview: Heather Thornton

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Heather taught for 20+ years in the Moraga school district as an elementary P.E. teacher. Due to some structural changes of PE in the district, as well as some physical injuries, Heather began looking for a new way of movement that would support her body. Heather suffered from plantar fasciitis in both feet and was recommended by her Dr. to try yoga to help strengthen and stretch her arches. After one yoga class, she was hooked. Heather immediately signed up for a yoga training and had no idea what to expect. Through the training, Heather learning mindfulness, self love & acceptance, as well as the principles of yoga. Heather was so inspired by her physical and mental transformation that she created her own company called Yogo4Kids. Yogo4kids is an after school program for students that teaching students about yoga.

From my interview with Heather, I learned one of the principles of yoga, which is the idea to say, “no” to things we don’t want and to say, “yes” to things we do want. Heather said that this idea was one of the first “ah-ha” moments she had in her training that has changed her life. I also learned that Yoga can act as physical therapy for plantar fasciitis. Simply by stretching and strengthening the bottom of the feet, the body is able to heal its self. The interview with Heather helped me answer my content questions because I learned that yoga and mindfulness can act as a mindset to attract the things you want versus the things that no longer serve you. 

Thornton: Thornton, H. (2019, June 19). Heather Thornton: Yoga for Kids [Personal interview].

Guiding Questions

Guiding Questions

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Content Questions

What is mindfulness? What is meditation?

How does yoga facilitate mental, emotional and physical health?

Pedagogical Questions:

How can yoga, mindfulness and meditation support students academic learning? 

What are the most effective strategies for teaching students mindfulness and meditation through yoga in physical education?