In the past, many techniques of yoga were barely understood or practiced because of mankind’s limited knowledge of how to properly spread the technique. Now thanks to the Internet and the fast circulation of information, yoga has spread across the world. The idea behind yoga is about forgetting your worries in life, and focus on the energy within and around you.  

Solon High School Health and Physical Education teacher, Melissa Fitzgerald, will be teaching the workout, specifically for the SHS staff, every Friday after school for approximately an hour.

“I started doing yoga regularly about two years ago and fell in love with the practice,” Fitzgerald said.  “Last spring, the school district recognized the need to implement yoga and meditation, or mindfulness into our schools. The district supported me getting my certification for teaching yoga this past summer, and although it took up most of my summer, it was well worth it.”

Fitzgerald has been teaching Health and Physical Education for 22 years at SHS. She has a Masters in Health Science, is a certified athletic trainer, was a varsity volleyball coach for 19 years, a basketball coach, and now holds a 200 hour certification as a yoga instructor.  

Melissa Orfin, a Chemistry teacher, at SHS was one of the staff members that went that evening, and was able to discuss going to yoga taught by Fitzgerald.

“I’ve been wanting to try yoga for a long time now, especially because the stretching can help a lot with stiffness,” Orfin said.  “I think it would be a great way to exercise, so when it was  implemented in the school, it was perfect for me. I think it’s a great thing to have here for the teachers and staff and I definitely feel like it will make a difference in my demeanor and how I feel.”

Laura Fitch, an English teacher at SHS, also attended the first class held on Aug. 25.

“ It was absolutely wonderful,” Fitch said. “ [Fitzgerald]  did a great job of leading us through, and keeping it at a moderate level for everyone. Afterwards, I felt sore all weekend, but I also felt strong, relaxed, and very centered.  It was  a good challenge for me and I’m really glad that I was able to go and experience it.”

The benefits to yoga are endless.  Physically it is able to improve: muscular  strength, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, balance and flexibility.  Mentally, yoga combines yin and yang which allows for both a challenging workout with  the chance for relaxation and rest.  There is supposed to be a special mind and body connection with yoga that is found by focusing on breathing and body movement. This allows the mind to let go of daily stressors which helps to relax the body.

“Both students and staff at Solon district are dedicated to excellence which is what clearly takes to be the top school district in the country,” Fitzgerald said. “ But being the very best takes a lot of work, which also comes with stress.  Learning to manage stress in a healthy way is a very important life skill that both students and staff both need to live a happy and healthy life.

Fitzgerald is planning to have a yoga/mindfulness class open to students as an elective starting in the 2018-2019 school year.

“I am so proud to work in such an amazing school district that not only pushes their students and staff to be the very best in all they do but are willing to acknowledge the importance of teaching health and balance,” Fitzgerald said.