Research Working Group: Yoga in Urban Schools and the Positive Psychology Project

Location

Mother Rosalie Hill Hall, 259

Cost

0

Members of the academic community come together to share, discuss and learn about new research and explorations in the field of education at these events.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016
12:00p.m. – 2:00p.m.
Mother Rosalie Hill Hall, 259
*Lunch will be served.

Research being presented in this session includes:

Andria Shook, PhD will share findings from a yoga study conducted in an urban school district in Houston, Texas. The Houston Independent School District (HISD) is the first large urban school district to systematically incorporate an instructional-day embedded yoga program into the school day. Currently in their first year of implementation, ten Title I elementary schools throughout Houston have introduced yoga to students through the support of the Sonima Foundation. A three-year quasi-experimental research study accompanies the yoga program at schools with and without yoga seeking to learn how HISD students respond to a regular yoga practice. The session will begin with an introduction of the Sonima Foundation’s health and wellness approach that is present in HISD schools. Following, findings related to students’ response to stress, behavior, attendance, academics, and physical fitness will all be discussed.

Ana Estrada, PhD and graduate students will provide an overview and results of a middle school intervention program called the Positive Psychology Project (PoPP), an evidence based intervention, which promotes happiness and resilience among immigrant youth. Positive psychology is the scientific study of the good life and the search for methods to increase health and wellness among diverse people. PoPP increases subjective well-being, academic functioning, and experiences of gratitude, optimism, kindness, and taking care of one’s body. This is particularly relevant to many youth, who experience hopelessness, depression, anxiety, and sometimes, suicidal ideation. PoPP seeks to address these vulnerabilities in immigrant and low-income youth.