Lade Akande, a certified yoga teacher and school counselor, provides students with the resources they need throughout their studies.
As Chief Medical Officer at Carmel University High School, Akande focuses on school counseling, interviewing students one-on-one, community members, teachers, and students, and using data to inform framework for the school year. According to Akande, he takes a holistic approach to his lessons, incorporating practical methods that are applicable into daily, weekly, monthly and yearly structures.
“There is a term called an internal pandemic,” says Arcand. “So we’re seeing today’s teens, especially teenagers, 30s, drug use, drinking, pregnancy, risky behavior but poor mental health.”
Akande started college at Butler University, but returned to college for a master’s degree in counseling and began working as a college admissions counselor at the University of Michigan in 2015. She was eventually certified. on yoga and helped found Advanced Physical Education: a daily Yoga and Mindfulness class at HS.
“We learned about the history and philosophy of yoga,” says Arcand. “We’re studying the anatomy of stress and trauma and how it affects biology. We’re actually exercising — so we’re doing breathing, movement, and mindfulness exercises. to reinforce that.”
The second hour of the Yoga and Mindfulness studio has about 25 students a day, plus some students in the class “just come to do yoga because they want to.”
Celeste Hastings, a 12th grader at University High School, says she took an Akanda yoga class last semester and it’s one of her favorites because it helps her manage anxiety and improve her health. mood throughout the day.
“Overall, I think I’m paying more attention,” Hastings said. “The little things—such as each breath you take or a compliment you give a coworker—all add up to make your day great.”
Hastings says breathing techniques and yoga poses have helped her cope with stress and find things that help her manage stress better.
“It was like it really moved me,” she said. “I think maybe this is a good person, more excited to spend the day and talk to people.”
As one of the few Indiana schools to offer a daily wellness program for students, Akande HS says he knows what he has and wants to measure results.
And they worked with Nick Abel, an associate professor and chair of Butler University’s graduate counseling program, to study the impact of yoga and mindfulness on high school students.
According to Akande and Abel, yoga means “oneness” and “oneness” and is considered both an art and a science. These include movement, breathing, mediation, and “self-learning, self-awareness”.
Mindfulness has been described as “intentionally paying attention to the intention of the present moment and developing a deeper awareness of self and others.”
Akande and Abel’s research cited the American Surgeon General and the American Psychological Association as some of the reasons for the study, noting the ongoing crisis and epidemic on mental health. Teenagers’ spirits are “bad for health for many reasons.” Students” announced.
“What we know about these practices is that they help reduce stress, increase focus, and create a sense of connection and belonging,” says Arcand. “These empowerment tools empower students to self-regulate.”
According to Akande, they conducted daily surveys of class participants, consisting of 4- to 7-question questions before and after yoga, as well as pre- and post-semester surveys of students. with treatment and control groups.
“This shows that immediately after practicing yoga, students feel relaxed, less stressed, more focused and ready for the challenges of the day,” says Akande.
By the end of the course, students have improved balance and flexibility, says Akand. Many symptoms of physical stress, such as headaches and abdominal pain, are also reduced, he says.
“I also noticed a change in the mindset of many students,” adds Arcand. “It helps them think and reflect on themselves, which doesn’t happen during the day when they study algebra, history and science.”
Julia Portner, a 12th grader at University High School who is currently taking Akande yoga classes, says she has noticed the positive impact the classes have had on her.
“I think the most important thing is that I start practicing my motor skills, whether that’s when I’m feeling frustrated or a little nervous,” says Portner.
Portner says breathing techniques like box breathing and lion breath (Simhasana in Sanskrit) help her when she’s sad.
Poertner couldn’t stop laughing as he gasped and raised his hands like claws.
“That’s one of the reasons I love this job,” he added.
Poertner and Hastings say they’re happy to have tools and techniques for early coping with stress and anxiety, and both plan to use them after high school.