The school day has just begun. Soft music plays. Yoga mats are being rolled out and preschoolers calmly place their shoes near their mats. It is time for yoga at Nederland Elementary Preschool.

Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) occupational therapist Marisa Glen sits “crisscross applesauce” at the front of the classroom as she calmly waits and assists the students as they come to their places. She holds up a laminated piece of paper with words and illustrations reminding the preschoolers of the three guiding rules during yoga time: get quiet, get on your mat, try your best.

Glen starts a video and guides the students and their teachers through a short morning yoga routine.

Glen is trained in a yoga program titled Get Ready to Learn, or The Get Ready Project. It is a program that was developed by occupational therapists for New York City schools in 2008 for a student population with a wide range of diverse developmental needs and abilities. Since then it has been tailored to meet the needs of students of many ages and ability levels.

This program promotes self-regulation, sensory regulation, and emotional regulation. It is a time to relax and build motor skills.

When Glen shares her passion for the Get Ready to Learn program she stresses how impactful it is for the students and staff. Glen notes that “The staff at Nederland Elementary Preschool is so collaborative.” She adds that their commitment and participation contribute to making this program a success.

Because of Glen’s schedule at multiple BVSD schools, the students at Nederland Elementary Preschool have Yoga with Miss Marisa just once a week, which they have been doing for a year. Each session includes centering, breathing, postures, deep relaxation, and a circle song. The students eagerly look forward to the weekly routine.

Emily Barth is the preschool teacher. Since they have started Get Ready to Learn she has noticed that her students are more focused and regulated. Barth said, “After yoga we have our large group instruction time. I do notice the children’s attention and participation increase during this time on the days we practice yoga.”

Barth added, “They follow more of the yoga positions now than they did at the beginning of the year. I have also noticed children practicing yoga outside our set yoga time – during play, rest, and outdoor time.”

This yoga program has helped in creating a stronger community classroom, something Barth values and practices. She says, “When we have this shared experience where we are able to nurture, ground ourselves, and try our best, it sets an excellent tone for the day. It’s important for everyone to try something new and yoga allows us all to do just that.”

The preschool at Nederland Elementary School was able to do this because of Glen’s training and the yoga mats and straps provided by BVSD. Barth said that the mats were a generous donation from a yoga company. She continues, “When I dream big, taking a trip to our local yoga studio with the children in our class comes to mind. Hopefully we can make that happen!”

Glen stresses that we all want optimal learning to take place. This program helps put mind and body in the right place for that special teaching and learning to take place.

It is inspiring to see preschoolers engage so thoughtfully in yoga. This was not play time. They were serious about what they were doing.

After seeing the preschoolers, one has to ask, wouldn’t this be a beneficial program for all students and staff kindergarten through 12th grade? Better self and emotional regulation, more positive participation, brain focus, and optimal learning for everyone in the classroom.

These young learners at Nederland Elementary Preschool could be revealing to us what students, staff, and schools need to help create more positive and successful learning environments.