According to Principal Gary Walker, there is a lot going on at Halifax West and now thanks to a Health Promoting School (HPS) grant there is one more physical activity program for students to participate in. 

Last Spring, the Halifax West Health Promoting School Committee, applied for a grant to offer Yoga instruction. Upon receipt of the HPS grant, the students on the committee now act as ambassadors and promoters of the activity. Students create posters, arrange for the Yoga classes to be included in the daily school intercom announcements and post on the school website. Those who work on the committee receive acknowledgement of their leadership on their high school activity form. 

Teen Health Centre Coordinator Angie Prest and Resource Teacher Pat Rhodenizer work closely with students to ensure that the focus of the activity is to promote physically active lifestyles and mental health. A second focus is to promote the concept of Yoga as an inclusive physical activity which can be enjoyed throughout life by all. Halifax West's Yoga program is open to all students and staff -- without restrictions. The aim is to serve between 25 and 40 participants on a regular basis. Plus there is an open door policy with no registration or sign-up.  New participants can feel free to drop in and try the activity at any time. 

Yoga is an ancient practice that helps create a sense of union in body, mind, and spirit – bringing a sense of balance. Anyone can do yoga—no matter how young or old, a couch potato or a professional athlete. Size and fitness level do not matter because there are modifications for every Yoga pose. The idea is to explore your limits, not strive for some perfect pose. 

Halifax West is fortunate to have found a Yoga instructor who challenges the students but does not push. Janice Leonard, from the Yoga Loft, offers modifications and works one-on-one with students to allow them to become more aware of their posture, alignment and their patterns of movement. 

 
Yoga creates a toned, flexible, strong body and improves athletic performance. Yoga helps teach students how to quiet the mind so they can focus their energy where they want it to go — into a difficult yoga pose, on the football field or in the classroom. Yoga encourages positive thoughts and self-acceptance. These are the foremost reasons why the students at Halifax West started practicing Yoga - to feel fitter, be more energetic, be happier and peaceful. 



On the day the Our Healthy School Leader Catherine Cole visited Halifax West’s Yoga class, there were 16 young men and women participating, including two teachers. According to Pat Rhodenizer, a number of these students are the ones that you don’t usually see in the gym. In fact, for some of these students this is the first physical activity program they have ever joined. 

Yoga instruction at Halifax West is one more example of how the Health Promoting School grants are being used in Halifax Regional School Board to help young people lead active, healthy lives. For more information about applying for a Health Promoting School grant, please contact Catherine Cole, Our Healthy School Leader, at ccole@hrsb.ns.ca or 464-2000 ex 4419.