Teachers make 1000s of decisions a day…
Researchers estimate that teachers make up to 1,500 decisions a day, and all these decisions can make teaching a stressful job, even in Palo Alto. Yoga could be a perfect way for Palo Alto teachers to destress, but yoga classes are expensive, often located far from schools and have schedules that don’t match the school day. The solution? Bring yoga to the teachers and improve wellness for Palo Alto’s educators.
Yoga on site for teachers at Terman Middle School
That’s why every Monday for the past three years, a yoga teacher from Noxcuses has opened the door of a classroom at Terman Middle School, unrolled her yoga mat and waited for the teachers to arrive for their weekly class.
yoga class in action at Terman Middle School
On a recent spring afternoon, teachers trickled in, chatted briefly, then settled down for an hour of blissfully uninterrupted yoga. “Please work on opening shoulders and neck,” requested Suganthi Subramanian, the 6th grade social studies/language arts teacher whose classroom serves as the ad hoc Terman yoga studio each week. The other teachers agreed, asking for poses that would help them relax and stretch.
Terman teacher Lois Caires in “warrior” pose
Asmita Runge, the yoga teacher from Noxcuses who is leading the classes at Terman, listened to the group’s ideas, then began a 60 minute practice that included shoulder openers, vigorous sun salutations and opportunities to move, breathe and get energy. When the class ended with time for shavasana, or resting, a few teachers could be heard peacefully sleeping.
But once the class was finished and mats were rolled up, the teachers were back to work, talking about joint lesson plans, getting ready to grade papers and prepping for the coming week. Except now they were energized and renewed instead of exhausted.
Yoga class is a worthwhile hour for busy teachers
“I always drag my feet about getting here because I have so many things to do,” said Lois Caires, a journalism teacher at Terman. “But I always feel so much better after yoga, and so glad I came.”
Asmita Runge demonstrates a yoga pose
Teaching yoga at Terman is a joy for Asmita, who has two children attending Palo Alto public schools. “I love the teachers because they are so receptive to trying everything, from breathing to meditation, to different poses. It’s a very rewarding experience to be here each week.”
Integrating fitness into everyday life
The impetus to bring yoga classes to PAUSD teachers came from Noxcuses founder, Angie DeGeronimo, a personal trainer, yoga teacher and wellness expert with over 25 years of experience in
Terman teacher Deanna Jones in “warrior” pose
Suganthi Subramanian in “tree” pose during yoga class
the fitness industry. “Our goal at Noxcuses is to give people tools to bring fitness and activity into people’s everyday lives, and yoga is an easy way to increase balance and flexibility as well as reduce stress. We are happy to offer subsidized yoga classes to Terman’s teachers in appreciation of all they do to support Palo Alto students and families, and would love to expand to other schools if we could find the space and interest.”
Noxcuses- supporting teachers and the community to improve health
Angie was also inspired to start the yoga classes at Terman because of her husband Dave DeGeronimo, who is the Instructional Supervisor for the Physical Education Department at Jordan Middle School and the director of Double D Football Camp.
Noxcuses founder Angie DeGeronimo
“It’s so hard for teachers to get to yoga studios due to cost and location,” Angie said. “So we took away all the obstacles and brought the yoga to them.” Angie has also taught stretching at Palo Alto High School, and yoga at Jordan Middle School.
Noxcuses has been a vital part of the Palo Alto community since 1994, first on the north side of town and now at its current location at 2741 Middlefield Road in Midtown. Noxcuses also offers subsidized classes for PAUSD teachers at its studio on Wednesday at 4:30pm and Friday at 4pm.
The parent of two middle school girls, Angie is also working to encourage young girls to come to yoga through Noxcuses ‘tween’ class for girls ages 11-14 on Wednesdays at 3pm. Check out Noxcuses full schedule for more information.
“We are so grateful to Angie and Asmita,” said Suganthi at the end of the Terman yoga class. “The subsidized rate and flexibility are perfect for teachers. These yoga classes revive us so we can keep working hard to support Palo Alto students.”
