Yoga High

”Though Trieste, a northern Italian city on the Adriatic coast may seem far away, and an Italian Liceo quite different from your average British High School, there is in fact a universal theme in being a teenager: the rite of passage. Rebellion against the norm is counterposed by trying to fit in with the group as the transition to adulthood takes place during which one is expected to create a life in a world where the future seems ever less certain . The defeatism that often accompanies this stage is being replaced by an uplift in spirit as a group of Italian high school students reach inwards and connect outwards. The result is increased responsiveness and responsibility at all levels of life. There’s hope, along with a sense of empowerment as the ever- present now within each and every one of us is experienced.
In the West, we have created a linear, goal-oriented approach in which education is meant to prepare us to be contributing members of society in an ever more competitive world, parts of a machine rather than unique human beings. Certain foundational skills are necessary but what do we need in order to thrive? We hear time and again that schools are failing to educate. Curiosity, the natural birthright of mankind, is often lost as we forget to ground knowledge in the body. We feel fragmented, tense, out of touch with our true nature. Disease or at the very least dissatisfaction is the norm.
At a conference in Trieste, a group of teenagers from Liceo Oberdan, a science high school, took to the stage to talk about their experience of learning through contact, in a course offered at their high school, ‘Yoga, Silenzio e Musica’. The theme of the conference was ‘Yoga Ayurveda: Lavore e Ben Essere’ - work and well-being.
Thinking of the aphorism ‘work is love made visible’, it was heartening to see a broad scope of presentations, both eastern and western philosophy, science and medicine. Rather than promoting a particular practice, the possibility was offered to learn what’s available to support well-being...”

The article, written by Jane Ralston Pahr, continues to cover the conference and the impact the course has had on the students and staff at the school, with plans of the project being rolled out to other schools.