How was Yoga Calm developed?
In 2002, prompted by dramatic increases in children’s stress-related health and behavior issues, school counselor Lynea Gillen started blending yoga with social and emotional skills-building training. Together, with her husband Jim Gillen, their 30 years of classroom, counseling and yoga experience sparked the development of many innovative processes.They soon began teaching Yoga Calm processes to adults seeking a way to support, nurture and educate the whole child. Since then, hundreds of teachers, counselors and occupational therapists from more than a dozen states have been trained in this integrative approach to learning. Notably, the program has also been adapted for settings other than the classroom. One of these is the Children’s Program in Portland, Oregon, which has successfully collaborated with Yoga Calm in working with children and teens coping with ADHD, anxiety and other mental health concerns.
