Creating Calm in the Classroom: Yoga, smoothies, and student success

Public Education Matters · Apr 2, 2026 · 28m · transcript

Janaya Foster used to hate afternoons in her elementary school classroom in Columbus. Too often, something would happen during lunch and recess that would leave students distracted or distressed. But, bringing yoga and other mindfulness tools into her classroom - along with rewards like treats from her grant-funded smoothie machine - has made a big difference for Janaya's students and her own wellbeing. In this episode, she shares more about her experiences, the supports she's received to make these initiatives possible, and the messages she's sharing with other educators across Ohio and on a…