5 Questions with Anne Monsees: From India to New Jersey, Sharing the Yoga Practice and Principles with Newark’s Children
Anne Monsees guiding a yoga class at an elementary school in Newark, NJ.
“When yoga becomes a lifestyle, acts of seva or selfless service become a motivating force in life.”
Newark Yoga Movement (NYM) yoga guides are instrumental in bringing yoga and meditation to Newark’s children and the community. They instruct over 100 classes a week during the academic year, providing children with the tools to help reduce stress and anxiety and increase focus and confidence. In these uncertain time, Newark Yoga Movement and its teachers are continuing to create an inclusive space by offering free online classes for students and staff members including American Sign Language (ASL) yoga, special needs yoga, and Spanish guided classes.
We sat down with Anne Monsees, a yoga guide, who joined the NYM in 2016, to learn more about her yoga journey and her experience working with NYM.
1. When and how did you discover yoga?
I discovered yoga through my interest in Buddhism and Hinduism when I studied abroad in Nepal in 1999. I felt a strong connection to yogic lifestyle and philosophies and in 2004 I met my mentor and prime yoga teacher, Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati.
I lived on and off in India at both the Bihar School of Yoga and Rikhiapeeth Ashram from 2005-2015. The daily routine, disciplines and practices of the ashram helped me to imbibe the principles of yoga and experience more balance and contentment in my life.
2. What stood out to you about NYM and why did you decide to join the organization?
After returning from India to New Jersey in 2015, I wanted to teach yoga in schools during the school day. I did a web search and found Newark Yoga Movement. It was everything that I was looking for. Most importantly NYM had already developed the connection with the school district and was teaching yoga classes in schools all over Newark. They shared the same goal of teaching yoga to children to promote life skills like self-regulation and self-confidence and practices to reduce stress and anxiety. NYM gives me a platform to guide hundreds of students each week in yogic practices and positive thinking and to me that is truly amazing!
3. What is the greatest impact or change you have seen in your students since you began working with NYM?
I think yoga is having a very positive impact on the students in Newark schools. I see large groups of students, class after class, able to sit still and follow their breath. These are the first steps to meditation. Students see the benefit of taking time out from their school day to do yoga, they look forward to it and feel happier after it is over. NYM knows the importance of exposing children to yoga at an early age and continuing to support them year after year. NYM provides yoga to all students, from pre-K to high school, including children with special needs. I have taught yoga to children with behavior problems in very challenging situations, yet when the students follow the directions and participate, they do experience a change. They experience being calm and peaceful and then their actions demonstrate more kindness and respect.
4. What is your favorite memory from your teaching experience?
My favorite memory is when one of my students said his first word – “Happy!” – in my class. The students in this class were six years old with autism, nonverbal and had aggressive behaviors.
It was my fourth yoga class together with the students and the boy, who said his first word, had been sleeping during the previous class. He was awake now, sitting across from me and looking right at me. I was leading the song we sang in every class: “I am happy, I am good." A song created from the Kundalini Yoga tradition. The volume during the song progressed from loud to silent and back to loud. When we all went silent, he said softly, “Happy” and then a little louder, “Happy” and a third time loudly, “Happy!” It was his first word, loud and clear, “Happy.” I got goosebumps and so did the other teachers in the room. We were all happy and proud.
5. What are other things that bring joy to your life outside of being a yoga guide?
In October 2018 I became a Resource Parent for the state of New Jersey. The following month I took in a three-week-old baby girl. She is still with me and I am hoping to adopt her. It gives me so much joy to provide a loving and safe home for babies and children at such a traumatic time in their life. When yoga becomes a lifestyle, acts of seva or selfless service become a motivating force in life. Instructing yoga and being a foster mother are joyful and fulfilling aspects of my life.
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