Sparking a movement - our History
2009 Newark Yoga Movement 501c3 was founded in October 2009 to help provide important social and emotional learning (SEL) skills to children. Founder Debby Kaminsky had read about low graduation rates in Newark--in 2013 approximately 87.5% of students graduated high school in New Jersey as compared to 67.7% in Newark(Source: NJ.com). She wanted to do something to help reverse the trend. She got a meeting with then Mayor Cory Booker who liked the idea and through the education liaison at the time, forwarded an executive summary of her vision and how to implement to all schools in Newark. The first school to reach out was Phillips Academy (then know as St. Philips Academy). Our second School was Team Academy (part of Kipp NJ network now recongized by NJ Dept of Education as a Lighthouse School District). A couple months later, the big hit occured as NYM received a call from Newark Public Schools' head of Health, PE and Athletics. A few meetings later and a green light from then Asst. Superintendent Roger Leon (now current Newark Board of Education Superintendent), we set up pilot testing (see below).
Through important self-regulation tools provided, children learn to reduce/control stress, anger and anxiety. Yoga tools also help increase focus, confidence, balance, strength and flexibility. (see how science now backs yoga and other benefits) Since our founding, NYM has shared yoga with 37,000+ children in Newark, 6,000 educators and thousands in the community through 170+ classes each week. In fact, have taught thousands in the community since starting our free public classes in 2012 at One Washington Park lobby (Audible) and have taught free classes around the City of Newark every week since. Corporations and Universities have caught on too so you can find us at Audible, Panasonic, NJPAC, and Rutgers in weekly staff/employee yoga. In 2014, we were ground breaking in our country by teaching the entire Newark Fire Department yoga over the course of 20 staff development sessions covering all shifts. In 2018 we also began sharing yoga with inmates in jail and that continues to this day.
Ever wonder how the phrase Hey, Namaste came to be found on our t-shirts? In 2010, Newark Yoga Movement was in it's first year and it's founder was teaching at a really tough high school. There were lock downs, metal detectors, and a constant presence of police. Debby, our founder was involved in "swarms" where students hovered and had water fights-- blocking hallways. The teachers were amazed that the students actually enjoyed yoga. One day, Debby was in this particular high school when an 11th grade boy approached her. He looked at her and said "Hey." He then put his hands together at his chest and said "Namaste." At that moment, Debby knew that "Hey, Namaste" was going to be an important part of Newark Yoga Movement.
Every notice Stretching Minds on our logo? We were fortunate enough to be approached by a graduate student getting her masters in integrated marketing in 2011. She not only wrote an entire marketing plan, direct mail campaign and provided great marketing thoughts for us but came up with the all encompassing line “Stretching Minds” which is exactly what we do in all the schools where we introduce breathing, movement and relaxation.
Want to help be a part of NYM? Read on.
Newark Yoga Movement has been in over 40 Newark public and charter schools sharing a variety of programs from yoga in the classroom, yoga in Physical Education class, Instant Calm (yoga over the public address system), yoga after school, yoga for tier II/III scholars, yoga for children having special needs, yoga for deaf and blind students, yoga for athletes, yoga for educators, yoga for special events and assemblies, and yoga for the community, yoga in jail, yoga for all since 2009.