From one determined founder and a meeting with Mayor Cory Booker to 50,000+ children — this is the story of Newark Yoga Movement.
Newark Yoga Movement 501(c)(3) was founded in April 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 compared to just 67.7% in Newark.
She wanted to do something to help reverse the trend. After 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 to all schools in Newark.
A few months after launch, Newark Yoga Movement received a call from Newark Public Schools' head of Health, PE & Athletics. After a series of meetings — and a green light from then Assistant Superintendent Roger Leon — pilot testing was set up in district, charter and private schools.
Students built self-regulation skills that helped them manage stress, navigate anger and anxiety, and improve focus, confidence, balance, strength, and flexibility.
A mission to bring SEL skills and yoga to Newark's youth.Founding Vision - 2009
Newark Yoga Movement 501(c)(3) is established in April. The organization begins to bring SEL skills of breathwork, mindfulness and yoga to Newark's youth, starting with a meeting with Mayor Cory Booker and the city's school network. The organization's first school was Kipp Team Academy.
In NYM's first year, Debby was teaching at a high school facing daily challenges, including lockdowns and metal detectors. One day, an 11th-grade student approached her, placed his hands together at his chest, and said, "Hey—Namaste." That moment became the heart of NYM's identity.
"Stretching Minds" became the language for everything NYM does.Brand Milestone - 2011
A graduate student getting her master's in integrated marketing approaches NYM. She writes a full marketing plan, direct mail campaign, and coins the tagline "Stretching Minds" — exactly what NYM does in every school, introducing breathing, movement, and relaxation.
NYM named as an organizer of the Newark Peace Education Summit, led yoga for children and the community.
Peace within yourself means to let out all your stress and just think happy thoughts.— 6th Grade Student, Newark Peace Education Summit
NYM begins offering free public yoga classes for the community and has offered free classes around the City of Newark every week since. The Star Ledger covers the story: "Newark Stretches its Limits with Yoga for Free."
Star Ledger — July 2012Free yoga in Newark became a weekly promise.Community Classes - 2012
Breath, mobility, and resilience became part of the game.Student Athletes - 2012
NYM introduces specialized yoga programming for student athletes, focusing on injury prevention, flexibility, mental resilience, and performance optimization. The program becomes essential to athletic training in Newark schools and community sports teams.
NYM was invited to the New Jersey Education Association conference (NJEA) to lead a workshop providing self-regulation tools for educators—supporting their own well-being and offering practices to bring back to the classroom.
Supporting educators' well-being in the classroom.Educator Wellness - 2012
Wellness reached those who serve our community.Supporting Those Who Serve - 2013
NYM brought yoga to the Newark Fire Department—one of the largest in the state—reaching over 600 firefighters across all shifts. The program was featured in the news and marked a significant step in wellness for first responders.
Corporations and universities recognize the power of NYM's work. Weekly staff and employee yoga programs expand the movement well beyond schools.
The movement grew beyond schools and into workplaces.Growth Milestone - 2014
An energized audience, joined by board advisors MC Yogi, Dave Romanelli, and the late Tao Porchon-Lynch, was inspired by Gabrielle Bernstein's keynote before the Newark Fire Department Pipe Band to leading attendees into a theatre to view a documentary on NYM’s first five years.
Celebrating five years of stretching minds and building community.Milestone Celebration - 2014
Student leaders stepped forward as wellness advocates.Youth Leadership - 2014
Student leaders become peer educators and wellness advocates in their schools and communities. Ambassadors receive training, support, and mentorship to guide their peers through yoga, mindfulness, and self-care practices.
Instant Calm gave students tools they could use anywhere, anytime.School Partnership - 2015
Newark Public Schools partners with NYM to launch "Instant Calm," a specialized wellness program rolled out across district schools. Students gain access to quick, evidence-based mindfulness tools they can use anywhere, anytime.
Brick City Solstice turned the longest day into a community tradition.Community Celebration - 2016
NYM launches the inaugural Brick City Solstice, an annual free community yoga event celebrating the summer solstice. The event becomes a beloved tradition, bringing hundreds of Newark residents together on the longest day of the year for yoga, music, mindfulness, and community.
Sign up for free eventLocal teachers trained locally helped the work take root even deeper.Teacher Training - 2017
In partnership with Yoga Impact (Nancy Candea), a 200-hour teacher training was launched selecting 18 Newark-based participants to expand access to yoga in the community—building a new generation of local teachers rooted in the neighborhoods they serve.
Wellness reached spaces where it is often least accessible.Expanded Access - 2018
In 2018, NYM expanded its work to include incarcerated individuals — bringing breath, movement, and mindfulness into spaces where these tools are often least accessible. Inmates received certification upon completion.
In 2020, NYM launched the Hammock Room at Sussex Avenue School with two hammocks, hand-painted mandalas, soothing sounds, mindful activities, coloring, writing, guided meditation, reading, and deep relaxation. It becomes a sanctuary where students and staff find peace during the school day.
The Hammock Room became a sanctuary during the school day.School Wellness Space - 2020
When the world paused, NYM kept the community connected and moving.Pandemic Response - 2020
When COVID-19 forces schools and gyms to close, NYM pivots immediately to virtual classes — keeping the community connected, calm, and moving. NJ.com features NYM as a standout in their pandemic yoga coverage.
NJ.com — April 2020
During one school's intersession, students participated in a week-long yoga immersion, each creating a personalized practice to support their own needs—such as focus, sleep, confidence, and managing anxiety.
Students created personalized practices for their own needs.Student Wellness - 2022
Yoga Vibes blended movement, rhythm, and community.Program Launch - 2026
NYM launched Yoga Vibes, a unique and engaging program to help students connect to how sound influences their well-being. Through music, breath, movement, and stillness, students engage in a fun and meaningful wellness experience.
NYM steps into a new chapter with a refreshed identity and a broader direction for the work ahead.
A new chapter with a clearer mission and visual identity.Brand Refresh - 2026
The power of one minute of breath can change everything.Wellness Message - 2026
NYM committed to the power of breath and the impact it can make in just one minute, inspiring this effective reset that became another NYM signature slogan.
The event stays free and now links directly to the sign-up page so visitors can register immediately.
Sign up for free eventBrick City Solstice kept growing with more reach, more yoga, and more music.North to Shore Partnership - 2026
The next chapter is still being written.Future Vision
"The students were amazed that yoga worked. The teachers were amazed that the students actually enjoyed it. And I was amazed by what one 'Hey, Namaste' could do."
