Buffalo students learn yoga to deal with trauma

Students as young as five at Bennet Park Montessori School on Buffalo's East Side are learning yoga.

“These are lifelong tools that they can use the rest of their life,” said Krista Palgutt with the Montessori Community Association. 

The yoga class is run by Yogis in Service and the school's parent group. The idea is students can use the methods taught in yoga to deal with stress or trauma. Since 74% of students at this school come from families deemed economically disadvantaged, some of these students definitely experience stress.

“Some kids have some very serious traumas and if they're coming to school with that they can't learn,” added Palgutt.

The yoga instructors say these kids are also using these lessons in school.

This is the pilot program at School 32. The hope is it catches on elsewhere in the district over the coming years.