Yoga and mindfulness for Youth

For six years the Sean O'Shea Foundation (SOSF) has been offering a yoga, mindfulness and nutrition program to low-income schools and at-risk youth in San Diego County. Although San Diego (8th largest in the US) is often seen as a prosperous city on the West Coast, the reality is that there are two San Diego's - the wealthy bio-tech/tourism corridor along the coast and then the areas further inland and along the border, where the city's huge immigrant population lives. There are many economic migrants from Mexico and Central America, but also significant refugee communities from Somalia, Iraq and other countries beset by war and violence.

Despite San Diego's pleasant climate and coastal location, life is not so easy for this \"second San Diego\" of low-wage workers. The cost of living is high; the last five years of economic downturn and stagnation have cut funding for social services and schools. Inequality is rising for these workers, and their children are in danger of falling behind their more affluent peers, resulting in downward mobility for these families rather than realization of the \"American Dream\".

The SOSF program offers kids some new tools to cope with the challenges they face. This video explains it best:

Take 6 minute and watch. I'd love to hear what you think!

Liz