Building Resilience through Yoga by Aviva Tulasi
Most Thursday mornings from October to May, I drive 40 minutes to Chatham Central High School. No matter how many times I’ve done it, the stretch after turning off Highway 64 always feels endless. Landmarks seem miles apart, and I have to remind myself to breathe as anxiety about being late surfaces. Eventually, I spot the Post Office—only one more mile. My heartbeat slows as I breathe deeply.
I am never actually late. I always arrive with time to center myself before the bell rings. Rolling a cart of yoga mats down the hall during the passing period is precious. Staff greet me with smiles: “It’s yoga time!” Students hold doors open. They may not join class that day, but it reinforces that yoga is there for them whenever they’re ready.
As I plan for another year at Chatham Central, I keep returning to one memorable moment that embodies what Y.O.G.A. for Youth is all about: Your Own Greatness Affirmed.
One day, only a single student came. Since the weather was beautiful, we practiced outside. Most of our time was spent talking. The teen shared that a classmate had recently called them “stupid.” We listened to the wind in the trees, let curiosity lead, and asked questions about the world around us. Eventually we decided to try some āsana, and I introduced headstand. As they balanced upside down, confidence radiated.
The next week, that student returned—with three friends. This time their confidence turned into leadership, as they guided peers through their first headstands. They were no longer just connecting with me, but with one another.
That’s the heart of Y.O.G.A. for Youth at Chatham Central: connection. One participant put it best:
“Because we get a break and can be with people we enjoy. It makes the rest of the day better.”
The yoga club reflects the diversity of the school: different genders, body types, races, and academic levels. Athletes, artists, and gamers all practice side by side. Students and teachers alike are welcome, creating trust across groups and strengthening relationships. These connections support both academic success and life-long skills for self-inquiry and stress reduction.
Right now, the Chatham Central Yoga Club has no funding. Despite this, I return each Thursday morning with mats in tow. Sometimes fear creeps in—that my efforts won’t take root, that the program won’t last. But I have a choice. I can feed the fear and get stuck in anxiety, or I can return to my center with curiosity and steadiness.
It’s the same choice we all face when anxiety arises. Yoga has taught me to notice the subtle ways I fuel my fears, so I can pause and re-ground myself. Anxiety can be a signal for action, but it doesn’t have to send us into fight-flight-freeze. With practice, we can slow down, observe what’s happening, and choose to respond rather than react.
This is the work of resilience. And it’s also the heart of my upcoming workshop, Mindful Transformations: Building Resilience in the Face of Anxiety. Together we’ll explore small, consistent practices that help us meet anxiety with clarity and steadiness.
Your participation will also support Y.O.G.A. for Youth, helping ensure that students at Chatham Central have access to yoga for years to come. Join Aviva for this workshop at Yoga Garden on Sunday, October 5th at 1pm.
Aviva also teaches a weekly Gentle Hatha Yoga class at Yoga Garden on Sunday mornings at 8am.
Please note: Mindful Transformations: Building Resilience in the Face of Anxiety is not a cure for anxiety. It is designed as a complement to therapy and should not replace professional mental health services.
