Yoga for Kids in Practice

The Los-Angeles-based Accelerated School has introduced regular yoga classes to help their students cope with the overwhelming stress faced by inner city kids, as well as to improve fitness, grades, discipline and self-esteem.

Kids at the Tuscon High Magnet School collected signatures to save their yoga program, arguing that yoga offered more than PE classes, because of its mind-body focus. The students felt that yoga had been therapy for relieving stress, bringing greater clarity and calmness, and learning life lessons, such as patience.

Today's children live in an embattled world, often juggling the stress loads and pressures of adulthood. Children are under more stress than ever before, and lifestyle changes, like unhealthy eating habits and lack of exercise have caused staggering rates of childhood obesity and diabetes.

Under the dazzling lights of Radio City Music Hall's famous stage, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr got together with Ben Harper, Moby, Eddie Vedder, Jim James, Sheryl Crow and more - for one goal, to give kids around the world the opportunity to learn to meditate.