The Crim Fitness Foundation is helping Flint, MI students and teachers deal with high stress levels in the wake of the city’s water crisis by holding yoga sessions at elementary schools and offering teachers free memberships.

The foundation announced it will be partnering with National Brands Gaia and Yoga Journal to host a series of yoga sessions at elementary schools today.

"Through its mindfulness, physical activity and nutrition programs, the Crim Fitness Foundation is helping Flint to be a healthier community and move forward after the unprecedented stress and added pressures brought by the water contamination. The goal is to help the community transform and emerge healthier and stronger,” the foundation said in a statement.

At Eisenhower Elementary School, students today will be able to participate in a morning and lunchtime yoga program as well as a mindfulness lessons. Later in the afternoon, parents and teachers are invited to participate in a mindfulness workshop, as well.

Teachers in Flint will also be provided with free memberships to Gaia; according to its site, for every annual membership purchased, one will be donated to a Flint teacher.

The yoga and mindfulness lessons are attempts to help the Flint community de-stress following the water crisis that plagued residents for two years. The crisis began in 2014 when the city began using the Flint River as its water source, resulting in an increase of lead. The water was determined unsafe to drink after a lengthy investigation, but residents had already been drinking the contaminated water for months.

On December 14, 2015, a state of emergency was officially declared for Flint. Now, the community is beginning to repair itself as the justice system is beginning to try officials believed to have helped in tampering with efforts to investigate into the city’s crisis.

Experts say that yoga and mindfulness lessons are great tools for students who need helping de-stressing and dealing with trauma. New research has even indicated that yoga in schools could be linked to reduced suspensions.

Nicole Gorman, Education World Contributor

4/26/2016