The LOTUS Project is a unique yoga program I created specifically for children with disabilities to foster self-awareness and inner peace through breath work, stretching exercises and visualization techniques. LOTUS stands for the Love, Opportunity, Trust, Unity and Self children will discover through yoga.

I had the great fortune to be introduced to Rochelle Snyder, Special Education teacher for Fairfax Elementary School in Cleveland Heights, OH last summer. I pitched my idea of bringing yoga into her classroom, and from that instant, our collaboration began. It was with her commitment and dedication to her students that this project was possible. We spent the summer creating a program that would work within the structure of her class and created opportunity for her to incorporate the yoga the kids learned in my teaching throughout the week. The results were astounding! distractibility decreased dramatically, self-esteem increased, and their ability to relax their bodies and rest in relaxation increased by 10 minutes! We met throughout the year shaping the lessons to build on the kid’s enthusiasm and ability. The project launched in September of the 07-08 school year. I visited the class each Friday throughout the year for one-hour sessions.

You must be the change that you wish to see in the world - Ghandi