"We wanted to explore innovative ways to encourage students to make healthy choices for life, while developing a health program that appealed to non-traditional athletes," said Nancy Cartie, school nurse.

The pilot Yoga Club currently welcomes 24 students who meet for 30 minutes before school with Nurse/Counselor Aide, Stacy Farrugia, who leads them in instruction. To enter the club, students are required to complete an application based on teacher recommendations. All club members then receive a Zen garden and a copy of the Yoga Kids Deck of Positions, which they are allowed to keep at the end of the semester. Students not only practice yoga, they also discuss the importance of eating five fruits and vegetables each day, choosing healthy snacks and staying hydrated.

"Through the Yoga Club, we are able to introduce students to an alternate form of exercise that they can do anytime, anywhere for the rest of their lives," said Farrugia.

1. Whenever I feel lazy or lethargic I find it extremely helpful to engage in something active to keep from sitting around and not being productive. I like to plug in my earphones and dance around the house or practice my dances for upcoming performances that I have or just ride my bike around the neighborhood. Just simple things like exercising in the household or getting a group of friends together for a small activity can help with getting out of lazy spells. 

2. As a vegetarian I find that the hardest part of maintaining a balanced, nutritional diet is finding alternatives for protein since lots of protein is found mostly in meats in the standard diet. Incorporating legumes, lentils, and tofu-based meat substitutes are a healthy way for people who follow a vegetarian lifestyle to get the protein they need. Often times, Indian food uses many lentils as a main component in a dish known as daal which my parents frequently make since it is both nutritious and delicious. 

3. My weakness is definitely chocolate when it comes to desserts. I love everything to do with chocolate and with the holidays coming up, it's hard to resist eating the chocolate-based desserts that my mother always makes. However, I find that taking the smallest of portions and eating very slowly makes me feel more full and more satisfied with my dessert while still keeping in mind that I need to be smart about the amount of dessert that I am eating. Another thing for chocolate lovers to remember is that dark chocolate has antioxidants that is far more beneficial and releases more endorphins than milk chocolate.