Carroll County Middle School students are finding new ways to stretch their minds and bodies through a free after-school yoga program led by certified instructor Larisa James. The program, open to all students and staff, focuses on movement, mindfulness, and mental health - offering a peaceful end to the school day and a powerful boost for overall wellness.
James, a science teacher at CCMS who completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training, brings both experience and empathy to her teaching, much of it shaped by her own healing journey. Several years ago, James was in a serious automobile accident that left her with a knee injury. When her doctor suggested physical therapy or yoga, she chose yoga and used the practice to rehabilitate her knee and regain her ability to run. “For the longest time I was a runner,” she said. “To be a better runner, I was already stretching, and it was just natural for me to pick up yoga. After the accident, yoga helped me heal and build back strength and flexibility. It’s been part of my daily life ever since.”
The CCMS sessions are held every Tuesday beginning at 3:30 p.m. The free community sessions at the Carroll County Public Library are offered on Thursdays from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m., welcoming participants of all experience levels.
“I’ve kind of always been a crusader and want to help people,” James said. “Mental health is a huge thing right now in our school, so I decided to not only offer yoga free to the community through the library, but also to our students after school.” She is also offering limited free sessions to the high school boys’ and girls’ basketball teams.
Yoga, an ancient practice that combines breath control, stretching, and meditation, offers numerous physical and mental benefits. The poses help increase flexibility, strength, and balance, while mindful breathing techniques calm the nervous system and improve focus. At CCMS, James teaches vinyasa yoga, a flowing style that links movement to breath. “We do warm-ups, several rounds of sun salutations, and then build through two flow sequences,” she explained. “Any time your head is below your heart, you’re stimulating blood flow to the brain. That’s where the science of it lies.”
Each week’s session is built around a new theme, such as “joy” or “my abundance lies within.” Students learn how to connect those ideas to their movements and mindset. “Throughout class, when we get into a tough position, I remind them to come back to their breath and their stillness within,” James said. “It’s about strengthening your mind, body, and spirit.”
Yoga has become a favorite part of the week for sixth grader Emma Marsh. “I think it’s a really good way, especially if you’re in sports or weightlifting, to release a lot of tension in your body,” she said. “It’s fun and a good way to make new friends and meet people. It’s just an overall healthy way to release stress and thoughts.”
Emma, who rides horses, says yoga even helps her digestive health and balance. “We stretch every muscle in the body, whether it’s balance or just stretching to your feet,” she said. “It’s very good for hormonal and mental health. I feel a lot better afterward, more patient, and I feel like I do better the next day in school.”
The program has also built a sense of community among students and teachers who practice side-by-side. “You make so many new friends here,” Emma said. “It feels like you have something in common with the teachers because they do it too.”
Thanks to support from the school, which purchased 12 yoga mats and blocks, all students need to bring is themselves and an open mind. As James put it, “It’s a chance for students to learn how to move, breathe, and find calm. These are skills that will serve them long after they leave the mat.”