NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — New York City schools will mandate students be led in two to five minutes of mindful breathing exercises daily next year, Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Education Chancellor David Banks announced on Tuesday — the last day of school.
Ahead of the announcement, teachers led students alongside the mayor in a breathing exercise called “ocean breath” at P.S. 5, a Bed-Stuy school that piloted the program now coming to all public schools across the city.
“Breathing calms your nervous system. It helps to center us and help us regain our sense of balance and focus. It's a valuable, low-cost tool that is proven to improve mental health and wellbeing,” said Adams. “We’re not talking about hours. Two to five minutes is a game changer in your physiology on how to move forward.”
Schools will be required to incorporate mindful breathing into the day, but when and where the program is carried out will be up to faculty.
Chancellor Banks said training is already underway to prepare educators to lead the breathing practices.
“There will be at least one person in each one of the schools and in many cases, there are multiple people in the schools who are actually being trained,” said Banks. “Some schools will do it at advisory periods. Many of them will do it during their physical education classes. Some will do it at their town halls in the morning before the kids go to class.”
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