Yoga: The Calm Amidst the Storm

18 November 2025Raven H, Mackenzie, ‘26

The beginning of school is a transformational period. Every year when students return to Brentwood, they are navigating new classes, new people, and new responsibilities. It is important to find time in all this bustling unfamiliarity to reflect and center oneself, to appreciate the excitement that comes with new things and ground oneself amidst the stress.

Ms Backlund and Ms Jilek have created the perfect space for this: self-centring yoga. Choosing to take advantage of the tail end of summer, many classes ended up outdoors. With soft grass surrounding the yoga mats, birds chirping, and the ocean near enough for the rhythmic sound of waves to douse one in serenity, there’s a lot to be grateful for.

On September 18th, Brentwood’s yoga class had the opportunity to partake in a practice on our Head of School, Mr Garth Chalmers’ beautiful, oceanfront lawn. Combining balancing exercises, deep stretches, and strength training with breathwork, reflection, and thinking habits creates a healing space for students to foster both their physical and mental health.

“My mind was all over the place when I first came to class, now I feel like myself again,” said Jade M, Hope ‘26, after a cold ocean leg plunge earlier in the week. This spontaneous adventure down to the freezing water had the students a tad dubious, but in the end, the jolting North Pacific was exactly what was needed. Amelia S, Mackenzie ‘26, described it as “daunting but rewarding”.

So far, the classes have mainly focused on the yoga styles Yin, Yin Yang, Hatha, Vinyasa, and Restorative. One of the beautiful aspects of yoga is how versatile it can be. One moment you are holding a plank for dear life, and the next you’re relaxing into a soothing child’s pose.

Not only does yoga teach skills on how to live a balanced life, but it is, in itself, a place to practice balance. It’s an opportunity to check in with your body and mind and recognize how much each of them has left to give, how much work you’re able to put into cultivating those parts of yourself at that moment. Yoga is learning how to have continuous conversations with your body and mind.

Ms Jilek also took our class for a paddleboard yoga session, to say goodbye to outdoor classes as autumn finally set in. She says, “We must take advantage of it,” and she delivered.

Raven H, Mackenzie, ‘26

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