Today we’d like to introduce you to Libby Edson.
Hi Libby, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
29 years ago, I stepped on a yoga mat, and it changed the way I saw the world. As a collegiate athlete and an avid lifelong learner, I was fascinated with how a simple daily practice could create such favorable changes mentally, physically, and emotionally. I immediately reflected on how I wished I would have discovered the “power of mental training’” earlier in my life and wondered why this wasn’t being taught in schools.
I immediately started teaching the practices in the schools where my children went to school, volunteering whenever and wherever there was an opportunity.
Fast forward to 2007, when the Dalai Lama was invited to a science conference and people were beginning to study neuroscience and the changes in the brains of people who had a mindfulness/yoga/or other focused attention practice. The data was solid that practices supported favorable brain function and it launched a tsunami of studies that have proven over and over that a little focused attention practice helps the prefrontal cortex, and the practice of loving-kindness and compassion provides great benefit as well.
At the time the studies came out, I had already been teaching in the schools and was also coaching boys’ competitive basketball. Practices would include a 15–20-minute dynamic yoga sequence as a warmup. The changes I saw in these young men on and off the court were incredible. Other people noticed as well, including the high school football coach in our town.
He asked me to come in and teach a few classes for the high school PE classes. What we found was that not only did kids who usually did not dress out for “competitive games” were dressed and very much into yoga, all students were finding some kind of benefit from the class, especially the body scan at the end of class. Students were falling asleep and/or telling me they had never felt that relaxed at school.
We knew we were on to something… and in 2010 YoMIND was born. It is a project that teaches yoga and mindfulness through the lens of neuroscience. We restructured the PE program and created a “LIfetime Fitness and Wellness” option for students. Shortly after, I was teaching 120 kids per class ever Wednesday.
The connection with athletics was a big deal and not only was YoMIND a part of the PE programs, I offered workshops for athletic teams for both the high school and the college teams in our area. Some of the college teams have had historic runs with the program and the Southern Oregon Women’s softball team won the national championship.
The goal of the program has always been to reach as many people as possible… and eventually, have this as a subject in all schools, elementary through college and beyond (including medical schools!).
In addition to personally teaching over 15,000 students, we also did some videos using a mindful hip-hop artist that have reached over 4 million students worldwide.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Things have always seemed to be “right on time” in some ways, as this idea has legs and keeps going. Yet, there have been some frustrations working with school districts. Many do not have the funding /and or the desire to prioritize this kind of learning. As a result, I donated thousands of hours of my time and plenty of money as well to keep the program going. I just believed in it that much. There have been a few others that have understood the value of this learning and have also donated many, many hours to the project. Without the generous support and expertise of filmmaker Natalie Faye, our videos would not have reaches so many people. Without the unwavering support of some of the coaches and teachers, YoMIND would not have had the impact it has.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Hmmmm… interesting question. I guess I am known mostly for my work with YoMIND, for being that person that is kind of OCD about an idea. In other words, I get after it when I know it can assist many. I am committed to right action and will do what is necessary to have an idea come to fruition AND will do anything to lift the spirits and contribute to the healthy development of young people.
I am proud of the fact that despite many people thinking I was a little crazy to spend so much time on something that was not making money, that YoMIND has favorably impacted so many people. I am proud to be a lil crazy….haha
What sets me apart from others is I am always looking to add value, create ease and/or inspire joy anytime I have the opportunity. I am kind and generous out of self-interest… because I truly believe that we can only experience what we can share with others. I love science, people and am fascinated by human interaction.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up I was a little challenged being in a family of six girls. I was an introvert, a deep thinker, and wasn’t particularly social outside of my sports teams. However, I was clever, determined and a hard worker… so I always set goals and met them.
I decided in 5th grade, while riding my bike on campus in Missoula that I would attend the University of Montana. I didn’t know how…yet I figured out how. In 1979, I was awarded one of the first athletic scholarships for women to play volleyball at University of Montana! I think I arrived the second year the program started. That was one of many times I had a goal and did what I needed to do to meet it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.YoMIND.com
- Instagram: @yomindmatters
Image Credits
Natalie Faye
