BY ETHAN STAMPER
FOR THE OBSERVER
OPELIKA —
The Curtis House and The Opelika Library are jointly hosting a book launch and signing event for “Yoga & Me,” a new children’s self-help book by Alabama State Rep. Jeremy Gray, on July 3, 2023, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Opelika Public Library.
“Yoga & Me” offers a kid-friendly look into the world of yoga. It combines personal stories with easy tips, aiming to inspire young readers to engage with yoga. The book also highlights Gray’s successful effort to lift the ban on yoga that was put into place in 1993 in Alabama’s K through 12 public schools.
“I wasn’t looking for a challenge,” Gray said. “I was just looking to be a solution to a problem, but it was a tough challenge because I had to talk to so many people and had to change so many minds.”
In 2021, Gray’s nearly three years of effort finally led to the bill being overturned and yoga being allowed to be practiced in schools again. The original ban was deep-rooted in conservative skepticism of the practice and how it could affect children.
“Yoga is about the union of oneself,” Gray said. “Being centered, knowing yourself, being aware; It embodies the concept of self.”
Gray first found yoga through his background as a multi-sport athlete. He first learned about the physical benefits of yoga, but it wasn’t until much later in his life that he would discover the mental benefits as well.
“Once I became a practitioner, I used to teach yoga at the SportsPlex, that’s how I really got in tune with yoga,” Gray said. “I started understanding the other benefits of it, that it was more than just the physical. Because the most important thing about yoga is breathing, and what this book does is show you the power of breathing.”
“Yoga & Me” aims to allow children to process their emotions in a way that encourages them to think and breathe before reacting to their feelings.
The event at the Opelika Public Library is free and open to the public. It presents a chance for yoga enthusiasts and beginners alike to connect and delve into the practice. The library is located at 1100 Glenn St. in Opelika.
