From Medals to Mindfulness: Advancing Yoga in Gelephu Mindfulness City
Gelephu Middle Secondary School is integrating yoga, mindfulness, creativity, and community engagement into education, supporting Bhutan's holistic learning goals under the Bhutan Baccalaureate and Gelephu Mindfulness City vision.
The growing emphasis on holistic education under Bhutan's national education vision, the visionary aspirations of Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), and the Bhutan Baccalaureate (BB) Framework has opened transformative pathways for reimagining schooling beyond academic achievement.
Grounded in the principles of tha dam-tsig ley gjudrey and Gross National Happiness (GNH), these frameworks collectively envision education as a means of cultivating critical thinkers, mindful citizens, and compassionate human beings who are intellectually capable, emotionally balanced, culturally grounded, and globally competent.
Within this evolving educational landscape, Gelephu Middle Secondary School (GMSS) has emerged as a pioneering institution, demonstrating how schools can translate national visions into lived educational experiences by elevating yoga from a physical activity to a meaningful aesthetic domain that nurtures mindfulness, emotional well-being, creativity, and community engagement.
A key driving force behind this initiative is Ms. Sarita Maya Mongar, a distinguished educator and five-time international yoga medallist who represented Bhutan on the Asian stage in 2025. Her achievements have not only brought national pride but have also inspired a culture of wellness and mindfulness within the school and the wider community.
Yoga as an Aesthetic Domain in Education
Yoga has been institutionalised as one of the aesthetic domains at Gelephu Middle Secondary School under the Bhutan Baccalaureate framework. Weekly sessions conducted every Wednesday provide students with opportunities to develop physical fitness, flexibility, concentration, emotional regulation, and self-awareness.
Rather than focusing solely on physical postures, the programme integrates breathing techniques, relaxation practices, and guided mindfulness exercises. This reflects a broader understanding of education that values emotional and mental well-being alongside academic achievement.
Extending Mindfulness Beyond School to Losel Gyatsho Academy
The impact of the programme has extended beyond Gelephu Middle Secondary School through sustained advocacy and capacity-building efforts, particularly at Losel Gyatsho Academy in Gelephu.
Yoga demonstrations, awareness sessions, and collaborative practices have been conducted in real school settings, giving both teachers and students direct experience of mindfulness-based learning in action. These engagements have helped educators and school leaders better understand how simple but consistent practices such as yoga and breathing exercises can be integrated into everyday teaching to support students' focus, emotional balance, and overall well-being.
The initiative has also encouraged meaningful reflection on school culture and student support systems. This collaboration highlights an important reality: holistic education cannot remain confined within individual schools. It becomes truly effective when institutions work together, share practices, and take collective responsibility for nurturing the well-being and growth of learners.
Building Community Wellness Through International Day of Yoga
The contribution of yoga to community wellness became particularly visible through the celebration of the International Day of Yoga in 2025 and 2026.
Organised in close collaboration with the Gelephu Mindfulness City Authority, the Consulate General of India in Phuentsholing, the Bhutan India Friendship Association, and other stakeholders, the events brought together students, teachers, parents, civil servants, and community members.
More than ceremonial observances, these celebrations transformed yoga into a platform for cultural exchange, international friendship, and public health promotion. The partnership also highlighted the enduring educational and cultural ties between Bhutan and India, demonstrating how shared traditions can contribute meaningfully to contemporary well-being and community cohesion.
Promoting Healthy Lifestyles Through Winter Yoga Sessions
The school's commitment to wellness extended beyond the academic calendar. During the winter break in December 2025, special yoga sessions were organised to encourage students to maintain healthy routines and positive habits during the vacation period.
While many educational programmes pause during holidays, these sessions recognised that emotional and physical well-being require continuous nurturing. Students benefited from structured opportunities to remain active, manage stress, and engage in meaningful self-care practices, reinforcing the importance of wellness beyond the classroom environment.
Cultivating Self-Awareness and Resilience Among Emerging Leaders
PELSUP Cohort I
Another notable milestone was the yoga session conducted for the first cohort of the PELSUP programme (Guardians of Prosperity) in November 2025.
The session introduced participants to mindfulness practices that support leadership development, emotional intelligence, self-discipline, and resilience. The integration of yoga within a leadership-oriented programme underscores its relevance beyond health and fitness.
Effective leadership requires clarity of thought, emotional balance, and reflective practice, qualities that mindfulness actively cultivates. The positive response from participants demonstrated yoga's potential as a complementary tool for personal and professional growth.
Fostering Creativity Through Yoga-Themed Art Activities
The school's commitment to integrating yoga with creativity is further reflected in the coordination of yoga-themed art activities.
Students were encouraged to express concepts such as mindfulness, balance, wellness, and harmony through various artistic mediums. This interdisciplinary approach aligns strongly with the philosophy of the Bhutan Baccalaureate, which promotes the development of learners across multiple domains.
Through art, students explored yoga not merely as a physical discipline but also as a source of inspiration for creative expression, critical thinking, and personal reflection.
Supporting the Vision of Gelephu Mindfulness City
The success of these initiatives demonstrates that yoga can serve as a transformative educational tool when implemented purposefully. As Gelephu Mindfulness City advances its vision of becoming a global hub for mindfulness and sustainable development, schools and communities have a unique responsibility to cultivate the human capacities necessary for such a future.
The experience of Gelephu Middle Secondary School illustrates how educational institutions can contribute meaningfully to this vision by fostering mindfulness, well-being, creativity, and resilience among young people.
Note:
Tha dam-tsig ley gjudrey: The sublime trust and bond to Tsa-Wa-Sum (the King, the Country, and the People).
