Kid Governor Mila O’Brien is committed to her platform Youth Mental Health and raising awareness of the benefits of doodling and yoga.
The third point of Mila’s platform focuses on educating the public on the health benefits that yoga, sensory tools and doodling has on our mental state.
Doodle Competition
- Awareness -Knowing these easy tools can help others, Mila created a doodle competition to encourage other students to embrace their creativity at the same time to raise money to purchase sensory tools for all 5th graders in Enid, OK.
- Doodle Competition– In April 2023, Mila launched her doodle competition. Each week came with two different themes and all submissions included a short answer as to how mental health has affected them and how doodling has helped through their journey.
- Empowering Others – While this competition was only available for students in Enid, OK, Mila wanted to show other students they could easily do the same for their school districts and fundraise for sensory tools or other items. Mila wanted to give the power back to the students and show them they could make a difference in their communities.
OKKG and Yoga
Mila started practicing in Yoga during the 2020 pandemic as a way to reduce her anxiety and give her an outlet.
She has participated in Free Yoga in the Park events in the Myriad Gardens in Oklahoma City to spread the word on free yoga classes everyone can participate in.
Through her personal experience and conversations with yoga instructors, Mila learned that yoga can benefit everyone.
Some of the most common benefits yoga can have:
- Improve attention and focus
- Help memory
- Boost academic performance
- Alleviate stress and anxiety
- Promote mindfulness
- Enhance well-being
- etc.
Through her term, Mila has also participated and filmed a 20 minute yoga video with an instructor in her own community of Enid, OK by the name of Kristina Roberts-Wahl. The purpose of filming the video was to give everyone a free resource they can have right in the comfort of their own homes or even schools.
Kristina Roberts-Wahl was awakened by the transformational power of yoga when she stepped into her role as studio owner and instructor in October of 2018 when she opened Rosebuds Aerial Yoga Studio and Store in Enid, Oklahoma. This journey led her down a path of self healing and self awareness. The studio and store offers space and resources for personal growth, health and well-being. Kristina seeks to understand and help others through the practice of mindful movement. Pranayama, Yoga & Meditation. She has certifications that range from 200hr Radiant Warrior Yoga, AeroZen FLY Aerial Yoga, AromaYoga, Trauma Informed Yoga & Prenatal Yoga. Kristina is also an AIR Master Trainer. She hosts and leads teacher trainings in Aerial Yoga & Aerial Fitness formats. Kristina desires to create a community of self empowerment and believes that yoga provides the tools necessary for a more balanced, healthy lifestyle.
You can watch a recording of the program below, on YouTube. It is appropriate for students (and adults!) of all ages.