Scituate High School students know William McNeil as a devoted and hard-working history teacher. However, his passions outside of school may help him focus and teach to the best of his ability.
McNeil was introduced to the world of yoga in college when he took a course at UMass Amherst. He exercises daily but wasn’t a certified yoga instructor until the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. He instructs a class once a week during the school year and two to three times a week in the summer at Emerald Yoga in Pembroke.
Taking only a few minutes out of one’s day to meditate will help one maintain a “zen” attitude. According to McNeil, “What most people don’t understand is you don’t need to do an hour of physical postures. You can do breath work or meditate for five minutes.” Noting that one can practice yoga easily and effortlessly, McNeil added, “You can do it in your car, you can do it sitting down, you can do it while you’re walking. It’s more of a mindset than a physical practice.”
McNeil explained there were noticeable changes in his everyday mindset after he started practicing yoga. He mentioned how yoga helps make him more relaxed: “It helps you understand yourself more so then you can understand how to interact with people better.”
Some people view yoga as just for flexible people with lots of mobility. However, McNeil wants everyone to know that yoga is accessible and there are many different forms of yoga; some practices focus on breathwork, some focus on deepening postures, and some offer a more rigorous, intense cardio workout.
McNeil found stress management so vital that he started a De-Stress Club: Students can come to his room on Wednesdays after school and Fridays during WINN block to let off steam and maybe try a posture or two.