Russell Simmons Wants To Bring Yoga, Meditation To Chicago Schools

Hip-Hop Mogul Aims To Bring Meditation To Chicago Schools

Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons had a surprising message for Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel during his Thursday appearance on HuffPost Live.

Simmons, who said he has already worked to implement yoga and meditation in schools through his work with the David Lynch Foundation, said his next target is Chicago, where some students encounter violence on a regular basis. In the 2011-2012 school year, the most recent year data is available, 24 Chicago public school students were fatally shot and 319 other students were wounded in gunfire.

"We're going to get meditation in those schools where violence exists," Simmons told HuffPost Live. "Rahm Emanuel, wherever you are, I'm coming for you and you're going to put meditation in schools in Chicago."

Simmons, who released a book titled Success Through Stillness: Meditation Made Simple this week, went on to say other schools that have instituted "quiet time" breaks have noticed positive results.

Implementing yoga in some schools has not come without controversy. While some parents have complained that yoga classes taking place in public schools are "inherently and pervasively religious" and violate the principle of the separation of church and state, a judge ruled last year that a California public school district could offer the classes.

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