Kevin Polky - The Journey

This week on The Journey, I’m joined by Mary Votava, educator, yoga instructor, and behavior intervention specialist for Rockford Public Schools. Mary shares her journey from teaching English and ESL to her current work supporting students through mindfulness, movement, and social-emotional learning. We talk about how her yoga and breathwork practice has shaped her approach to student interventions and how these methods are being used through programs at Rockford Barbell and local partnerships like Nicholas Conservatory and Anderson Japanese Gardens. Mary also shares her personal love for the outdoors and her goal of hiking to the highest point in every state with her husband, Nick, a practice that reflects her commitment to being present, grounded, and intentional in both life and work. It’s a meaningful conversation about mindfulness, education, and how connection, whether through movement, nature, or community, can create lasting impact.