Yoga
Yoga Workshops
These workshops offer children a chance to experience the delights yoga and relaxation. Classes are designed to stimulate children’s powers of imagination, maintain their natural flexibility and teach them to breathe correctly. Some of the overall benefits to the children are improved concentration levels, better sleep patterns, greater self- esteem and a stronger immune system.
Packages for Foundation and Key stage one
Yoga for this age range is great for creative thinking. The children are led through creative stories and exciting adventures that stimulate their imagination and help to maintain their natural flexibility. Whilst enjoying a variety of safe postures, the children sing songs, play games and work together. Stimulus includes music, songs rhymes, puppets and the childrens natural curiosity and ideas to develop the story.
The stories can also be based around planning and topic themes and involve a wonderful combination of stretches, back arches, twists and balances. These combine to support and strengthen children, not only physically but also mentally by building confidence in themselves and improving their concentration. The children have the opportunity to integrate balance, co-ordination and movement along with scope to develop their powers of imagination and creativity.
Packages for Key Stage 2
In these workshops,the children are introduced to challenging postures through fun class plans that stimulate their imagination and help to maintain their natural flexibility. Whilst enjoying a variety of safe postures, the children learn the importance of looking after their bodies, by working on postures for their necks, backs, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles. They will be introduced to yoga games and partner work which encourage children to work in teams and develop their coordination. Classes bring together a combination of stretches, back arches, twists and balances. These help to support and strengthen children, not only physically but also mentally by building confidence in themselves, improving their concentration and helping them to sleep better.
All sessions include: warm up and breathing exercises, a focused theme, relaxation and visualisation techniques.
Packages for Key stage 3
Yoga for teenagers is similar to the sessions delivered for Key stage 2 however postures can be developed further and the children are made aware of the benefits of poses and how these can be used to help them through difficult or stressful situations.
The format remains the same and sessions include warm up, breathing exercises, themed idea and end with a lovely relaxation!
The advantages with yoga is that it is a totally non competitive activity that is all inclusive.
Workshops
Sessions are 30/60 minutes long, and are taught during the school day, as a workshop or even during PPA time. Classes can also be offered as an After School Club.
Healthy school workshop days can be delivered to classes of children for a whole day or longer as desired.
Workshops can also operate on a half termly basis. Please contact me to discuss classes or make a booking.
Benefits of Yoga for Children
Regular practice of Yoga reaps the following benefits:
- Breathing exercises improve concentration and energy levels.
- Relaxation techniques clear the mind, allowing for better memory retention.
- Postures help recharge a weak immune system and strengthen the core stabilising muscles of the abdomen and back.
- Posture work helps to tone the body and reduce the rising levels of childhood obesity.
- Yoga helps to maintain a child’s natural flexibility, which can begin to shut down from a surprisingly young age, especially once they are drawn more towards television and computer games combined with more time in the class room as opposed to doing physical activity. Few young children walk to school and they generally travel by car or public transport.
- Classes develop creativity and self-expression,
- Yoga improves self-confidence through vocalisation techniques and postures that are designed to release day to day anxieties such as separation issues, bullying, lethargy and negativity.
- Yoga is a complete form of exercise in a safe and non-competitive environment. It is a particularly good way for children to exercise on rainy days and benefits both their mind through focusing on the breathing and visualisation techniques and their bodies through the posture work.
- The practice of yoga improves co-ordination and balance it promotes healthy sleeping patterns and allows children to explore their intuitive nature and spirituality.
- Yoga classes can help to calm symptoms of anxiety and nervousness prior to school tests or school performances.
BLP and Yoga
Building learning power is the philosophy behind Guy Claxton. It focuses on helping teachers to find ways and processes of how children learn best. Guy Claxton talks about four key learning dispositions- Resilience, reciprocity, reflectiveness and resourcefulness. These are all core aspects of yoga teaching and can be implemented through the workshops.
(Reference Building 101 Ways to Learning Power Guy Claxton)
Sports Partnership Funding
Funds are available via 'Schools Sports Partnerships' so you may qualify for this! This is a government supported grant which was set up to encourage children to spend a minimum of two hours per week in sporting activities. It could be a great start and a way to introduce children to the benefits of yoga.
Please take a look at our workshops and if you have any further questions then please contact us by phone, message or email.
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