Quieter lessons

“Not so long ago few school teachers knew about children’s Yoga. These days stretching yourself at school is becoming hugely popular as pupils and staff across the country discover the wide-ranging benefits. As well as improving flexibility and helping children to cope better with the stresses of daily life, there is evidence to suggest that practising Yoga can also enhance a child’s performance in class.
YogaBugs is a company that has trained over 1200 teachers in their dynamic Yoga programme. It teaches children traditional Yoga postures, breathing and relaxation techniques through exciting story adventures that capture a child’s imagination. Through government initiatives like the School Sports Partnership, these teachers are now involving around 40,000 children a week in lunchtime and after school Yoga clubs, which aim to improve fitness, flexibility and concentration.
Delivered over a period of six to eight weeks, the programme takes children through a range of activities according to their age. YogaBugs is for children from two and a half up to seven-years-old and Yoga’d Up focuses on eight to twelve-year-olds.
A typical session starts with a warm up, then the teacher will begin to weave an adventure while also concentrating on breathing and relaxation techniques. Children are always positioned as the heroes in each story, which helps to build confidence and raise their self esteem. Yoga’d Up classes focus more on fun, themed class plans that encourage children to work together and use their creativity.
The programme is the brainchild of sisters-in-law Fenella Lindsell and Lara Goodbody ..”

The article, written by Julie Ferry and Michelle Redmond, continues to describe YogaBugs and Yoga’d Up activities and the benefits it can bring both to teachers and young people.