Each week P.E. teacher Miss Gallagher has been offering Yoga to all pupils, in all year groups.
There has also been great uptake from the staff and even the parents and siblings of our pupils.
Yoga – What is All the Fun About?
Many adults have taken up yoga, but yoga has not gained as the same popularity with children. Child yoga can offer many of the same benefits to kids as it does to adults.
What can yoga offer your child?
A healthier body – Childhood obesity is on the rise and one of the main reasons for it is that kids today do not move enough. Yoga is a powerful technique for children to begin moving their bodies in ways that feel good and help them look good. Even if your child is of normal weight, yoga can help them become stronger, gain endurance and flexibility. If your child is involved in another sport, a regular yoga practice is a great cross training activity and it may help to reduce the risk of injuries.
The ability to control stress – Today's children are under enormous stress. They are often over scheduled, they face tough competition in school, they have to deal with peer pressure, and they are trying to find their way in the world. This combination can cause children to become stressed out. Yoga can help your child learn how to relax. When your child learns how to control their breathing and relax during their practice, they can then apply this to their world when they encounters challenging situations.
Increased self-esteem – Yoga is a non-competitive activity. Yet it does offer your child the ability to master challenging poses (especially as they get older). Your child can feel good about their increasing ability without having to worry about how they compare to everyone else. This experience of success can help your child feel more confident in their ability to be successful in other things too.
Greater concentration – The breathing and inward focus that is a main component of any yoga practice can help your child learn to focus their mind more effectively. A number of studies have shown that many children who practice yoga, especially those with problems such as ADHD, are able to concentrate for longer periods of time.