The Yin and Yang of a Child’s Life

Smiling Girl

“If every eight year old is taught meditation, we will eliminate violence from the world within one generation.”

–Dalai Lama

Just think about that for a moment. My first yoga teacher training was for children. It was an extensive year-long program with almost three hundred hours in credit. Time invested in our youth is something worth giving. Yoga provides an outlet for children to practice mindfulness, peace education and look deeper within ones’ self.

Mindfulness practices allow the child to be alert and aware. Benefits of mindfulness include decreased depression and anxiety and increased happiness. Peace education helps the child become an advocate in an environment where there is also hate and misunderstanding. And as a stronger, confident individual at a young age, this develops with maturity and redefines the future. Being thoughtful and mindful of ones’ self and others brings well-being and worldly acceptance into the picture.

Being able to share all of this with children through yoga is such a blessing. In my yoga classes for children, I incorporate these topics in a variety of ways. We touch on the basics of anatomy and meditation. Meditation permits the child to calm their mind and body. It helps them to be okay with turning inward to discover their own answers and acceptance. Yoga coming alive through reading allows the body to move to interpret stories being read aloud. Visual vignettes help children feel the rhythm and flow of music and use different parts of their bodies to create art. Active yoga-inspired games let the children forget who is watching and just be themselves.

There is something to be said of the yin and yang of life in general. I truly believe that yoga and the skills it provides can be the yin to the yang of children’s lifestyles. So many children are overly stimulated with not only all sorts of electronics but so many extracurricular activities including an assortment of different sports as well. Yoga helps children listen with a caring heart. As a lifelong learner, I enjoy sharing my passion of yoga with others because it can bring smiles and a new sense of consciousness to ones’ life. With yoga, children can stretch, relax and breathe in a way they’re not normally accustomed. Yoga is such a great compliment to everyday life.

Reaching Teens with Written Words

Group of Teens

Ever since I can remember, my “down” time has been spent reading. Nothing beats curling up in a warm, comfy chair with a great book. And secretly, yes, I did enjoy the summer reading assignments for school! It is no wonder why Reading Comes Alive With Yoga (RCAWY) is the Element that ultimately encouraged me to learn the YogaKids way.

One of my favorite places to go is the local library. I hunt through the children’s section in search of colorful picture books where the artwork can really inspire great visuals for younger readers. But while I find reading material quite readily for the 10 and under crowd, I have to get a little creative for my older students. I can’t read a lengthly novel to them and they’re not so interested in picture books anymore! Fortunately, the value of the written word comes in many forms…

In my Teens classes, I use poetry to encourage introspection — an activity that teens really gravitate toward. The poem “Breath” by Thich Nhat Hanh connects meaning to the breath. I read each line with a pause afterwards so that we can take several quiet breaths together. This is a great way to both bring attention to the breath and begin a class with quiet mindfulness.

Song lyrics are a perfect way to connect with teens. “Clocks” by Coldplay focuses on how time keeps slipping away and how we feel about our choices in life. Chris Martin’s lament about “missed opportunities” is a perfect kind of teen-friendly melancholy. Playing “Clocks” during Sun Salutations, we do a number of rounds while the urgent beat keeping us moving forward. We end in Child’s Pose for the final chorus of “Home, home where I wanted to go, home.” On our mats we find our home, our quiet center.

Parables and short stories about philosophy are a great tool as well. In my class, we’ve read, Life is Like a Cup of Coffee — a parable about living a fully engaged, caring and happy life. The theme gets reenforced with an art project — as my students create pictures illustrating the good in their cups (lives).

I love teaching teens  — and I love sharing what I know about teaching teens. Join me in the YogaKids We All Win online course as we talk about this topic– and so much more!

 

 

 

Teen Yogis Become Team Leaders

Children in Roller Coaster Pose

Encouraging teens to “teach” your class can be a lot of fun! Handing over portions of the class to these willing yogis can build confidence and expand their knowledge of a yoga practice. Permitting greater control to these older students creates more give and take in the learning process. And selectively portioning out lesson segments allows you to manage the process without losing focus and direction. Engaging teens in this way can lead to some surprising results!

Leading a familiar vinyasa flow (sun salutations) can be a good start. Each teen can have a chance to add a special modification to the series while leading the class (from the teacher’s mat of course!) through the asanas. Or the teens can be challenged to create an original vinyasa flow. This can be a singular, pairing up, or small group activity. Poses can be assigned or chosen and then sequenced by the teens. The result is taught to the rest of the class.

Another activity involves an introduction to the YogaKids Elements for older teens. Use simple words to guide the students as to what the Element is and ideas on how to use it with their pose. Give them time to work on their own. Whenever possible let them collaborate on ideas. For example, have the students create a repeating pattern (Math Medley) using Tree pose by varying their arm and leg positions. Another idea would be to have the teens decide on poses that would be used to tell a story (RCAWY). Have them share a story about a day they walked through snowy woods and what they saw, heard, and felt. Enhance the story by using all of the senses (even the sixth sense)!

Another favorite student-led activity in my classes is Quiet Quests/Savasana. Talking the class through progressive muscle relaxation (tensing and then relaxing areas of the body) allows the teen leader to gain a sense of timing, allowing for these responses without rushing through the sequence. There is also the opportunity to observe tension and relaxation in fellow classmates. And who doesn’t like ringing the chimes to “awaken” everyone at the end?

Another component of final relaxation can be a guided visualization. A teen leader tells a story during the silent reflective time. This is great practice using a voice that helps the listeners “paint a picture” in their minds. At closing circle, ask your group what music they would like to hear next time they meet. Write down the requests that would be acceptable for your lesson. When meeting again, ask the teens to determine where and how the music would be incorporated into the lesson plan.

These suggestions can help yoga to resonate with your teens. Allowing them ownership in the process can be very empowering!

Teaching Techniques: A Safe Haven

Puppy

A new addition has arrived in our family. He is a bundle of nervous energy, in search of acceptance, stability, and routine. We are his temporary family, helping to prepare him for a new start in life, which happens to also coincide with the beginning of the New Year. We are fostering a 10-year-old rescue dog named Chicory.

We have provided Chicory with a place of warmth and coziness with his own bed and blankets in a sunny room. He is learning that this is his space, his safe haven. Security and comfort can be found here. He is settling in, making our house his home. His sense of self is emerging with his growing calmness and acceptance of our family and surroundings. In much the same way, yoga can create this safe space in our lives. And it can begin with a simple yoga mat.

I have accumulated many yoga mats over the years. Mats can come in various colors, shapes, and sizes. They are fun for kids and with a little imagination can encourage creativity. One of my favorite mats was a gift. Two very dedicated and enthusiastic 6-year-old yogis presented it to me. This was not just an ordinary mat. It was bright green with a beautiful rainbow and flowers painted across the length of it!

Savasana can be individualized on each mat. Spreading out the mats in the room allows for fewer distractions by fellow students. Props such as bolsters and pillows can be used in this defined space, facilitating greater relaxation. Knowing we “stay on our mats” encourages the opportunity to “let go”, sinking into calmness with security.

Mats can be a safe-zone. Kids can be in their own space, a place of solitude and contemplation, even in a class of thirty students! Initially students associate finding their “happy place” on the mat. Their body, mind and spirit feel the quietness and peacefulness. Eventually being grounded and calm accompanies them once they step off the mat. These feelings are carried within.

And Chicory? He has become more accustomed to the rhythm of life here with us. And our house has become his home.

The Magic of Guided Visualizations

Feet in Field

Guided visualizations or guided imagery is a highly effective technique taught in the YogaKids program to help students achieve a relaxed state. Typically at the end of a yoga class, the teacher guides students on a journey, letting them travel to far off lands, or stay very close to home; to experience joy, serenity, and peace without ever leaving their yoga mat.

A simple recipe for peace

I recently attended YogaKids Transformations training, the culmination of a 95-hour training. After a year of study, this group is comprised of extremely qualified children’s yoga teachers. One of the attendees, Mary, shared a guided visualization in which we were allowed to travel to anywhere we wanted to go. Since I was 1000 miles from home at the time, I chose to travel to my son’s room at bedtime. The way in which Mary set up the exercise made it extremely real for me; the words she chose and the perfectly timed pauses led me to an experience that seemed very real. At the end of the relaxation, I felt peaceful, relaxed, and — honestly — just happy! This is the desired effect for our students as well.

The brain lights up the same nerve bundles for events real or imagined…

Guided imagery is based on the concept that the body and mind are connected. The brain lights up the same nerve bundles for events that we actually experience and events we just imagine experiencing. As far as the brain is concerned, thinking about walking on a sunny beach during a cold Chicago winter is just as good as actually doing it. Helping young students reach a relaxed state may aid healing, learning, creativity, and performance. It may also help students feel more in control of their emotions and thought processes, which may improve attitude, health, and sense of well-being.

Why traditional Savasana is challenging for kids

Most traditional yoga classes end with Savasana, or relaxation. Students are asked to lie down and simply enjoy the experience of their own breath. Savasana leads us away from the never-ending parade of thoughts. Our younger students will find this experience to be exceedingly difficult. When young children are asked to lie quietly, often they will fidget, misbehave, open their eyes and look around. Some might even simply refuse to lie down. Children, from toddlers to tween, will do much better given something to “do”. A well written and taught guided visualization will help young students transport themselves to a playground, their own backyard, or even Disney World.

A Magic Capet Ride

The YogaKids program is extremely creative, fun and engaging. Usually after 50 minutes of movement, games, laughing, barking and meowing, most kids are ready to lie down and relax a bit. We instruct students to imagine their yoga mat is a Magic Carpet, and it will transport them to anywhere they want to go. Once they’re given a brief instruction, kids are able to chill, and experience the creativity of their own imagination long enough to benefit on a cellular level.

Combat Stress and Anxiety

There are a growing number of guided imagery resources (refer to our resource below) to assist the teacher with an effective setup and script. You can also learn how to best come out of a guided visualization. Today’s kids are overstimulated and overscheduled; the use of guided visualizations can help your kids experience a much needed break.

Suggested resources:

Imaginations: Fun Relaxation Stories and Meditations for Kids

Yoga in the Classroom: Simple Tips for Integration

Children in Classroom with Teacher at Board

Today’s children are more anxious and stressed at school than ever before due to more rigid testing requirements and higher academic and social expectations. The prevalence of behavior and emotional disorders is on the rise in elementary aged children. As a third grade teacher, I’ve witnessed the changes just in the last ten years. There are more children in my classroom each year that respond to my beginning-of-the-year survey stating that they think bad thoughts about themselves, they worry about making friends, and they already think that they are “bad” at reading or math.

Three years ago I tried to figure out a way to help these children by giving them the tools to calm themselves during anxious moments, quiet their little minds of the negative thinking, and feel good about themselves in general. I had recently become certified in teaching adult yoga and knew the benefits for adults. So I began introducing some breathing techniques, guided visualizations, and a few postures a few minutes each day. That year, many of my students began to ask for “yoga breaks” and, when interviewed at the end of the year, they said that they use yoga techniques to calm themselves down during anxious moments, as well as to help them go to sleep. That information was all that I needed to dig deeper into the research to find more information about incorporating yoga into my classroom. That’s when I discovered YogaKids International, and more specifically the “Tools for Schools” program.

As teachers, we all face the dilemma of not having enough time to teach with depth and it seems like we are always just scratching the surface. We are bombarded by paperwork, testing requirements, classroom management issues, and now core curriculum expectations. Most teachers would say, “How do you expect me to fit yoga into my already jam-packed schedule?” My answer, as a teacher who feels exactly the same way, is to simply make the time to do it. Incorporating yoga can be as simple as 10 minutes a day. Some examples are:

  • Yoga Breaks: Have students take a 5-10 minute yoga break during a transition time such as after lunch, before a test, or first thing in the morning. The yoga break could consist of a breathing exercise to calm, energize, or ignite both sides of the brain. The kids think it’s fun and, even though there will be some silliness at first, they will eventually participate fully without the giggles and funny gestures.
  • Use yoga lessons as part of your curriculum. Incorporate a story during reading, writing or science time and include some yoga poses or breathing techniques. A great story that I use early in the year is Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes.
  • Guided Visualization works wonderfully before creative writing time. There are several scripted books available online and through YogaKids, so all you have to do is read as the students have their heads on their desk and eyes closed. All they have to do is listen. his practice will help calm anxious students and get their creative juices flowing.

My personal journey with teaching yoga in the classroom began with these simple and easily integrated techniques. Most of the children love it and will even begin to expect it on a daily basis. The benefits for the children are decreased stress, more creativity, better behavior, and higher academic achievement. The benefits for the teacher are the same. If our students are receiving these benefits then it makes everything from classroom management, achievement, participation, and overall well-being for teachers better too.

How to Be the Ultimate YogaKids Teacher

Trainees Strike a Pose

Teaching children is extremely rewarding — as is teaching yoga. Combine the two and the rewards overflow. Children have a natural curiosity about life and movement and are not afraid to express joy. I taught adults yoga for over ten years before teaching kids; I soon realized that the skills I needed to teach adults left me lacking when in front of kids. If you are considering a rewarding career teaching yoga to children, YogaKids can help you to be more…

1. Present: The connections made between teacher and student in a YogaKids class are so special; you want to be present to enjoy them. If you check out and get lost in your own thoughts, you will miss so much. To see the excitement in a child’s face when they experience the creativity and fun in the YogaKids program is truly joyful. When kids realize they actually get to bark in Down Dog, or move from one mat (lilly pad) to the next in frog pose, the joy in the room can almost be touched. We direct our teachers to arrive to class at least 15 minutes early to set up, and also to take a moment to sit quietly and breathe. This will allow for a clear and calm mind, open to experience what is to come.

2. Joyful: The YogaKids program is based on fun. We bring fun to yoga or yoga to fun — I am not sure which came first. We make learning fun which is why our kids ask to come back again and again. or instance, take core work… nothing fun about core work, right? In a YogaKids class, our planks are actually lizards. So while we get a flat belly, we also get to recite rhymes like “Laura Lizard Loves Licorice!” Ir we get to stick our tongues out and imagine what color combinations our skin might be….how about pink with purple dots? If you do nothing else, make it fun!

3. Authentic: Kids know if you are faking it; they have a 6th sense. I came in to teach a class one day after a stressful day and I was clearly distracted. I noticed a lot of strange looks around my circle, and finally one student said, “Miss Julie, is yoga making you sad today?” This sweet question immediately made me realize that I was sad, and it was yoga that could help me feel better. Be truthful, authentic and kind, and your students will thrive.

4. Organized: When teaching kids, a detailed class plan is always wise. It is important to be flexible as I will talk about next, but a good organized plan is important to allow you to enjoy the class instead of being distracted with details during the class. Our program teaches you how to put together a class that energizes and calms, educates and entertains, all in a format that flows naturally.

5. Flexible: Yoga teachers need to be flexible, right? In body and in spirit! As mentioned above, having an organized class plan is essential to success. But you also must be open to making changes — even last minute ones if it serves the group. If you have planned to start your class with a story and your students come in extremely energized, it’s best to get them moving and work off some of that energy. Once the kids are tired, sitting down and listening to a story will be a welcome treat. If you have a group of toddlers close to nap time, keep things moving quickly from one activity to the next to hold their attention. If you have a group of teens at finals time, be prepared that they might need more than 5 minutes of relaxation at the end of class. It is important to ascertain what you students need in the moment — and to have the tools in your tool box to be able to shift gears quickly.

6. Grounded  In an adult class, if you decide to teach a challenging pose, most adults won’t argue with you. “No I don’t like that pose!” They might think that, but they will try the pose and usually be glad they did. Kids will tell you exactly what they think of each book, game, activity, and pose — and try to persuade you to switch directions on a whim. It is very important not to get caught up in each child’s current desires and stick to a plan. You will find, as with adults, kids’ hesitations about a pose or an activity usually melt once they try it.

7. Receptive: “While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.” This quote by Angela Schwindt really describes one of the biggest benefits of teaching kids: learning how to have fun, how to lose your inhibitions, and how to foster a sense of awe in even simple things. As a YogaKids teacher, you must be receptive to the little teachers before you, and remain receptive to the possibility that you might just get much more than you give from your students.

8. Allowing: A Chinese proverb says, “Teachers open the door, but the student must enter by himself.” Some kids will come to your class and not participate much at first. They might observe a lot and might not seem all that interested. Before you offer to refund the parent, be patient. Many children are slow to participate. I had one student who sat on her mat and wouldn’t participate or even look at me for 3 or 4 classes. During the 5th class, she started to come out of her shell — and now, a year later, she is one of my most engaged and outgoing students. Be patient and allow your students to progress at their own pace.

9. Positive: Yoga teacher Gabriel Halpern once said, “The law of Attraction says that what you give out through action, thought, speech and intention is what you get back.” As I said earlier, kids pick up on your energy. If you are stale and flat, the energy of your class will be too. Let your own light shine, and the kids will connect with that. The creativity of the YogaKids program really allows our teachers to open a jar of happiness in each class. We had a Foundations attendee from India join us recently. This student was introduced to yoga as a child and had a regular practice her entire life. “Yoga was forced upon me by my parents when I was a young girl. I would tell my mom, ‘it is so boring.’ The YogaKids program is so wonderful; I thought I was dreaming when I learned all the fun and exciting ways to teach children during my Foundations training. I am so grateful for this program; I wish I had been introduced to it in my own childhood.” Teach from the joy within your own heart and your rewards will be abundant.

10. Grateful: To be able to tap into a child’s joy is wondrous. When you are a part of that joy, it is beyond description. Meet each class, each pose, each child with gratitude and your life will be truly blessed.

Our Family Mantra

As a yoga instructor, I have taken the lessons I have learned on the mat and tried to apply these lessons to my life.  Yoga to me is more than a practice, it is a lifestyle. When you begin to embrace a healthy lifestyle, you start to discover that simple choices can lead to positive lifestyle changes that have a big impact on how you live your life.  

I have tried to pass on the lessons I have learned to those that attend my classes as well as friends and family. In today’s fast-paced, media-rich world, there are plenty of resources and information, but sometimes it can be difficult to boil everything  down to a personal philosophy and a set of choices that can be applied to your daily life,

For example, when our children were in elementary school, my husband and I started using a very basic, succinct phrase in our house to express the way we wanted our children to think of themselves and the choices they make related to food, exercise, study and play. That phrase is simply, “Healthy & Strong.”

We chose these two words very carefully and made a concerted effort to weave them into our daily conversations with both our son and daughter. As their parents, we wanted to give our children a cornerstone concept they could use to quickly measure feedback they received from their peers and the media as well as a short-cut to assessing personal behavior and daily choices.

By the time our daughter was in 5th grade, she was already having to confront words and concepts like, “skinny” and “fat” and “diet” and “calories” and “carbs.” It was all very confusing to her. While at the same time, our son was having his value judged, sometimes by adults, based on how he performed on an athletic field.

As young parents, we had many discussions about how we wanted to handle the endless scenarios life would present our children. And for us, it always made sense to take a consistent and persistent approach to love and support, education and advocacy, but to handle lifestyle choices with a lighter touch that was easy to understand and simple to put into play.. We hoped this approach would lead to our children developing a skill for decision making that could carry them forward in their lives while allowing their personal likes and dislikes to shine through.

So, for issues related to both their physical and mental health, we wanted to cut through all of the complicated and complex feedback they were getting in their daily lives and give them a very simple concept to focus on as they thought about their body image and their self-worth.

Healthy & Strong became our mantra…and it worked!

The kids got it. We framed our discussions about food and exercise and self-esteem with the simple concept of trying to become healthy and strong each and every day.

We consistently told them that we weren’t  exercising so we could get “skinny,” we were exercising because it was fun and because we wanted to be, “STRONG.” And eating food and ingesting calories and carbs was not a bad thing, it was necessary to sustain life! I remember telling my daughter one evening that a calorie was nothing more than a unit of measure for the amount of energy it took to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius. And that carbs and fat were both essential forms of fuel that we need to be, “HEALTHY.” The look on her face was priceless and it was evident she was liberated from the confusing chatter she was hearing daily at her school lunch table.

Over the years our entire family has shaped our choices around the notion that our work and our play as well as our diet and our exercise should help us maintain a healthy and strong mind, body and soul.

I think the most rewarding thing about this approach has been that I now hear my children using the phrase, “healthy and strong” with their friends. And we have had other parents approach us and tell us they had heard it from their child and have now adopted the same approach in their household.

Words have meaning, They shape the way young people think. Be healthy, Be strong. It’s that simple.

Sara is the founder of Salveo Yoga and is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) in Ashtanga and Vinyasa yoga through Yoga Alliance. She encourages children of all ages and with a variety of interests to include yoga into their daily life in order to develop mindfulness for cognitive challenges and to promote strength and healing in their physical endeavors. Sara’s classes nourish the body and the mind. Her laid-back teaching style reflects her belief that improving one’s health should be fun, energizing and challenging.

Learn more about the YogaKids program here.

My Time with Teens

Teens Sitting Together

Teen YogaKids classes are not high on my experience list. Most often I teach a younger (11 and under) crowd. My recent groups this time would be 12 through 15 years old, one all boys and one all girls. This would be a one-time session for each, offered during a weeklong camp. I was excited to explore yoga with them on a different level than what I enjoy with my preschool and elementary aged kids. I’d like to share with you some observations and highlights from my teen classes!

First of all — they love to talk! We opened the class by having each student say their name and something about themselves that they’d want others to know. This helped me gear the class towards their likes and interests. A few of the students were into martial arts, some soccer; a few had more musical interests (piano, guitar). I found that teaching them to count to 10 in Korean while holding poses gave recognition to my karate kids. Practicing various types of warrior poses for leg strength supported my soccer players. Playing music by Derek Trucks (Sahib Teri Bandi/Maki Mandi) during numerous sun salutations with variations testing balancing skills wowed my guitarists!

They enjoy challenges! They liked holding poses for a longer time and trying more advanced poses. We held various plank poses with attention to breathing through an agreed upon time period, either a count or a short song. We explored more advanced poses by going through a beginner, intermediate and advanced form of the asana. Each student was encouraged to stay at the level most comfortable and doable for him/her. Helping a student find which form best suited their ability was empowering. Their success was determined by discovering the pose that worked the best for them and not necessarily by what everyone else was doing.

They like to learn about yogic philosophy! We took a moment to breathe and acknowledge how finding our “edges” in the poses (how far to go or not go) was another way to learn about ourselves. The practice of satya (truth) focuses on choosing our words to do no harm. Choosing how deeply to experience a pose works much the same way. They began to build awareness how this choice can affect their bodies in a positive, non-hurtful way.

They love to relax with restorative yoga! Bolsters and pillows were used to enhance Savasana. These props are often used in adult practice. They liked how it added another dimension to creating an individualized restful state. And it was definitely a transferable activity to their home environment! Just gathering up some pillows and blankets at home to get comfortable and listening to their own mellow music would be a great de-stressor for the coming school year.

And lastly — just like my little students — they love to play! After many planks and dolphins, we tested our arms by having a tug of war. It was a great way to finish a class with lots of noise and teamwork!

Tips for Bringing Yoga into PE Programs

Gymnasium

As YogaKids teachers, we are always looking for ways to expand our reach and spread the word about the benefits of yoga for kids. One great way to do that is to offer to teach a class for a local Physical Education teacher. They are often looking for new programs to introduce to their students, and many are aware of yoga, but may not feel confident teaching it themselves. A good time to volunteer is during the Great American Teach In, which is usually the Thursday before Thanksgiving. Schools will be looking for volunteers to share their talents with their students.

There are some key differences to be aware of when teaching yoga in a PE class. First, the physical space may be different than what we are used to. Gyms are large, bright and noisy. Some elementary schools in the south don’t even have gyms, and classes meet outside under a pavilion. You will probably have to use a bigger voice than in a studio! At some schools, it may be possible to use a stage, music room, or library for a more intimate space, but often this is not available.

Physical Education classes are often times much larger, as they may have several classrooms combined. They will probably not have yoga mats, but may have gymnastics or wrestling mats. In elementary schools, carpet squares are usually available and work well. As a last resort, you can ask the PE teacher for “polyspots” to help students maintain their space away from others. Music is always good to use, upbeat as well as relaxing. Most gyms have good sound systems, but check before so you know what you are dealing with.

Since it is a physical education class, it is a good idea to focus on poses and activities that emphasize the physical aspects of yoga: flexibility, strength, balance, and coordination. In the past, there has been some controversy about yoga in schools, so I personally avoid using Sanskrit names, chanting, and using “OM.” Sun Salutations, Warrior Series, seated poses, balance poses, relaxation, and guided visualizations could all be included. Simple partner poses, such as back to back Warriors and Triangles would be fun, or partner Tree Pose. Keep in mind that you will have a wide variety of fitness levels and abilities, and it is always best to keep it simple.

In elementary schools, classes are coeducational. Some middle and high schools separate boys and girls during PE classes, and for yoga, I think this would be preferable. Students this age may have body image issues, and may not feel comfortable participating in a mixed classes. In addition, it might be preferable in the middle and high schools to make the class voluntary, so no one feels required to participate.

Teaching yoga in a physical education setting can be challenging, and rewarding. The benefits for the students are many. Working with the PE teachers can open the doors to other opportunities at the school, or throughout the district. Be sure to invite them to attend your next YogaKids Workshop!