Cheri Farris, an AmeriCorps member serving Volunteers of America - Western Nebraska, meets monthly with preschool, elementary, middle, and high school students for nutrition education and overall wellness promotion, including age appropriate yoga instruction. Sometimes, there is enough time to do a full yoga class in which the students learn real yoga poses and how to do them properly, including some breathing techniques. The focus is on how to use the activities and breathing techniques in real life, such as taking a few deep breaths before a test or quiz to calm down if feeling sanxious. Other times, the focus is on using children’s yoga exercises as brain breaks in the classroom after nutrition discussion.
The students really enjoy learning yoga and having new and fun experiences. Additionally, research has shown that children who learn yoga in classrooms feel safer and supported in the learning environment, are able to use their imaginations more effectively, calm down with the breathing techniques, and feel the mind-body connection that can ultimately lead to increased learning ability (Bogard, J. 2010). It is well known that physical movement and activity fuels the brain, calms the body, and enables students to learn better. The increased emphasis in yoga practice on the mind – body connection utilizing the breath may increase these benefits when used in the classroom.