Why Should We Share Yoga In Primary Schools?
This week I sat down with a newly qualified GP and he asked me why? What’s the rational for trying to get yoga into schools - or getting children to practise yoga at all for that matter? It’s a question I’m asked fairly often - although perhaps not as often as I should be.
When we think back to our school days and the P.E classes we received many of us don’t remember then fondly. Of those who did love PE, very few continue with the sports they practiced and competed in as adults - when was the last time you played hockey, basketball or did some gymnastics? I am all for sports and invasion games being taught in schools (did you know I’m an FA qualified school football coach?) but there is a huge opportunity to also share lifelong exercise in schools, and even more so one with a large emphasis on mental health.
Yoga is a truly lifelong fitness - if you breathe, you can practice yoga. It doesn’t matter how mobile you are, what you look like and you cant get a grade in it. Yogic skill isn’t measured by how many poses you can get into or how long you can balance. You only compare against yourself, and even then, we try not too! It’s about how you feel in the moment, how the body feels and responds, and what feels good to you in that moment. Furthermore, yoga can be done alone or in a group and requires minimal equipment making it a brilliant form of exercise for children to access.
In a world which is evermore busy and we are more accessible (via social media and technology) than ever before, the ability to create a calm and quiet pace for yourself is vital. Learning to regulate your mood and emotions and make time and space for yourself is so important. These skills are also lifelong, children can draw upon what they learn in yoga to help guide them throughout their lives - you just don’t unlearn these things!
Yoga helps schools meet a number of National Curriculum targets here in the U.K. The P.E curriculum required children aged five to seven are required to "develop balance, agility and coordination, and begin to apply these to a range of activities". Yoga undeniably involves all of these skills. Yoga poses and flows help children explore the capabilities of their bodies and help them build their strength, balance, coordination, flexibility and confidence. Whilst many sports also help children reach these criteria, schools are expected to offer a broad range of physical education and including yoga is a super way to attract those children who do not enjoy competitive sports or prefer to exercise alone.
Older children (eight to elevens) should "develop flexibility, strength, technique, control and balance" and should also access "a broad range opportunities to extend agility, balance and coordination, individually and with others". Sharing poses with children is a great way to develop their fitness and yoga provides time to work alone without any competition which makes it especially valuable. Partner and group poses still provide an opportunity for collaborative learning but without the pressure of “letting the team down” which so many children worry about in team sports.
There is also plenty of research showing that yoga can help children improve their focus, better regulate their emotions and improve their sleep and body confidence. There is also evidence from schools in America showing improved behaviour across schools and better classroom connectedness. These are great reasons to get yoga into schools. I am an experienced classroom teacher and I know how hard it can be to fit anything new into your timetable, I suggest fitting yoga in the school’s PE journey by offering a term of yoga to a few years groups throughout the school. Any who really enjoy yoga could then attend an afterschool yoga club. I have also spoken in various articles and blog posts about using mindful brain breaks and during transition times which can really improve focus.
It is also very straightforward to add yoga into schools, there is minimal equipment required and with my programme- The ICYS Yoga Club for Schools - any teacher can set up a safe yoga club or PE class quickly and easily.
If you know a school who would be open to introducing yoga to their curriculum please put them in touch with me. I’d love to send them more information!
