If you are a teacher, school administrator or parent think about exploring the benefits of yoga for children. A recent CNN story offers some insight into how K-5 students are benefiting from yoga as part of classroom learning.

“At Fernbank Elementary School in Decatur, Georgia from kindergarten through fifth grade, students are learning to use deep breathing and basic yoga at their desks to cope with stress and anxiety that may occur before taking tests. School guidance counselor June Neal has seen a measurable difference among the students. “We’ve seen an improvement in test scores and test-taking skills because their stress level is decreased after yoga.”

Neal isn’t worried about criticism that may be aimed at the school for taking time away from daily lessons to stretch and meditate. “An elementary school is more than reading, writing and arithmetic,” says Neal. “You do need some down time, you do need some way to express yourself and to reduce anxiety that comes along with being in school.

CNN.com
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/diet.fitness/10/08/hm.kids.yoga/index.html

Share This

A great kids book all about Yoga written by Baron Baptiste. http://www.kidsyogabook.com/

Share This

An eight-week program for special needs children was recently completed at the North Bergen Free Public Library, taught by Elsie Jimenez-Echevarria, a North Bergen resident who is a yoga instructor with the Center for Holistic Intervention.

During the 90-minute class, “the parents have to be complete participants,” said Jimenez-Echevarria. Elsie is a graduste of the Bright Spirit Teacher’s Training Program and also works full-time for the Jersey City Board of Education and has been integrating yoga into the Jersey City school curriculum over the last two years.

An article about the program appeared in the North Bergen Reporter http://www.hudsonreporter.com/

Share This

Nintendo has unveiled a range of new products for the Wii during a media briefing at the E3 Media & Business Summit in Santa Monica. The new offerings include two peripherals. The first is tentatively being called the Wii Balance Board and will come packed with Wii Fit, the ‘active-play’ successor to Wii Sports. The board can be used for a range of activities, including aerobics, yoga, muscle stretches and games.
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2194123/nintendo-two-wii-accessories

Share This

A trend in yoga is to incorporate it into the classroom. I did some research and found that YogaEd.com offers Programs for Yoga teachers who want to teach yoga education in schools. It’s also a program that could certify a PE, dance or other movement teacher who also practices yoga proficiently or certified yoga teacher who have completed their teacher’s training. To learn more, I recommend reading– http://www.layogamagazine.com/issue12/feature/feature.htm

Share This

This is a nice idea for kids. Located in Montclair , NJ. http://www.lotusyogamontclair.com/lotus_kids_camp.pdf

Share This