School Yoga fest

How much are our students moving?

Have you moved much today? It is no secret that we move less now as humans. The Guardian 2013 stated how: “The evolution of technology has reached a point where pretty much anything is available at the touch of a button. Shopping, learning, working and entertainment can all be accessed from the comfort of our own homes. But it's coming at a price; and a relatively crucial one at that. Health. And as technology changes the way we live, those who will suffer most will be our children. “ Last week, THE guardian also quoted how: “a UK study of 6,500 children aged seven to eight, found that only 51% achieved the recommended hour of physical activity each day, with girls (38%) proving to be far less active than boys (63%).” The statistics are slightly alarming and the statistics should also encourage us adult to take some responsibility for this outcome. Even huge workplace corporations are now implementing well- being strategies such as fit bit challenges to motivate their staff to move more. After reading this article from the Guardian I simply decided to have an informal chat with some young people. Even just engaging in one to conversations with students, and simply asking them do they move a lot, the majority sadly say, “no not a lot”. When asked why they claimed it was because of Fortnight (the popular computer game) or because of new and emerging applications being developed and preoccupying their time. They expressed how, generally, their friends seem lazier. As a listener- there seems to be a culture of laziness creeping up in some corners of the world. We need to address the inactivity of the children that represent the statistics above. One thing, that maybe useful for them to take into the real world is yoga.

Why Yoga?

Our children live in a busy world inundated with technology that keeps developing and enhancing but also keeps many of us stagnant. Even solutions to technological problems appear to be technology itself. Aside from this school pressures, various subject lessons, video games, malls, and worsening environmental issues are all other catalysts of stress. We usually don't think of these influences as stressful for our kids, but often they are. The fast pace of our children's lives can have a dramatic effect on their personal happiness and mental state. However, children’s yoga classes have been popping up all over the country but there is no doubt that these classes may not be affordable for all. Nevertheless, it means something and it possibly is a step in the right direction. Mentally and emotionally yoga is distinct for teaching students how to relax, and manage stress. It promotes cooperation, instead of opposition which is a greatly beneficial for young people. Physically, it improves their flexibility, coordination, and body awareness. In addition, their concentration and sense of calmness and relaxation improves. While taking a yoga class, children exercise, play and develop a better relationship with the natural world. A 2009 study published in the Journal of Child and Family Studies: for example, found that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, which teaches children how to divorce themselves from harmful thoughts or emotions, was linked to reduced anxiety and increased attention levels. Surely this is something we would want for all young people and ourselves!

Yoga in schools presently

Recent news reports have reported how many schools are now using yoga in place of detention and while this is a great start; it may help to give students some background knowledge about the practise. Students at Robert W. Coleman Elementary School in Baltimore, Maryland are no longer sent to detention when they misbehave. Instead, they’re sent to the ‘Mindful Moments Room,’ where they’re taught the basics of mindfulness meditation. So far this has received a warm welcome from parents and students as well as teachers. The thing about yoga is little equipment is needed, once the basics are taught we can practise independently. As well as this some schools in the United Arab Emirates have embraced Well- being Wednesdays whereby students take some yoga poses and stretches to begin their days. How can we encourage this in our schools so that students really understand the benefits of it and to encourage them to carry it on into their adult lives and pass it down from generation to generation?

Why not to isolate yoga as one subject!

A way to do this and a way which would help them really see the benefits in real- life contexts, is by weaving yoga into the other subjects and having a full- scale yoga day. Schools now run different themed days such as poetry day, Shakespeare day or sports day. It is commonly understood now that ”When you teach subjects separate from one another -- you teach science, you teach math, you teach reading -- that means that there's a divorce between these contents, when in real life, they're not,". "When you're cultivating a garden, you've got to know a lot about botany, insects, fertiliser, math, and a whole bunch of other things. https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/technology-inactive-lifestyle-changing-children. Now, Finnish schools are embracing an even more radical approach to teaching. One major initiative is to encourage teaching by topic instead of by subject. According to The Independent, instead of teaching geography and foreign language classes separately, teachers will ask kids to name countries on a map in a foreign language. Instead of separate lessons on history and economics, they'll talk about the European Union. Yet Finnish kids always get good grades on comparisons of student achievement between countries. The Washington Post states how: “In the new system, Finnish schools must give each student at least one unit of instruction combining two or more subjects per year.’ Therefore it is strategic to blend yoga among other school subjects to really help learners ‘cultivate their gardens.’

How to run a cross-curricular yoga day?

This plan below demonstrates just how we can begin to lay the foundations for a yoga day. Lesson one kicks off with History and yoga, they are like best friends. The background of yoga is deemed intriguing and worth knowing a little bit about. It has changed and developed through four main eras. The pre- classical era, the classical era, the post classical era and the modern era. The class is to be divided into 4 groups and students have to create a key note presentation on the era their teacher has designated. Students will preset the findings and then engage in a discussion comparing and contrasting the differences and similarities. The groups will then match up with another group and create a 3D diagram using Hula hoops which overlap showing the similarities between eras and the differences between the others. This practical end to the lesson gets students up an moving and working with extreme creativity. Students will create 2 set Venn diagrams using hula hoops. These can also be used for classroom displays afterwards.

Lesson two is where it really begins in Physical Eduction and Yoga basics. After engaging with some history students will do a short yoga session focusing on the plank poses. The first move will be the plank, it is the top point of a press up and is beneficial for working the deepest muscles and giving your body a strengthening work - out. Next will be the side- plank which will improve endurance and focus. Next is the Cobra pose which is key in yoga; it can help ease back pain and some say it may seem to stimulate digestion. The session will end with a supine leg stretch and supine twist. Of course teachers will cool down and warm up as well as modify the session as needed. Students will be encouraged to peer teach and show any poses or moves they may know under the teachers supervision.

In lesson three Maths can come alive with a plank challenge. Students can try to plank for 20 seconds, anyone who can’t do this is eliminated in a fun, friendly way. Round 2 will be for 30 seconds and it will continue as knock - out of rounds . Students will then create a table of how many students achieved the longest plank, the second longest and so on and so forth. Student will then work out the mean, median and range as well as calculate the percentage of students who can do which plank time. The teacher can use the online timer and countdown to create motivation as well as a PE teacher to assist with the activities to ensure minimal injuries.

Now we are feeling hungry, so food technology and Yoga it is. Many people who practise yoga may adopt the Ahimsa diet which effectively lowers heart disease and cancer. It is mainly plant- based. Even small changes such as meatless Mondays can be encouraged to help the environment and reduce green- house gas emissions. Creamy coconut potatoes to start using flour and coconut milk. The main course will be Cauliflower Bolognese. It includes olive oil, garlic, onion, carrot, cauliflower, tomato, basil, oregano, salt and pepper and lastly zucchini. These meals help include all the nutrients which will improve flexibility and muscle strength. Students can have fun cooking and learning about nutrition.

Next this will lesson may engage the scientists of the school, one of the most important aspects of yoga is the biology it involves. Students will make a body suit with material and label the main muscles used in the peak positions and supine positions they did in PE class lesson 2. Students can catwalk their anatomy outfits and point and present the muscles which they have been using today, extension activities can include labelling bones and joints. A video went viral of a teacher doing something similar in biology class her name was Veronica Duque and her exact lesson details can be viewed here - https://www.upworthy.com/teacher-wears-anatomical-body-suit.

For English, the topic will be the ‘pros and cons of Ahimsa diet used by yogis’. Students will research the Ahimsa diet and gather facts and information about it. The teacher will separate the students into debating teams and then they will carry out a debate with their points. This will raise awareness of the diets associated with yoga and reinforce how yoga intertwines with some of the other most important aspects of living such as eating.

Business studies usually appeals to many aspiring entrepreneurs. This lesson can encourage learners to design a leaflet for their own yoga studio; creating an outstanding brand. Students can be reminded that the original intention of yoga was to train warriors. Reports show how now you instructor’ train first responder fire fighters in the states. Creating a logo will be the first step, then including a price list and a schedule detailing the types of yoga offered and displaying their benefits. Students will then print out the advertisements and another teacher will comment on the leaflets. Each group will receive positive comments and a lot detailing what they can work on to improve. Which yoga studio would you be drawn to?

The last lesson of the day shall be PSHE or a similar subject such as form time to social studies. Yoga was originally viewed as a way to prepare the body for meditation. Most yoga classes now include meditative elements and a variety of chants, as a way to relax the body and mind. Science shows that the benefits of these meditative states an extend into daily life. Teachers can instruct students to sit in a chair, the students should be tall and forward without leaning back. Feet should be places under the knees and tell students to “ simply observe your thoughts arising. It’s like watching clouds pass by while remaining aware of the vast, clear blue sky.” ( Swanson, A 2019). The teacher can play a clip from You Tube and instruct everyone to close their eyes and just be. This can be repeated a few times and reflection discussions can take place.

This is short snap shot of how yoga can come alive across the curriculum adopting strategies from Finland and various other educators.