Yoga now. As I write this, its almost mid-July. The school year ended so abruptly, so chaotically that looking back it’s a blur. I just remember teachers scrambling, parents struggling, everyone trying their best in a situation we have not found ourselves in before.
As school systems plan for the coming year I realized that even with planning we really don’t know how things are going to go. As I scan the internet and read social media there seems to be (and rightfully so) a focus on both children and teachers’ mental and emotional well-being. I feel encouraged by this. Uncertainty breeds anxiety and we all know that awful feeling of anxiety. It makes teaching, learning, functioning, and coping very difficult.
So what can we do?
A teacher friend and I were talking about this and how yoga would be a perfect solution to numerous issues teachers will be facing this fall, regardless of their specific situation.
It’s now the beginning of August. Reading online and within social media, I can feel the anxiety of both parents and teachers as we close in on schools starting. My guess is that it has also trickled down to my little friends too, which breaks my heart. So much uncertainty.
My thoughts haven”t changed.We need more yoga now. We often talk about all the benefits of yoga for children. It helps them with flexibility, improved body awareness and balance. It helps to build self-esteem and self-confidence while also EASING ANXIETY and MANAGING STRESS. It’s good for our bodies, our minds, and our emotional development. That is true for children and adults.
If you are a teacher, I encourage you to try using yoga as a primary focus in your classrooms this year. Why? For several reasons, but the main reason being that yoga is something children can count on whether they are learning from home or at school. If things change suddenly and you are teaching from home, the children know they will still get to do yoga, and not only that, might be able to share it with a sibling or parent. Children love it, and we can all depend on it. Use it to teach, use it for social emotional learning. Yoga is a perfect way to structure your classroom. It can encourage social distancing, and while skipping partner and group poses, offers organized and fun exercise when your class needs a brain break or a change of pace.
If you are a parent, I recommend the same. Yoga at home with you with your kids. They need it, you need it, we all need it. It’s calming, it’s exercise, it’s fun and it’s something your entire family can do together.
If you don’t know where to start, hop on YouTube. There are countless great videos for kids, for adults, for beginners, etc. There will be something you like. If that seems to daunting, check out Yogalore’s yoga pose cards. There are generic pose decks, pose decks that follow along with specific books, or have a theme that connects the poses. If those aren’t for you, check out Pinterest. So many options, it might be overwhelming. Do a Google search.
You don’t have to be flexible to do yoga. You don’t have to have practiced yoga before to be able to begin practicing now. Wear comfortable clothes. Have a space clear of “stuff”. You don’t have to have yoga mats. A rug or carpet works just fine, or even a towel. Kids like having their own defined space. In my classes we use yoga “dots”. 12″ circles cut from yoga mats. I’ll be writing more about this, but just think about it.
