Getting on the Mat: Teachers and Students Engaging in Yoga Together

Children naturally engage in physical play. They learn by exploring their body—its movements and capabilities—and its relationship to others and to the outside world. Incorporating movement and physical activity into formal education settings has been shown to reduce student stress and improve health and academic outcomes. Physical activity in designated periods throughout the day can help children expend energy and thereby improve classroom behavior. In some nations, team sports are employed to build community and responsibility. In other countries, individual activities with a community component, like yoga and tai chi, are popular with practitioners of all ages. Yoga, with its emphasis on intention, is especially beneficial for children. The lessons of focus, perseverance, and harmony that are taught in yoga are vitally important in a school setting, where children often spend long hours at their desks, asked to focus on challenging tasks and undergo rigorous assessments. A shared yoga practice can build community within a classroom and encourage children to engage peacefully with others. In this article, the author explores what and how children learn through yoga practice.