The Transparent Tech Teacher |
Over the past ten years or so, my personal journey has taken me to the discovery of different methods of energetic and emotional clearing. As Chinese practitioners believe, our bodies are full of energy that flows through chakras and meridians. If this energy becomes stuck or blocked, it causes dis-ease in our bodies. This can look like sickness or pain, or can have an emotional manifestation. Acupuncture, acupressure, massage therapy, yoga, and other forms of healing release these energetic blockages. Over the years I have incorporated some of these healing techniques into my lifetime routine. Several months ago, my teacher friend posted a link to an article about the benefits of using yoga in the classroom. Underneath her facebook post was a caption along the lines of, "I'd love to try this at our school!" Since my own personal discovery of alternative forms of health and healing I've implemented bits and pieces with my students. For example, I have them say positive affirmations before taking standardized tests, or we take a break during learning for some quick energy exercises, breathing and stretches. So when I saw this post about yoga in the classroom, I was very intrigued. I haven't implemented this idea with my class, but I LOVE the thought of it. A google search for "yoga in the classroom" revealed several websites (Yoga Journeys, Yokid, and Yoga 4 Classrooms) containing resources for using yoga with students. Within a few clicks from the home page of these websites I found free videos demonstrating yoga routines, lists of the health benefits of yoga and ideas for incorporating yoga in your classroom. I'm so happy to see educators opening their teaching practice to include alternative methods of health in the lives of their students. "School yoga has been shown to reduce problem behavior, test anxiety, and anger. It has also been shown to increase self-regulation and focus. At all grade levels, from preschool through high school, students have shown improved academic and behavioral performance when yoga has been introduced in the school." ~ NCPAD. Yoga in the Classroom: A New Kind of Education. Photo credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Antigua-_Animal_Yoga_at_T.N._Kirnon_(7216056196).jpg
8 Comments
Kendal Cramer
7/17/2017 12:54:29 pm
At my school we use a website called Go Noodle it has relaxing, brain breaks and dancing videos. I often see our general education teachers using the yoga videos when their students come in from recess or a special.
Reply
7/26/2017 06:31:59 am
Kendal,
Reply
Todd Koenig
7/18/2017 03:43:15 am
I absolutely love the idea of this. It would be great if yoga were offered as an elective actually. May I ask, how do your students react when you have them do these positive affirmations? Do they embrace them and understand the purpose? I remember teachers having us do a few minutes of quiet time and SSR in ELA and it was effective in calming us down. This was before yoga became mainstream. A very cool post. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. :)
Reply
Wow, yes a yoga elective would be so cool Todd! I am going to mention it to our P.E. teacher. Maybe she's open to teaching a little bit of yoga whether it's a whole unit or having one day a week dedicated to yoga instruction.
Reply
Itxaso Cayero
7/19/2017 09:42:28 am
What a great idea! I have done GoNoodle with my students in the past when we needed to check in with our feelings and calm down when something was bothering or affecting us. My students have very difficult lives so meditation helped. However, since I am not a true Yogi I feel like I could do a better job at establishing a Yogar routine daily and teaching the students techniques so that they can use them anytime in their lives, especially outside of school when I am not there to aid them. Great post Becky!
Reply
7/26/2017 06:42:39 am
Itxaso,
Reply
Naomi Jaynes
7/19/2017 06:21:03 pm
What a creative and calming brain break for your students, Becky! I'd love to read your observations months from now after you've had a solid implementation phase to see how your students respond. Thanks for sharing!
Reply
Naomi,
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorBecky teaches tech to 3rd-6th grade students at Compass Public Charter School. ArchivesBlogrollCategories
All
|