| Author |
Message |
Michael Young (Alcindor)
Junior Member
Username: Alcindor
Post Number: 4
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2005 - 2:51 pm: |       |
I'm going on spring break next week. One of my spring break goals is to look into yoga. I've never done it, but am interested in learning and possibly teaching it in my elementary classes? Has anyone done this and if so suggestions would be appreciated. I teach K-5th graders. |
Scott Tomassetti (Scottt40)
Junior Member
Username: Scottt40
Post Number: 18
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Friday, March 18, 2005 - 5:18 pm: | |
Michael:
It is great to hear that you are interested in Yoga. Although not an expert or even personal practitioner, I was first able to enjoy it at a CTAHPERD conference about 4 years ago. There are many forms and aspects to Yoga that can be adapted to the elementary setting, i.e.: flexibility, relaxation, and meditation. I have taken classes that are called, "YogaLates", which take aspects from both Yoga and Pilates and combine them into a single wellness routine. Taking this concept and delimiting it for the elementary setting can be implementated as a cool down, or "Quiet Time" activity. I have even used many 'Forms' or 'Exercises' such as 'The Down Dog' as alternatives to traditional stretching exercise.
There are also many aspects of Yoga, and meditation that can be adapted that provide students with anger management strategies. I use the Yoga breathing techniques when I teach about "Reflective Time".
I have tried tapes in the past also, but they seem to be less successfull. Students seem to enjoy it when you actually doing the routine with the students, or trying some of the poses with them. I believe they just enjoy watching me make a fool of myself - a frequent occurance.
I am sure there a hundreds of professionals with more knowledge about the subject than I. Again, I am nowhere near proficient myself, but believe Yoga can provide tools for our students to use in there daily pursuit to be well people.
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Robin Walker (Rwalker)
New member
Username: Rwalker
Post Number: 1
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 19, 2005 - 9:54 am: | |
Michael:
Hi! I have been doing Yoga regularly for 4 or 5 years. I currently teach Elementary P.e. I have had very little sucess using it with 4th and 5th graders; they just get silly about it right off the bat. I would say my 3rd, 2nd, and 1st graders love it and do a nice job. I always try to use it when our school is doing standardized testing. Lots of our kids get stressed-out that week so the yoga can center them a bit.
I will mention you need to be careful because many people associate yoga with a type of spirituality and feel you shouldn't do it in school. If you try it just use animal names and leave out the namaste' and anything else that could be construed as spiritual.
Have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Robin Walker |
Adam Sexter (Sextea)
New member
Username: Sextea
Post Number: 1
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 7:17 am: | |
What are the specific yoga moves that have worked best with your students?
What exactly do you do when they get silly about it? |
Adam Sexter (Sextea)
Junior Member
Username: Sextea
Post Number: 2
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 8:13 am: | |
I just taught this in my P.E. class. We used moves like mountain, swan dive, down dog, and child's pose. They really liked swinging their arms down in the middle of swan dive. Mountain was fun for them as they pretended they were hanging from strings. It is a great change of pace for most classes.
Does anyone have some other ideas for inovative lessons to teach? |
Adam Sexter (Sextea)
Junior Member
Username: Sextea
Post Number: 3
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 8:18 am: | |
I taught Pilatis in my P.E. class and it went pretty well. It is actually very similar to yoga.
Has anyone taught Pilatis before, and how did it go?
I'd also like some new inovative lesson ideas. Thanks. |
Dana Carney (Alwayzrunning)
New member
Username: Alwayzrunning
Post Number: 1
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 8:15 am: | |
I have taught Yoga in both my elementary physical education classes (grades 3-6) and in the fitness industry. YogaFit is a great resource for Yoga. YogaFit is fitness based, hence you do not have to worry about the "spiritual" aspect. I start the younger kids, grades K-2 with YogaFit for Kids and progress from there depending on the class. YogaFit for Kids focuses on a lot of the animal positions which the kids enjoy making the animal noise with. I then progress to YogaFit 1 which is basic yoga moves, appropriate for grades 4+. If you're not interested in the certification, YogaFit has several videos which you can purchase. I'm sorry that I sound like an ad, but my kids love it and I think it's a great program for the school system. For more info, visit www.yogafit.com. Good luck! |
Terri Donlea (Tdonlea)
Junior Member
Username: Tdonlea
Post Number: 3
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 10:26 am: | |
I have just started incorporating yoga into my program and the kids love it. HOWEVER! I have had 4 parents who have pulled their kids from my class because I am teaching it. My principal has observed my classes and determined that I am not doing anything inappropriate or anything that could be judged as spiritual or religous. I am so frustrated because the kids love it, but I don't want parents to think that I am trying to convert or brainwash their kids. Any suggestions or advice? |
Paula Summit (Summit5)
Moderator
Username: Summit5
Post Number: 43
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, December 19, 2005 - 12:44 pm: | |
Send home a PE newsletter explaining what the Yoga unit will include. Explain that it is the movement they are learning, not the spiritual or religious philosophy behind it. Invite the concerned parents to observe a class to alleviate their concerns. Make a video tape of your classes and make that available to the parents. Good luck. Doing a monthly newsletter to keep the parents informed of your activities is a good way to show parents what today's physical education class includes. |
Jan Ruth
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Sunday, January 01, 2006 - 5:35 pm: | |
I too use yoga with my younger K-2 students. I use animal poses as well as nature poses, tree, flower, etc. I make up a story about children taking a walk and seeing the different yoga poses. When the pose is mentioned the children move into that pose and stay in it until the next yoga pose is mentioned. The children love to make up their own stories.
This year I have invested in some yoga cards with pictures of the poses on them. I am going to try giving two children a card to look at and figure out the pose. Aften a few minutes I will ask the children to show their pose to the other children and have the entire class try each new pose. I am hopeful this will be a successful cooperative activity. |
Michelle Evans
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 11:46 am: | |
Hi all, I have enjoyed your accountings of teaching yoga in your classes. I am an education grad student doing research on incorporating yoga into the elementary classroom. I need help with reference material. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks..Michelle |
Paula Summit (Summit5)
Moderator
Username: Summit5
Post Number: 54
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 7:59 pm: | |
Here are some interesting articles that might be helpful.
http://www.aapb.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=371 8
http://www.yogaed.com/subscribe.html
http://www.innerspirityoga.com/4yme.htm
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/112-0115200 6-598025.html
http://www.childfamilyyoga.com/trainings.htm
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,989 99,00.html
http://www.edutopia.org/magazine/ed1article.php?id =art_1432&issue=dec_05
http://www.yogaintheclassroom.com/
http://www.rrdailyherald.com/articles/2005/09/22/n ews/news1.txt
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