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YOGA CURRICULUM:
Yoga is a science that is many thousands of
years old. The YogaKids® curriculum simplifies and introduces
children to yoga postures and breathing techniques. The classes I
teach include games, music, stories, anatomy and earth care with
yoga movements. Yoga is a powerful tool to teach children to feel
good about their bodies and its abilities. It also promotes focus
and increases problem solving skills. Learning postures helps build
children’s sense of efficacy and self-esteem. With repetition yoga
has the capacity to help children develop concrete ways of learning
to relax and manage stress.
The YogaKids® curriculum at its most fundamental is about learning.
Children
absorb and process information through movement, seeing, listening,
touching and even singing. In these classes we seek to harness all
these ways of learning to promote development in every aspect of a
child’s mind, body and spirit.
The ideas of Howard Gardner and his Theories of Multiple
Intelligences is a central organizing idea to this curriculum and
synthesizes nicely with yogic holistic thinking. Gardner named eight
intelligences that all people possess : verbal/linguistic,
logical/mathematical, visual/spatial, musical/rhythmic,
body/kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal and naturalist. The
more ways information is processed, the more likely it will be
stored in a variety of networks and the more accessible it will be
for later recall.
The synthesis of Yoga asana and Gardner’s ideas on learning led to
the 14 Elements of YogaKids®. These are a total of 14 elements that
create a matrix for learning in our classes. They are:
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Poses as Pathways
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Body Benefit
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Bridge of Diamonds
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Brain Balance
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Ecological Echoes
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Math Medley
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Musical Musings
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We All Win
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Awesome Anatomy
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Reading Comes Alive with
Yoga
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Laughing Language
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Visual Vignettes
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Affirmations
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Quiet Quests
In these classes yoga and movement become an opportunity to
teach children math, ecology, anatomy, music and more.
What type of organization would benefit
from offering these classses?
Yoga is flexible tool and can be adjusted
to different settings and environments. Some examples of
places where yoga can be offered are:
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Pre-schools
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Elementary Schools
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Middle Schools
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High Schools
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Park and Recreation Centers
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Libraries
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Parent Education Center
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Child Care Provider Education Centers
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Girl and Boy Scout Troops
TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS (coming soon)
YogaYogaKids® Tools for Schools is the
culmination of over 20 years of collaborative work with children,
teachers and other professionals to enhance children’s mental and
physical health. It is also designed to improve academic retention
through movement.
Among the many benefits that educators, parents and children may
derive from Tools for Schools are:
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Increased subject retention and improved
test scores
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A more participatory and community oriented
learning environment
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A positive attitude toward learning and
life
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A higher degree of self-confidence and
self-esteem
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The ability to relax, self-nurture and
regulate emotions
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Enhanced communication and problem solving
skills
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Better posture, increased fitness and
improved self-image
The YogaKids® Tools for schools is a complete
package that integrates in-depth teacher training with hands on
materials, classroom media and ongoing support.
What are the effects of yoga in the
schools?
A recent study done by Dr. Janet Buckenmeyer
(Purdue University at Calumet) and Dr. David Freitas (Indiana
University at South Bend) titled “Factors Affecting Student
Achievement and Related Behaviors” found that in YogaKids® Tools for
Schools has a significant positive effect on the academic
achievement, general health, personal attributes and relationships
of students in kindergarten through 5th grade.
(For more information on study please go to
www.yogakids.org )
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