Last year I approached the local primary school to see if they would be interested in offering Yoga to the children. A taster session was arranged for the three top classes of P6 & P7 to see if the kids wanted to either do it as an official class, a sports afternoon option or not at all. The response was a unanimous vote for a weekly official class.
I combined postures into sequences around a story making it an adventure. I used postures, sequences and games to help change their moods. Then we would end with a relaxation consisting of simple breathing exercises and using their imagination to help them feel better about themselves and their world.
It was such a joy to teach them… and as I soon discovered …to be taught by them. The children were so easy to work with, there was no adult reserve just a desire to have fun and learn something new. They were very well behaved, learnt quickly and made great progress. Their total playful immersion in whatever we did meant they experienced the benefits of Dru Yoga at a level that usually takes adults months or years to get to.
The biggest lesson for me was that deep down our deepest desire is to feel safe, have fun and be happy (to feel good) and it was very easy to connect with this in the kids and let the Yoga nourish it.
It was a pleasure and an honour to work with them, so I was delighted when they asked for more Yoga next year and that another Primary School in the area has also asked for it as a result of the Head Teacher’s recommendation.
Responses from the school and its children:
Please find a few words re our experience last year. The children's response was fantastic and their evaluations demonstrate very effectively the benefits they felt:
When you had a bad thing on your mind it helped you get over it. (Jimmy)
It made you feel less tense and cranky. (Stuart)
It made me feel relaxed and I thought it was fun. (Dale)
It made me feel like I was having fun. (Emma)
It made everything in the room seem peaceful and calm. (James C)
The games made you active and ready for anything. (Callum McH)
It made me feel like I was in my own world. (Louise)
It makes your body feel calm and soothed. (Gemma)
When something bad happened then it was good because you got it out of your mind. (Rebecca)
It made all your bad thoughts and worries disappear and everything was happy and jolly. (Beth)
It made me feel like I was in a different place. (Rachel)
It made me feel like my muscles are relaxed and if something is troubling you forgot about it. (Kirsty) |
