The Benefits of Yoga Classes in School
Students often struggle with anxiety. And during the pandemic, remote school, keeping up with homework, social isolation and other stressors have compounded mental health issues among youth.
But did you know that yoga in school helps anxiety? In this guide, we will walk you through the main benefits of yoga in school, and discuss other reasons why yoga classes should be added to every school curriculum. Read on to learn more about the benefits of yoga classes in school.
Yoga Helps Reduce Stress
It’s obvious that students have a lot of stress. Among other things, children and teens want to do well on tests, fit in with their peers, and show their parents and teachers that they are worthy. School stress can lead to high anxiety, which can result in other mental health issues.
But what if students could take yoga classes in school? One of the major benefits of yoga for kids is that it helps reduce stress levels. For starters, yoga teaches kids to focus on the present moment instead of worrying about things they can’t control.
According to a Tulane University study, school-based yoga can help kids deal with stress in a healthier way, even if it means gaining peace of mind for a few minutes every school day. Plus, less stress makes it easier to focus on school work, often leading to better performance on tests.
Here are 3 other reasons why yoga in school is important.
1. Kids can work on improving their focus and attention span
Children lose focus very quickly, which is why it’s essential to find ways to increase their attention span. Including yoga classes in school can help children take a much needed break from academics to pay attention to their inner thoughts and calm their racing minds.
Not only that but meditation is a vital part of a well-rounded yoga practice, and introducing mindful meditation for children is an ideal way to teach kids to concentrate and focus, according to Better.net.
2. Kids learn to listen to their surroundings
Because of their often limited attention spans, kids often aren’t the best at listening to everything taught in a classroom. Yet, listening skills are extremely important when it comes to learning and retaining information.
Adding yoga classes at school means that kids will have a skilled children’s yoga instructor to teach them yoga poses for kids. Not only will they learn to listen in a new way, but yoga will help students focus on their other academic classes also. Lastly, yoga in school will help kids pay attention to themselves as well as others. This way they can become better listeners.
3. Mindfulness is an important skill that kids learn through yoga classes at school
Kids these days are often too focused on the future or past. They can therefore miss out on enjoying things in the present moment with a stress-free mind.
One of the most practical benefits of yoga for school students is that kids become more mindful by practicing yoga and meditation.
With yoga classes in school, kids get the chance to take a break from expectations and just feel good about themselves. It’s also a great way to relax students before exams and standardized tests.
The Benefits of Yoga Classes in School
In our technology-driven world, kids are glued to their phones. Yet, physical activities are so important to a healthy lifestyle. Luckily, including yoga classes in school makes it easier for you to incorporate doing something physical in their daily routine. At the same time, yoga postures are a great way for your kids to build muscle strength, improve their posture, and increase their balance and flexibility.
Yoga in School Gives Kids Healthy Tools for Life
While a well-rounded education is all about striking the correct balance, sometimes kids become overwhelmed while trying to manage multiple things at the same time. On those days, it could be difficult for them to find peace and happiness.
Kids aren’t always the best at keeping their composure in difficult situations. Toddlers and older children can sometimes even throw a tantrum when things don’t go their way, or end up becoming sad or angry over a situation they can’t control.
Yoga classes in school, however, makes it easier for kids to manage their anxiety and find a way to calm their minds. Breathing exercises and stretches also help kids learn to balance and control their own emotions.
We hope you now have a better understanding of why yoga in the classroom is so beneficial to children of all ages. Now it’s time to talk to your school about adding yoga classes into the daily routine!
