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Creative Yogis has been teaching yoga to school children in Australia and Thailand for over fifteen years. It is from this extensive experience we continually see and hear from our students, the teachers and parents, of the benefits yoga brings to their lives.
Benefits of Yoga
Physical
Strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, stability, increased, energy, enhanced immunity, improved posture, stress relief, breath awareness, calms the nervous system, refreshes all the bodies’ systems.
Mental
Clarity, improved concentration, creativity, memory, self-confidence, focus, improved learning, greater self awareness, positive mood enhancement.
Emotional
Reduces anxiety, supports the ability to self-regulate, supports depression, anger management, calms and balances emotions, promotes healthy self esteem, nurtures compassion for self and others, self acceptance, the ability to express and release emotions.
Strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, stability, increased, energy, enhanced immunity, improved posture, stress relief, breath awareness, calms the nervous system, refreshes all the bodies’ systems.
Mental
Clarity, improved concentration, creativity, memory, self-confidence, focus, improved learning, greater self awareness, positive mood enhancement.
Emotional
Reduces anxiety, supports the ability to self-regulate, supports depression, anger management, calms and balances emotions, promotes healthy self esteem, nurtures compassion for self and others, self acceptance, the ability to express and release emotions.
Class Content
Primary Children
At the primary level of education, yoga classes for ages 5-8 years are not so concerned with alignment, even though safety awareness is essential. Class content includes time for circles and sharing, making friends with your breath, and learning to discover a sense of quietness within. Warming the body up is done in a fun and creative way, to prepare to learn the basic yoga poses. Postures are practiced in an enjoyable and structured way, using repetition to learn the postures and gradually, adding new postures each week. Music, story and play time is essential. Yoga games for kids can help to release any last-minute energy and provide opportunities for collaboration and learning respect for others. We continue with relaxation time, placing the icing on the cake and sealing all the goodness inside from our session. The lesson finishes with acknowledging the best in one another and sharing peace with everyone, including ourselves.
The Tweenies
The middle years of education, called 'The Tweenies' from 9-12 years, has a greater focus on alignment and body awareness. Circle time is very special and creates a chance to share feelings and thoughts in a safe space. Still learning in the spirit of fun and creativity, there is more challenge and focus within the postures. They are learnt in a dynamic flow, developing concentration, flexibility and strength with a basis of stability. Simple mudras and the use of positive affirmations also works well with this age group. Slightly longer relaxation offers a chance to go deeper into cultivating a greater understanding of themselves and the importance of taking some time out to be. The class is finished with a moment to feel gratitude for something in their lives - this is always a reminder of how unique and special they all are.
Teens
Higher education can bring additional stress both mentally and emotionally. Teens receive the additional pressure to achieve academically. They have busy schedules, and an overstimulated nervous system with tech overload. Having time to unplug their minds and get into their bodies is paramount for their wellbeing. The class begins with centring, grounding and breath awareness, followed by warming the body slowly, to invite the body to the practice. A non-competitive approach is emphasized, with a focus on cultivating the ability to be present, listening to their own bodies’ limitations as a way to prevent injury. A flowing practice engages the attention of the students, whilst fostering an attitude of acceptance and compassion towards oneself, in whatever form the poses are able to be expressed. Simple breathing techniques offer tools to quieten the mind. The introduction of short meditations cultivates an awareness of the focus, clarity, mental space and inner peace that can be attained from this practice. Deep relaxation is extremely beneficial and necessary, as it provides an opportunity to experientially understand what it means to feel deeply rested. Relaxation is extremely popular with teens.
At the primary level of education, yoga classes for ages 5-8 years are not so concerned with alignment, even though safety awareness is essential. Class content includes time for circles and sharing, making friends with your breath, and learning to discover a sense of quietness within. Warming the body up is done in a fun and creative way, to prepare to learn the basic yoga poses. Postures are practiced in an enjoyable and structured way, using repetition to learn the postures and gradually, adding new postures each week. Music, story and play time is essential. Yoga games for kids can help to release any last-minute energy and provide opportunities for collaboration and learning respect for others. We continue with relaxation time, placing the icing on the cake and sealing all the goodness inside from our session. The lesson finishes with acknowledging the best in one another and sharing peace with everyone, including ourselves.
The Tweenies
The middle years of education, called 'The Tweenies' from 9-12 years, has a greater focus on alignment and body awareness. Circle time is very special and creates a chance to share feelings and thoughts in a safe space. Still learning in the spirit of fun and creativity, there is more challenge and focus within the postures. They are learnt in a dynamic flow, developing concentration, flexibility and strength with a basis of stability. Simple mudras and the use of positive affirmations also works well with this age group. Slightly longer relaxation offers a chance to go deeper into cultivating a greater understanding of themselves and the importance of taking some time out to be. The class is finished with a moment to feel gratitude for something in their lives - this is always a reminder of how unique and special they all are.
Teens
Higher education can bring additional stress both mentally and emotionally. Teens receive the additional pressure to achieve academically. They have busy schedules, and an overstimulated nervous system with tech overload. Having time to unplug their minds and get into their bodies is paramount for their wellbeing. The class begins with centring, grounding and breath awareness, followed by warming the body slowly, to invite the body to the practice. A non-competitive approach is emphasized, with a focus on cultivating the ability to be present, listening to their own bodies’ limitations as a way to prevent injury. A flowing practice engages the attention of the students, whilst fostering an attitude of acceptance and compassion towards oneself, in whatever form the poses are able to be expressed. Simple breathing techniques offer tools to quieten the mind. The introduction of short meditations cultivates an awareness of the focus, clarity, mental space and inner peace that can be attained from this practice. Deep relaxation is extremely beneficial and necessary, as it provides an opportunity to experientially understand what it means to feel deeply rested. Relaxation is extremely popular with teens.
All these age groups and more are covered in our 95hr Children's Yoga Teacher Training. The 95 hour training offers a range of modules for each age and stage that are suitable for yoga practitioners, yoga teacher training students, parents, therapists, pediatric professionals, school teachers who work with preschool, elementary and high school aged children or teens, healthcare professionals and adults interested in or already working with teens. More information can be found here.
