yoga for children- lesson plans

Yoga and Literacy Learning.

Terms to remember:

Asanas- yoga postures

Pranayama- breathing

Meditation – relaxation.

 

Lesson plan.

Gentle yoga practice for releasing tension from the day and to promote sleep.

E is for Easy pose card.

Sit in easy pose. Cross legged with hands together, close your eyes- 5 cycles of slow breathing.

Hands on tummy for five more breaths, in through nose out through mouth, if possible.  I is for inhale.

Twist to one side of the body, hand on left knee then alternate side.

P is for Pretzel.

Then lift arm to bend to one side then the other.  Sing ‘Bend with the wind’

‘Bend with the wind

Bend with the wind

Swaying…

Swaying…

And bend,

Bend with the wind’

then go to other side.

Up onto all fours into cat stretch.  C is for cat stretch.

Then down into Child’s pose.

Hands in under legs towards buttocks for Mouse pose.  M is for Mouse card.

Lie on your back and bring knees up to chest for windscreen wiper pose.  W is for Windshield Wipers.

Feet and arms down beside you. Knees bent and up into a bridge pose.  B is for Bridge card.

Press into your shoulders and raise body a little more.

Sit back up in a circle for candle gazing and to rest mind for five breaths.  Stare at the flame or pretend candle, for as long as you can without blinking and block out the rest of the room.  After a minute close your eyes, “can you still see the candle in your mind’s eye?”

Finally lie in ‘do nothing pose’ on back.  Take 10 breaths and move back away from floor and back again as in ‘Fish Pose’. (Fish poem can be read).

Relax, then slower wiggle hands and feet, move to side.

Slowly into sitting and say ‘Happy Day’ poem.

Namasta.

(Resources: The ABCs of YOGA for KIDS: Mariel Hemingway. 2010 www.StaffordHouseBooks.com)  Shanti Gowans, ‘The Children’s Book of Shanti Yoga’ 2006. Inner Peace Publications.

Kidscreative.