Yoga In The Classroom Simple Exercises Kids Will Love

Practicing yoga in the classroom helps children relax, focus, and cultivate healthy habits. You can either put on a kids yoga DVD, or you can take a few minutes to learn some exercises yourself and share them with your class. You don't need any special clothes or equipment; the kids just need to be sitting or standing at the desks. Here is some yoga for children that you can practice at school for a few minutes each day: * Balloon Breath: Explain how your lungs are like balloons, and when you inhale they fill up with air. Explain how air is our vital life energy, and something that our bodies must have to survive. Have the kids inhale through their noses and bring their arms up over their heads in the shape of a balloon, then exhale through their mouths, making the balloons get smaller until their hands return down to their sides. * Windmills: Have the kids stand up with their legs spread apart comfortably. Then tell them to bring their arms out to the sides. Direct them to exhale and touch one hand to the opposite foot (or leg), then inhale and return to the original position. Exhale and do the same on the other side of the body. Repeat these steps for about a minute. * Crow Squats: These are great for relaxing the hips and back after the kids have been sitting for a while. Have them stand with their feet shoulder width apart. Ask them to bring their arms straight out in front of them. As they exhale, have them squat down as far as they can. Then, tell them to inhale and come back up, keeping their eyes open if needed. Have them try it holding hands with a partner, standing face to face. They can chat with their partners as they move up and down--this gives them permission to talk in an organized way. * Tree Pose: This pose is great for achieving good posture, balance, and mental focus. Direct the children to stand up and bring one foot onto the other leg. Younger children can bring the foot to rest near the ankle of the other leg, while the more balanced kids can bring it to the upper inside of the leg. Have them press their palms together, resting them the center of the chest, with eyes straight ahead. When they're steady, they can stretch their arms up overhead, palms still together. Ask them to take five deep breaths and then switch sides. * Feel Your Heart: After practicing yoga in the classroom, have the children sit with their hands over their hearts with their eyes closed. Tell them to feel their heart beating and appreciate the work it does at every moment of the day. "Thank your heart, and feel it thank you back!" would be an appropriate thing to say. Isn't yoga for children wonderful?

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