Imagination Yoga gives children and teachers a chance to take a break from the outside world and come into a place of relaxation, movement, imagination and joy.
Rising rates of childhood obesity, inactivity, distraction, anxiety, depression and bullying are national concerns. School-based yoga is one way to address these issues and research suggests these programs have a number of positive effects on student health, behavior, and performance.* Such programs offer focus on needs of the whole child, impacting the development of academic, social and emotional competence in children with resulting benefits for teachers and their classroom climate.
Imagination Yoga weekly activities that nurture physical, mental and emotional development inspire positive changes in the lives of participants. The mindfulness techniques that accompany movement teaches children how to calm themselves, focus their attention, move their bodies while improving their strength and balance, develop kindness for themselves and others, use their imaginations, and develop a sense of community. These are tools that can be used in the classroom, at home, and in the community with far-reaching benefits:
Teaches healthy ways to express feelings and regulate their emotions and behavior
Positive impacts on students’ academic performance
Encourages a sense of community and belonging within the classroom
Provides opportunities for beneficial motor breaks throughout the day
Enhances focus, attention, concentration, comprehension and memory
Supports social and emotional learning
Enhances flexibility, strength, and physical well-being
Encourages respect for oneself and others
Improves physiological outcomes including bone strength, muscle strength, muscular flexibility, heart health, respiratory health, neural development and motor skills
*For detailed information on this research visit www.yoga4classrooms.com.
How it works
IY uses the Imagination Yoga Calm Curriculum, combined with the Kindness & Concentration Curriculum developed by Oregon-based Imagination Yoga and tested and refined to become one of the premier children’s yoga programs in the United States. Children are introduced to yoga using themed adventures and imaginative associations that capture their attention, invoke their imaginations, and get their bodies moving.
Yoga mats are provided for all participants.
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Imagination Yoga For Kids
