The moment i realised how rewarding teaching yoga to children really was...
As you know there's lots of information around us about how important teaching yoga to children is. However, there is real proof that yoga can improve school performance, stress, relaxation, seeing things from a different perspective and using what they learn from yoga as part of their daily life. When i completed my yoga training in 2017 and after a few months of teaching i started to research more information about the benefits that yoga has on our children from the ages of 4-12 years. I couldn't believe that something as simple as getting children to connect to their breath would have such a massive effect on their mental health and wellness. After reading books, watching videos and just trying to understand this connection with yoga and children, i decided to do my Children's Yoga Training in April 2018.
Wow! how this was so different to teaching adults, i was actually more scared teaching children than adult classes. There is so much to think about and understand especially the different age groups, planning lessons, games, themes and thinking creatively and outside the box, to really make the classes as fun but keeping with a theme of yoga and gratitude. As well dealing with a group of children, each one individual and each one with different needs. Once I completed my course a company called Rattle and Roll Performance approached me and asked if I would like to teach yoga at Langley primary school aged 6 years. I jumped to the chance as this was my first introduction to actually teaching children.
My first class was very interesting, i had around 6 children that came to the after school yoga class, this was such a new thing to me and actually quite challenging and scary as i had 6 children to introduce to yoga for the first time and gain respect from. I made sure on the very first class they understood some rules which would be a weekly routine for them to:
I got them to take their shoes off and place them in line next to each other as (Respect)
Asked them pick their own mats and place them in a circle (Independence)
Be respectful to each other before they start class and be kind (gratitude)
At the beginning of class, we would sit in a circle and talk about what we are grateful for that day and how we was feeling. (This was something so important to how the rest of the class would plan out for me)
That yoga isn’t a competition (Something I would mention each week)
Just after around about 3 weeks of teaching them similar routines I started to notice the differences in them, they understood that once we were in the room they were respectful, they got their own mats out, they were kind to each other, they loved the games and doing the yoga poses more each week and were so excited to be doing something new or a new theme. For me one of the most rewarding things I got from these classes was when one of the little girls was upset before class, her friend put her arm around her and said "it's ok now, we are going to yoga and we are kind to each other in yoga". This for me was the best thing I heard even if it's this association that yoga makes you kind, I think is a massive reward for the children and myself who is so passionate.
If there’s one thing I have learnt from teaching children every week is patience and knowing that some weeks they are tired, some weeks they are full of energy and want to run around and some weeks they wouldn’t listen. This is what I love about teaching yoga to children as you have to adapt to how the children are on the day, at the end of the days it's about the children (which is something I got used to very much… the unknown and knowing that classes don’t always go to plan lol) The best part of all is seeing the children after class. Their energy is excited but calm. Yoga really does have a massive impact on children. I am so excited and happy to officially start a children’s yoga class for ages 6 – 9 years this is an important age group as they start to develop and become more aware of their emotions and feelings.
If you’re interested in signing your child up to the new Yoga / Mindfulness Classes or know anyone who may be interested in booking a place click on the web link for the registration form, booking and payment information www.beyoubeyoga.co.uk/childrens-yoga-classes or email beyoubeyoga@outlook.com
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