Benefits of yoga training in schools
Benefits of yoga training in schools by ShareLove.Fund work/study participants and sponsored by your generous donations.
Many schools these days have taken to starting their days with a session of yoga for children and teachers alike. Sessions on topics like gratitude, good citizenship, being a peacemaker, and getting enough sleep and so on find a special place in the high-stress environment that we function. While it is quite common to see grown-ups from various factions of the society swear by yoga and the impact it has had in their lives, yoga for schools still seems like a novel idea.
The truth is that youth today are faced with many forms of physical and mental pressures of life. The demands of prolonged hours of sitting followed by the hours spent finishing assignments, studying for tests and the added impact of personal turmoil can make life very stressful for kids of all ages. And this is exactly where yoga and its benefits come into play.
Yoga, an ancient practice of inner balance, doesn’t only work wonders for grownups – neither is it a physical activity only aimed at reaping the benefits of good health. Yoga teaches you to control your thoughts – it is an exercise in mindfulness that could benefit students and teachers alike. Here are some benefits of teaching yoga at school:
Stress Management – Yoga lets you focus on the now and slowly puts an end to all that mental noise that comes with the daily humdrum of life. Yoga equips the students with the calm they need to deal with the anxieties of grades and the stresses of personal lives. Regular practitioners report lower levels of stress and anxiety than non-practitioners.
Better Retention and Higher Attention – Yoga improves focus. It helps students focus better and retain more and more of the learning they amass at schools. In fact, even children with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) tend to benefit from yoga as it cures the core issues such as inattentiveness and hyperactivity.
Better Breathing – Breath is life and pranayama and other breathing exercises can help kids and grownups alike in managing everyday stress in a more constructive manner. Breathing right has positive impacts on posture, immunity and overall quality of life for kids and grownups alike.
Better Sleep – Yoga is one of the most versatile activities ever. While it can ramp up your metabolism and help you stay in shape, it can also calm you down and make you sleep better. Children need close to 7-8 hours of sleep each night to stay mentally and physically healthy. The ability of yoga to calm and relax your minds doesn’t only make falling asleep easier, it also improves the quality of sleep so kids wake up more charged and happier every morning.
Promotes Self-Acceptance and Self Confidence – The asanas and mudras in yoga help kids build strength, endurance and a better mind-body balance. This makes children look at themselves more positively and leads them on the path of self-love, self-respect and self-confidence.
The ancient practice of yoga has stayed relevant for centuries. The aura of self-love, calm and peace that it creates make it exceedingly important for students battling myriad situations in life. As students gear up to battle pent up tensions everywhere, let’s equip them with the one thing that has the power to stabilize the most distressed of minds – let’s all embrace the benefits of yoga teachings at school.