About Yoga 4 Classrooms™
Have you ever thought about how much easier and more effective teaching would be if students could relax and focus? If there were some simple, quick activities that you could do to help your students (and you!) de-stress, calm, restore, center or energize, learn to self-regulate and become better learners, would you try them?
Science has shown, and educators have experienced first-hand, that when children are anxious, frustrated or stressed, it is nearly impossible for them to learn. It is only from a relaxed, calm and present state of mind and body that our children can be psychologically and physiologically learning-ready. Right now, more than ever before, teachers everywhere are searching for a means to this end.
What is Yoga 4 Classrooms™?
Yoga 4 Classrooms™ is a research-based, low-cost, fun and effective tool for teachers to use with their students for a peaceful and productive classroom. Through the use of Yoga 4 Classrooms activities, teachers can provide their students with opportunities to grow physically, mentally, emotionally and socially. The activities promote self-awareness, self-acceptance and self-confidence - the foundations of exceptional learning and a lifetime of health and wellness.
Y4C™ features 67 yoga and mindfulness-based activities, divided into six categories: Let’s Breathe, At Your Desk, Stand Strong, Loosen Up, Imagination Vacation, and Be Well. Each activity includes illustrated instructions, discussion points, sub-activities, and educational tie-ins, for a total of more than 200 beneficial classroom practices.
The activities were specially chosen for their suitability for the typical classroom space. That means all activities can be done standing beside or sitting at desks, while bodies remain off the floor, away from dirt, germs and chemicals. Y4C™ includes a mix of yoga postures, brain boosting movements, breath exercises, visualizations, mindfulness activities, creative movement and community-building games. Wellness and character-building discussion points such as the power of positive thinking, nutrition, and being a peacemaker, address the whole child – physical, social and emotional, while improving learning-readiness – making this the most unique and comprehensive program of its kind.
Yoga 4 Classrooms™ is easy for teachers and students to use, and helps to create a more harmonious, learning-friendly school day. And its benefits go well beyond the classroom. Y4C™ provides children with important skills they can use in and out of the classroom for life long health and well-being. Absolutely anyone can use and benefit from the Y4C™ program – teachers, students, parents, therapists. Absolutely no yoga experience is required.
What is especially exciting about this program is that, once implemented, Y4C has the potential to positively impact all who ever experience it – that includes current and future students, teachers and other staff members, and even parents/families. Yoga 4 Classrooms is self-sustaining as teachers continue to use the program with future groups of students, while the concepts are reinforced as students move up through the grades of the school.
Though there are several worthy programs available, none are entirely suitable for the classroom environment and/or there is too much emphasis on yoga stretching and too little on addressing the whole child: social, emotional and physical. Y4C™ was developed to fill in the gaps, and simply and practically address the needs communicated by teachers, administrators and parents.
Program Components
The Teacher Workshop
The Yoga 4 Classrooms Teacher Workshop is a publicly scheduled one-day workshop open to any educator of any school. Learn more.
Become a Y4C School
Yoga 4 Classrooms involves two key components that work synergistically to ensure program success and sustainability in schools: the Staff Development Workshop and the Classroom Residency. And, soon to be published (late Spring 2011) is the Y4C Activity Card Deck, which will serve as an additional classroom resource. Learn more about becoming a Y4C™ School.
Yoga 4 Classrooms Activity Card Deck
Slated to be published during the Summer 2011, The Y4C Card Deck will serve as a supporting resource for classroom teachers. Learn more.
