Ring the Bell, Yoga is in Company
The rise of attention poverty disorder ( ADD ), decreasing attention on honest fitness, and the upping stress levels of our children, worriment us all. With this in intellectuality, some educational programs and public schools are giving Yoga a chance, by allowing their students to practice from an early age.
Parents who pleasure in Yoga are jovial to share it with their children. Planed the federal government supports efforts: federal Live Education Program ( PEP ) grant worth about $750, 000 has helped train some 200 teachers nationwide in " Yoga Education. "
According to an article in Education Story, in October 2010, Yoga classes for students compass from year - long regular exposure, as part of a standard Embodied Education class to elective classes, typically less fervid and sometimes offered during the school stint, or before or hard by, school. Providing the Yoga instruction costs, on average, $70 per class, but the cost to the school varies depending on students ' ability to pay.
Nonprofit organizations, that recognize the value of Yoga practice, have jumped on the bandwagon to support it. Charitable group, Bent on Learning, raised $325, 000 for children ' s Yoga in schools in June 2011, through an elite fundraiser, with guests like Gwyneth Paltrow. Other organizations raise funds on a smaller scale or " match make " opportunities between local Yoga instructor volunteers and needy schools.
Best of all, there is definitive proof that Yoga in schools leads to positive outcomes for students. The Program Evaluation and Research Collaborative ( PERC ) is an independent entity, overseen by California State University, and provides program evaluation and research services to local, state, federal agencies, and schools.
In 2003, they evaluated the " Yoga Ed " program in The Accelerated School ( a California charter school ). The study subjects were 405 students from kindergarten to 8th grade, and 18 core subject teachers. The Accelerated School is located in South Central Los Angeles, with a student body composed of 62 % Hispanic and 36 % African - American students.
Highlights of the results of this study are mentioned below.
" Yoga class participation appears to help students ' improve their attitudes toward themselves.
Yoga class participation helped improve students ' behavior.
Yoga class participation helped improve students ' physical health.
Yoga class participation helped students perform better in school academically. "
Conclusion
The introduction of Yoga programs has not been without controversy. Some critics of Yoga see its historic base, in Hindu spirituality, as a conflict with the ban on religious activity in public schools. To avoid this, the Yoga programs have developed alternative terms for components that have traditional names or supposed spiritual aspects. Hence, breathing techniques are now called " balloon breath, " " bunny breathing " and " dragon breath, " for example.
Therefore, if you are a Yoga teacher, who has been invited to teach Yoga in a public school, be aware that extremist objections can possibly surface. In such a case, it may be impossible to reason with the unreasonable. One option for public schools is " Yoga Fitness " or " Stretch and Breathe Classes. " At the very least, our children will learn to be fit, focus on their studies, and deal with daily stress.
Copyright 2011 - Aura Wellness Center - Publications Division
