Blarney Street Stretch Yoga & Mindfulness Programme

Yoga is taught to children from Junior Infants to 6th class, with each class having a block of classes each year in primary school.

Why?

Yoga helps to:

• Develop body awareness

• Learn to use their bodies in a healthy way

• Manage stress through breathing, awareness, mindfulness and healthy movement

• Build concentration, strength and balance

• Increase their confidence and positive self-image

• Feel part of a healthy, non-competitive group

• Have an alternative to tuning out through constant attachment to electronic devices

Yoga & the Curriculum

SPHE

Yoga develops self-confidence and positive self-esteem
Through yoga, children can develop an understanding of healthy living, an ability to implement healthy behaviour & a willingness to participate in activities that promote & sustain health

Myself and others

Myself and the wider world

Yoga helps to develop some skills necessary for participating fully in groups & society

Social & Personal Development

Yoga helps children to enjoy positive experiences with others in a movement context
Yoga helps to develop self-esteem and confidence through movement

Physical & Motor Development

Yoga helps children to enjoy positive experiences with others in a movement context
Yoga helps to develop self-esteem and confidence through movement
Yoga challenges children in a movement context
Yoga develops strength, endurance & flexibility
Yoga promotes agility, control, balance & coordination

Knowledge & Understanding

Yoga develops basic understanding of movement & in particular weight-bearing & effective body control

Creative & Aesthetic

Development

Yoga uses the body as a medium of expression & develops aesthetic understanding through movement

Health-related fitness

Aistear

Wellbeing

Children will be strong psychologically & socially

Yoga sessions encourage children to work within a group in a clam & respectful atmosphere
Yoga teachers help to model & encourage exercise

Children will be as healthy & as fit as they can be

Yoga sessions, by their very nature, address bodily control and movement skills in ways that can enhance children’s physical development
elements of yoga may be used throughout the day to promote physical activity

Children will be creative

Yoga introduces children to relaxation strategies, for example asking children to concentrate on breathing & inviting them to listen to a piece of music

Children will have positive outlooks on learning & life

Regular yoga sessions can assist children to physically & mentally challenge themselves