A Suffolk school is pioneering yoga sessions with its pupils in an attempt to improve concentration. Cherry Trees School, near Bury St Edmunds, sent its staff member on a day-long course teaching them how to adapt simple yoga moves for use in the classroom.
The basic moves included breathing techniques, rhymes to help the postures and visualisation exercises to prepare the children for meditation, according to a report by www.eadt.co.uk
Head teacher Wendy Compson says both pupils and teachers got a lot from the classes. She adds: “If you have a calm class you can get more done during the day, so the sessions are proving very effective.”
The £800-a-head training course, which was prepared by children’s yoga expert June Rowland, was funded by the school and with a grant from the Montessori Association.
The school plans to introduce the classes across the age range, including nursery pupils, later this year.
A growing body of evidence points to the manifold benefits of yoga for children – including improved concentration and energy levels; better flexibility; and enhanced creativity and self-expression.
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