Yoga - Castleside Primary School
Yoga began as a spiritual practice but has become popular as a way of promoting physical and mental well-being. Although classical yoga also includes other elements, yoga typically emphasizes physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation (dyana).
Yoga and mindfulness have been shown to improve both physical and mental health in school-age children (ages 6 to 12). Yoga improves balance, strength, endurance, and aerobic capacity in children. Yoga and mindfulness offer psychological benefits for children as well. A growing body of research has already shown that yoga can improve focus, memory, self-esteem, academic performance, and classroom behaviour, and can even reduce anxiety and stress in children.
The pupils at Castleside Primary School seem to really enjoy taking part in their regular Yoga classes and actively encourage one another in the postures and exercises.