There is a wide range of yoga, as well as a range of health benefits for adults and children. Yoga can have physical and mental benefits that might actually help your students learn better. Several teachers have told me how my “Morning Stretch” really helps their students focus and get ready to start each day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIq9TbaCokc
Yoga Letters
There are several videos where yoga poses are related to the alphabet, and you can actually download this poster free.
http://www.youngyogamasters.com/2014/05/28/yoga-alphabet-printable/
Linda Smith shared this idea for Monument Yoga:
Washington Monument – Feet together and arms up and with pointed fingers.
Statue of Liberty – One arm up holding the torch and the other arm holding a book with feet apart.
Honest Abe – Sitting position with arms out as if on a chair.
Mount Rushmore – Legs apart with chin under fist and switch sides.
The Arch – Arms in an arc twice overhead.
Liberty Bell – Arms down swinging side to side as you say, “Bong, bong, bong, crack!”
And, wouldn’t your students love doing this Superhero Yoga that Charley Schillinger does with her students?
Superman – Do a plank.
Wonder Woman – Sit in an invisible chair.
Spiderman – Feet together and squat.
Batman – Arms out and one leg up.
Captain America - Squat with legs apart and stretch arms over head and behind as if extending a shield.
Flash Lunges - One foot in front and lean forward and touch the floor.
Black Widow - Take turns stretching out your arms.
Iron Man Pose - Stand straight and look up towards the sky.
Here's here blog so you can learn more about it:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljZWZjN205R0NXMGc/view?usp=sharing
Active Learning - Wouldn't it be interesting to let your students create their own yoga poses for vocabulary, science themes, etc.
As long as you learn new things and try new things in your classroom you won’t be bored and your students won’t either. Maybe yoga might add a little magic to your new school year.
