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Yoga and Meditation to Improve Behavior

Tags

Social-Emotional Learning All Ages Strategy

Skills

Anxiety Self-regulation Attention

Yoga and Meditation to Improve Behavior

If your student struggles with anxiety or emotions

How To Apply It!

  1. Yoga and meditation are becoming increasingly popular for students in the classroom and after school as a way to reduce anxiety, improve attention and listening, and manage emotions.
  2. Yoga leads to better body awareness and offers a physical activity that is non-competitive. Given the time and space required, yoga is often taught as part of PE or health class.
  3. Yoga techniques should progress as a child moves through different developmental stages and has more practice. Yoga gradually requires prolonged periods of stillness, focus, balance, and flexibility. The kinesthetics of yoga require increasingly complicated physical movements. The linguistic aspects require listening and comprehending. The musical aspect puts the child in touch with mood and rhythm.
  4. Meditation exercises can be good alternatives when there are space, time or expertise constraints. In many cases the primary goal is to help students be aware of their breathing so they can slow themselves down when they are feeling anxious.
  5. Many teachers implement meditation exercises at the beginning of class to get students ready to learn or before a big exam.
  6. You can find options for good breathing and relaxation apps here.

Why It Works (the Science Of Learning)!

There is an ever-growing body of research on the positive effects of yoga and mindfulness for physical and emotional health. These techniques help build self-awareness and teach students how to manage distractions, such as ignoring the chatter of others, by disciplining their minds in the art of staying focused. They can be effective in help children reduce anxiety and manage their emotions.