Yoga Education:

Its Benefits and Challenges

By Krishna K. Bista

PSE 6680

Dr. Davidson

Mantra

The thought manifests as the word;

The word manifests as the deed;

The deed develops into habit;

And habit hardens into character.

So watch the thought and its ways with care

And let it spring from love

Born out of concern for all beings.

The Buddha

(Eds. Amidon and Roberts, 1996, p. 13)

Introduction:

• a set of physical and mental exercises, which is intended to give control over the body and mind (CALD,2002 )

• “yoga” ~ a relationship of Body, Mind and Spirit

• Upanishads, great Hindu literature," There is the path of joy, and there is the path of pleasure, i.e. Yoga Karma”

• “Yoga is a sophisticated system for achieving radiant physical health, superb mental clarity and therefore peace of mind” (Schiffmann, 1996).

• regarded as a physical discipline, one that teaches strength, flexibility, and balance of body.

yoga practice• consists of postures or asanas that strengthen,

stretch, and align the body

• Each posture requires combining the mind, body, and breathing practices.

• Bersma & Visscher (2003), children are natural yogis. Taking a moment to breathe, relax, or stretch that will leave students calm, alert, and ready to learn.

• Yoga class as a warm-up or motivational one. Short yoga exercises as welcome break or pick-me-up in a classroom setting.

• a gift even in military classes. Many solders are provided regular yoga classes in their military camps (Nelson, 2006).

a posture or asana in yoga

National Standards for Physical

Education (NASPE, 2004),

• Yoga creates opportunities for

children to explore movement with a

variety of postures that can be fun

and challenging.

• enhances the physical and

psychological health of the body,

Yoga postures

Benefits of Yoga EducationPhysical Benefits• a discipline ~strengthen, stretch, and align the body in

asanas. After practicing the asanas with care and awareness, one can tone and condition the body (Toscano, 2008).

• development of long lean muscles, better posture improves breathing, enhances digestion, better blood circulation, relaxes nervous system, and a fortifies immune system (Finger, 2000).

• shows children how to emphasize proper body alignment, which increases their ability to use their muscles and joints more efficiently.

• Children love to role play. Moving from poses with music in some game activity is a fun for young children.

Emotional and Mental Benefits• reduce stress and pressure for children and

adults.

• help them learn to relax, teach self control, and instill a sense of peace in their daily lives. ~Marsha Wenig (2003)

• Teach children and adults calmness and inward focus, which is a valuable skill in entire life.

• a great mental discipline for concentration, and observation skills (Finger, 2000).

• self-discipline and develops inner strength, which improves an individual's mental outlook.

• encourage children's creative imagination and self expression.

Children in Yoga Class

Adult in Yoga Practice

Challenges in Yoga Education

According to Dolan (2007),

• it has several challenges in its curriculum development, teaching methods, and student-teacher relationship.

• Sequencing a class (teacher and materials) mood, postures, music as the need of class

A difficult asana in yoga

Contd...

• Students and Teacher relationship ~therapist and patient. teachers need to be sensitive and respectful of their student’s emotional vulnerabilities

• Class Conflicts, hard to predict the mishap that the teachers and students face in a classroom.

• student’s complaint about the heat, an unwillingness to use a prop, social cultural norms in dogmatic societies. Eg. Arabian schools do not have yoga education as it’s against the tradition.

Social beliefs as drawbacks

• Yoga is not considered as a basic part social life. as unnecessary things as oriental stuff. Raphael Gunner (2005)

• yoga asana as stages of fear and danger in practicing phases.

• nerves get struck, and the teachers need to explore the underlying feelings.

Conclusion

• Yoga offers new learning possibilities to a wider group of students than traditional sports or fitness curriculum, making it a valuable addition to any educational program.

• Adding yoga to a school's classroom will help provide a quality physical education program as a modification of traditional physical education. It can be taught as either a warm-up, or as the entire class.

• However, curriculum specialists, teachers, trainers and students should know and analyze seriously the real challenges of yoga education in classroom settings and real life as well.

ReferencesAmidon, E., & Roberts. E. (Eds.) (1996). Life prayers from around the world. NY: HarperCollins.

Bersma, D. & Visscher, M. (2003). Yoga games for children: Fun and fitness with postures, movements and breaths. California: Hunter House.

Dollan, M. (2007). The complete yoga: The lineage of integral education. International Forum of Teaching and Studies. Marietta: Spring 2007. Vol. 3. Iss 1. pp. 31-38. Retrieved April 5, 2008 from http://proquest.umi.com.libprodxy.troy.edu/pqdlink?did=1288252831&fmt=7&client.

Ferry, J. (July, 2007). How yoga is changing the classroom. Independent. Retrieved April 4,

2008, from http:// www.indendent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/452974.htm/

Finger, A. (2000). Introduction to yoga: A beginner’s guide to health, fitness and relaxation. New York, NY: Three River Press.

Gunner, R. (April, 2005). Idol teachings. The Santa Fe New Mexican. Santa Fe N.M. Retrieved April 4, 2008, from http://www.proquest.umi.com.libproxy.troy.edu/pqdlink?did=82404611

National Association for Sport and Physical Education, (2004). Moving into the future: National Standards for Physical Education. 2nd edition. Reston, VA.

Nelson, M. (July 2006). Yoga a stretch for some soldiers. South Florida Sun-Sentinel. July 16.

Schiffmann, E., (1996). Yoga: The spirit and practice of moving into stillness. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.

Toscano, L. (April, 2008). Yoga in physical education. Strategies,Vol. 21. Iss. 4, pp. 15-20. Retrieved April 5, 2008 from http://proquest.umi.com.libproxy.troy.edu/pqdlink?did=1453621051&fmt=7& client Id=15382&RQT=309&Name=PQD.

Weing, M. (2003). Yoga kids: Educating the whole child through yoga. New York, NY: La Martiere Group.

Thanks to

• Dr. B. Davidson, my Guru

• My classmates namely Hyun Park,

Jack Gillis, Jini Jung, Mark Turner, Na

Meng, Qitong Zhao, Robert McNellis,

Richard Pawlak, Shu Feng, Shannon

Graham, Su-Hee Lee, So-Young

Park, & Yue Cao