| (California) Physical Education Learning Standards |
Elements of Hatha Yoga Aligned to (California's) Physical Education Standards |
| K-3 |
|
| Balance while bending and stretching |
Nearly
every standing yoga pose involves balance, often with one foot lifted
from the floor. Several standing poses also involve balance while
bending into various poses, all of which involves stretching. |
| Keep the body stable in high, medium and low positions |
Physical
stability is a fundamental element of hatha yoga. Students practice
finding internal stability in all standing poses, including poses held
for up to two minutes at high, medium and low positions. |
| Recognize that skill development requires practice |
The
ability to successfully hold most yoga practices involves practice.
The wide range of poses ensures that students with abilities ranging
from great athleticism to physically disabled are given appropriate and
challenging poses. |
| Describe the location, size and shape of their heart and indicate that it beasts faster during exercise |
Because
conscious breathing is an integral element of hatha yoga practice, and
because much of this breathing is visually connected to "breathing
through the heart," students learn the heart's location, size, shape and
beating rates. |
| Discuss the connection of food, nutrition and energy |
Hatha
yoga deliberately relates to overall health, an essential component of
which is food and nutrition. The connection between food, nutrition and
energy is frequently discussed in yoga classes. |
| Identify various body parts and their location |
Every
part of the body is discussed in the course of learning yoga, thereby
helping students to gain a basic understanding of human anatomy. |
| Create movements using different body parts |
In
the vinyasa flow approach to hatha yoga, students learn to use
different body parts in relation to one another while moving from pose
to pose. |
| Demonstrate contrasts between slow and fast movements |
In the vinyasa flow approach to hatha yoga, students directly experience modulations of movement between slow and fast. |
| Identify feelings that result from participation in a movement activity |
In
as much as emotions are rooted in the body outside of the brain alone,
hatha yoga tends to stimulate a wide range of feelings in a safe and
supportive environment, allowing students to identify the types of
feelings associated with different poses, movements, and parts of the
body. |
| Develop responsibility for expected behavior on the playground and in the classroom |
The
practice of hatha yoga involves self-discipline and concentration as
well as respect for others in the room. ABC Yoga Club teachers emphasize
individual responsibility for behaviors that are conducive to small and
large group physical interaction, including that occurring on
playgrounds and in classrooms. |
| Create rules to follow individually, with a partner or in a group |
Yoga
involves many principles (rather than hard-and-fast rules) that allow
students to practice safely. In practicing with these rules, students
learn to importance of rules more generally. |
| Stretch basic muscle groups |
The practice of hatha yoga stretches every muscle group in the body. |
| Demonstrate dynamic balancing |
Nearly
every standing yoga pose involves balance, often with one foot lifted
from the floor. Several standing poses also involve balance while
bending into various poses, all of which involves stretching. |
| Move each joint through a full range of motion |
Students
in hatha yoga class learn to move every joint through its full range of
motion, with an emphasis on safely extending the range of motion. |
| Discuss the principles of warming up before vigorous activities and recognize the benefits of cooling down afterwards |
ABC Yoga Club
teachers begin every class with warming activities and end every class
with cooling activities. Students learn the underlying principles for
these practices. |
| Participate in warm-up exercise to prepare the body for more vigorous activities |
ABC Yoga Club
teachers begin every class with warming activities and end every class
with cooling activities. Students learn the underlying principles for
these practices. |
| Perform a locomotive activity for an extended period of time to create an aerobic effect |
In
the vinyasa approach to hatha yoga, students are engaged in a process
of continuous movement which may extend for as long as thirty minutes,
thereby creating a strong aerobic effect. |
| Increase awareness of others |
While
yoga is primarily an individual practice that focuses the student
internally, ABC Yoga Club teachers emphasize the importance of
appreciating and respecting others in their own practice. |
| Recognize and appreciate their own positive and negative feelings and those of others |
As
indicated in item "9," above, a variety of feelings arise in yoga
practice (as in other physical activities). ABC Yoga Club teachers
stress the importance of validating one's own feelings and respecting
those of others. |
| Analyze mistakes and celebrate achievement of personal goals |
As
one progresses in learning yoga, daunting challenges require slowing
down, pausing, and reflecting upon obstacles. One becomes capable of
performing a more advanced pose, there are powerful intrinsic rewards. |
| Be considerate of others in physical activity settings |
ABC Yoga Club teachers frequently discuss the value of respecting others in yoga classes. |
| Use equipment properly and assist in proper storage and maintenance |
Students learn the proper care, handling and storage of all yoga supplies and props. |
| Participate in multicultural games and activities |
In
as much as yoga is rooted in an set of ancient practices originating in
India, students are exposed to another cultures activities. In India,
there are today local, regional and national yoga competitions. It is
entirely possible to plan and structure yoga demonstrations and games
for students here as well. |
| Grades 4-8 |
| Discuss and list advantages and disadvantages of body types related to specific activities. |
Yoga practice readily reveals the capacities and limitations presented by various body types in relation to different poses. |
| Designate whether a selected activity enhances cardio-respiratory endurance, flexibility or muscular strength. |
In
the course of practicing yoga, students learn to appreciate all that is
involved in particular poses or sequences of poses, including the
development of endurance, flexibility and strength. |
| Describe healthful benefits that result from regular participation in physical activity. |
ABC Yoga Club
teachers provide explanations of each poses benefits while students are
practicing the poses. Classes also often begin and end with formal
discussions of what benefits (and dangers) are present in each pose. |
| Integrate personal meaning through a creative movement experience. |
Yoga
practice is as much an introspective meditation on one life as it is a
system of physical exercise. Through the regular practice of hatha yoga,
personal meaning is emergent. |
| Identify activities that contribute to personal feelings of joy and satisfaction. |
Every yoga student finds poses that contribute to his or her overall sense of happiness and well being. |
| Participate in activities that contribute to personal feelings of joy and satisfaction. |
The
overall effect of yoga is a feeling of joy and satisfaction that is
derived from stimulating every muscle, organ, gland and nerve in the
body along with oxygenation of the blood supply from intensive breathing
activities. |
| Appreciate individual differences by modifying small group cooperative and competitive games to meet the needs of all involved. |
ABC Yoga Club
teachers provide a variety of options to students based on individual
differences. This helps students to appreciate the value of their
differences in other activities as well. |
| Cooperate with a partner in using equipment and helping one another improve object manipulation skills. |
As
one advances in his or her yoga practice, ABC Yoga Club teachers
provide opportunities for students to work together as partners in
practicing more advanced poses (such as handstands). |
| Seek out, participate with, and show respect for persons of different skill levels. |
Most
yoga students are intrigued by the abilities of others in the room and
want to learn other's methods for doing the poses. ABC Yoga Club
teachers encourage this form of healthy interaction, and create
opportunities for students to demonstrate it. |
| Demonstrate
correctly activities designed to improve and maintain muscular strength
and endurance, flexibility, and cardio-respiratory functioning. |
Every
yoga class taught by ABC Yoga Club teachers provides opportunities for
students to demonstrate correctly activities designed to improve and
maintain muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and
cardio-respiratory functioning. |
| Improve and maintain appropriate body composition. |
Balance
is a fundamental concept and element of yoga, including the proper
balance of muscle and fat in the body. The effect of regular yoga
practice is both the development of this proper balance and an
understanding (based on how it feels) to move toward that quality of
balanced bodily composition. |
| Participate in an individualized fitness program. |
Hatha
yoga is an individualized fitness program. Classes taught by ABC Yoga
Club teachers will ensure that every participating pupil has a fitness
program that meets his or her individual needs. |
| Recognize the effects of substance abuse on personal health and performance in physical activity. |
The yoga principle of "saucha," which is on the Niyamas, emphasizes self-purification and |
| Participate
in games, sports, dance and outdoor pursuits both in and outside of
school, according to individual interests and capabilities. |
ABC Yoga Club teachers instruct hatha yoga in a way that ensures participation in accordance with individual interests and capabilities. |
| Feel satisfaction on days when he/she engages in physical activity. |
Every yoga student finds poses that contribute to his or her overall sense of happiness and well being. |
| Accept and respect decisions made by game officials, whether they are students, teachers, or officials. |
Yoga practice creates an auspicious environment in which respect for self, others, and leaders is validated and reinforced. |
| Engage in activities that provide for challenge, problem solving and decision making. |
The
intricacy of many yoga poses challenges students both physically and
mentally, requiring that they make conscious decisions about how to
practice. |
| Discuss personal and group conduct, including ethical and unethical behavior, appropriate for engaging in physical activity. |
Students
discuss all the Yamas and Niyamas, directly addressing matters of
personal and group conduct, including ethical and unethical behavior for
engaging in physical activity. Students are also encouraged to keep
journals recording their feelings and thoughts relative to ethics and
behavior. |
| Grades 9-12 |
| Students
will begin to identify preferences for types of physical activity that
can be pursued over the long term for fitness and recreation. |
Yoga
is a life-long form of physical activity. Students practice yoga in a
learning environment in which they make conscious choices about how they
are engaging their bodies and minds in their daily life. |
| Assess personal fitness and set goals for personal improvement or maintenance. |
Hatha
yoga provides an immediate source for taking personal inventory of
one's fitness. ABC Yoga Clu teachers work with students to set goals and
personal improvement and maintenance that will work within the context
of each students individual needs. |
| Demonstrate an understanding of the connection between nutrition and fitness. |
ABC Yoga Club
teachers regularly present information and facilitate discussions of
the relationship between nutrition and fitness. Various theories of
nutrition are presented, emphasizing a wholesome diet comprised of a
maximum of fresh and whole foods. |
| Analyze
the personal values and risks of various physical activities based upon
personal fitness levels, medical situations and environmental factors. |
ABC Yoga Club's
teachers' highest priority is creating a safe environment for physical
activity. This involves carefully assessing each student to ensure that
the yoga poses they practice are based upon personal fitness levels,
medical situations, and environmental factors. Teachers work closely
with students in making this assessment so that students become more
knowledgeable and skilled in their own ongoing personal self-assessment. |
| Select an area of focus and apply a practice routine that will result in measurable improvement. |
Students
are encouraged to focus on and practice a limited number of specific
appropriate poses so that steady and tangible improvement is made. |
| Serve as peer coaches and group leaders in a variety of physical activities. |
As
students progress through the yoga program and advance in their
knowledge and skills, they begin to assist other students in the class
and are given opportunities to assist teachers in providing guided
instruction. |
| Discuss sociological issues related to physical activities and sports including violence, fair play, ethics and courtesy. |
Students
explore the concept of violence first and foremost in reference to
their own yoga practice, thereby helping to ensure that they do not
injure themselves. The value of non-violence is then extended to peers,
family, school, and community. Ethics, including honesty and respect,
are routinely and regularly explored in the context of challenging
physical activity. |
| As a member of a team or group, demonstrate conflict resolution skills. |
Students
indirectly learn conflict resolution skills by developing skills for
coping with their own impulses, gaining mental clarity amidst
challenging circumstances, and practicing communication about needs and
interests. |
| Create games, dances or activities from personal cultures and those of others. |
Students
learn to create their own moving sequences of yoga poses, often in
timing with music, drawing from the ancient traditions of India. |
| Demonstrate
intermediate or advanced competence in one activity from each the six
following categories: aquatics, dance (e.g., modern, folk, ballet);
outdoor pursuits (e.g., hiking, biking, canoeing); individual
activities/sports (e.g., golf, cycling); dual activities/sports (e.g.,
tennis, racquetball); team activities/sports (e.g., soccer, softball). |
Students
learn, develop, and practice skills that involve, strength,
flexibility, endurance, balance, poise, regulation of energy, and mental
focus, all of which apply to other physical activities. |
| Focus
and develop a personal level of excellence in an activity of choice,
such as a sport, dance, gymnastics, or aquatic activity. |
Students
learn increasingly complex, challenging, and intricate physical poses
and breathing techniques that require intensive focus, concentration,
discipline and practice. |
| Show evidence of a positive self-image and the ability to cope with success and failure. |
Students
master increasing levels of skill and ability regardless of their
initial abilities, thereby having experiences that enhance self-image.
The practice of yoga itself instills coping skills for dealing with
challenging or arduous situations. |
| Explore career opportunities in physical education, recreation and related fields. |
Students learn about opportunities for teaching yoga in yoga schools, athletic gyms, and other settings. |
| Make a commitment to physical activity as an important part of oneีs lifestyle. |
Students learn the value of a lifelong commitment to physical exercise, proper nutrition, and conscious living. |
| Willingly participate in games, sports, dance, outdoor pursuits, and the physical goals and the maintenance of wellness. |
Hatha yoga invites students to discover feelings of joy and self-motivation within the regular practice of poses. |
| Apply
social skills acquired in physical education activities to enhance
their interaction with diverse populations during work and play. |
Each
of the yamas and niyamas help students to interact more positively with
peers, leaders, and others in work and play settings. |
| Support
and participate in community organizations that promote health, fitness
and recreational opportunities for people of all ages. |
ABC Yoga Club
itself provides students with a living example of a participatory
community organization actively promoting health, fitness, and
recreational opportunities for people of all ages and physical
conditions. |
|
View this Kid's Yoga You Tube Video. 
Children
today are under a lot of stress. Homework, pressure to compete with
other children, endless after school activities, over-scheduling -- it
all adds up. And just like their parents, kids today are turning to
Yoga to help them relax. Teaching yoga to children helps them develop
better body awareness, self control, flexibility and coordination. Kids
can carry these skills beyond class and into their daily routines. For
example, when a student gets frustrated, like when her computer doesn't
work properly. They can think about what would help. She could do her
breathing exercises, such as the three-part breath, which could help
her stay centered and calm in difficult situations throughout the day.
