10 Benefits of Yoga in Schools

Does your school use yoga with the students? Many school-based therapists, physical education teachers and classroom teachers use yoga in education. Here are 10 benefits of yoga in schools and why you should add it to your programs.

Yoga increases physical activity.

First and foremost, one of the benefits of yoga in schools is that it increased physical activity for children. It is recommended that children participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.  Yoga is an excellent choice since it can be performed indoors or outdoors and in small spaces.

Yoga teaches children to relax.

Children’s schedules are super busy – school, extra curricular activities, sports, etc.  Today’s children need to reduce stress with relaxation techniques.

Yoga is for all children regardless of abilities.

Yoga can be modified to be completed by all children including those with physical disabilities making yoga a great choice for an inclusion activity.

Yoga helps children to control their emotions.

Deep breathing exercises are also one of the benefits of yoga in schools. This component of yoga can help children to reduce anxiety and calm down in stressful situations.

Check out what is included in the Yoga in the Classroom bundle in the video below.

Yoga helps with self regulation skills – benefits of yoga in schools.

Self regulation is the ability to tolerate sensations, situations and distress and form appropriate responses.  Simply stated, it is the ability to control emotions, thinking, behavior and motor actions in different situations. Using yoga, children learn how to respond to and control their body. Read more about self-regulation and yoga here.

Yoga improves muscle strength and flexibility.

Growing up today in this sedentary, technology filled world takes a toll on an individual’s body.  Children will need to work hard to maintain a healthy body.  When children maintain good flexibility and muscle strength they can prevent injuries during sporting activities.

Yoga can help to improve attention span and focus.

Children need to concentrate during yoga poses which in turn can help them to increase their attention span and focus. Read more about ways to improve focus here.

Yoga helps children develop balance and coordination skills.

Coordinating the movements of yoga poses combined with balance skills on one foot, knees or upside down can be challenging.

Yoga improves posture.

Children spend so much time sitting at their school desks, leaning over a keyboard or hunched over a cell phone.  Yoga poses can help to improve spinal alignment and posture.

Benefits of Yoga in Schools – Yoga helps children develop listening skills.

One of the final benefits of yoga in schools is that children have to listen to the directions how to move their body including right and left directionality.

Check out all of our resources for Yoga for Kids