SAIIER 2021:Yoga Training
 Arulvazhi Education Centre |
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 Kuilai Creative Centre (KCC) |
| Yoga Training a project of Entity::Arulvazhi Education Centre by Velmurugan | ||
The intention of this project was for our students to learn to use yoga and mindfulness to improve their focus while developing a lifelong awareness of the importance of their physical and emotional health. Yoga provides a sustainable solution to improve students’ readiness to learn, while positively transforming the school culture.
Description of project:
The plan for this project was for yoga training to be given daily (Monday to Sunday except Saturday) in our school premises in the mornings from 6:00 a.m. to 7:15 a.m., and additionally an advanced level special class on Sunday evenings. Due to COVID I instead gave yoga classes 3 days in a week for these three months. Totally 12 classes were given in a month and 8 students regularly attended the class.
Different yoga practices were given for these three days, namely:
- Dhiyana Yoga
- Prana Yoga
- Asanas
- Kriyas
- Muthras (Special daily “Surya Namaskaram”)
After Yoga class, we provided snacks for all the participants like groundnut, green moong dal.
Our local Women’s club also did COVID time yoga practices including Prana Yoga and Dhiyana Yoga, at classes held in the Morattandi multipurpose hall. 15 members participated.
On 28 February 2021, our senior Yoga students gave a demonstration at the celebration of Auroville’s birthday held at Promesse community.
On 30 March, 30 students participated in Marathon training by running from Arulvazhi school to Sadhana Forest, nearly 10 kilometers.
I also had a first experience taking an online yoga class, which was a learning experience for me, and will be a useful option for students to continue yoga training in this pandemic situation.
Outcomes:
Yoga students receive many benefits from yoga practice:
- To have opportunities for beneficial motor breaks throughout the day.
- To ease anxiety and tension (such as pre-test or performance jitters).
- To enhance focus, concentration, comprehension and memory.
- To have opportunities for reflection, patience and insight reducing impulsivity and reactivity.
- To engage character-building activities and improve social and emotional intelligence.
- To improve listening skills.
- To wake up sluggish minds and creativity as needed.
- To enhance organizational and communications skills.
- To improve posture while preparing to sit comfortably.
- To enhance motor skills and balance.
- To improve mind/body awareness and connection.
- To improve confidence and self-esteem.
- To gain improved respect for oneself and others.
- To gain understanding and ability to integrate wellness concepts such as healthy eating.
- To develop the ability to tie in the concepts learned to daily life in and out of the classroom.
