Yoga In The Classroom
By Marcie Bolton
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Stretching in a group setting while breathing and working the muscles does not really seem like work for the kids in E-13 at Mary Hogan School. It is a great deal of fun when local Yogi Prem Prakash teaches them. Prem has been involved with teaching the multi-age children all different types of moves, from downward dog to the lion for multiple weeks. He says it is one of his very favorite classes. The kids, I think, would completely agree. They are happy and very involved in the movements and they follow along closely.
Prem does not stand in front of the classroom and demand silence while guiding the kids. He involves them in the choice making and allows for interaction, though he does ask for respect, which the kids are happy to give. Yoga is a very physical exercise for the body, the spirit and the mind. Carving out time in the day to focus on breathing, stretching and muscle work helps make the children calmer, more immune to stressors and better able to center on tasks throughout the rest of the day. Watching the kids and Prem, it is a give and take where everyone leaves the class happier.