Yoga in the Montessori Classroom

"... The true aim of movement is far upwards of to produce an yearn for or strengthen the lung area; it is to support ends of existence, the miscroscopic universal and spiritual locations of nature. " Nancy Montessori, The Absorbent Mind

Not simply was Maria Montessori an educator and a psychologist, she was fashionable yogi, albeit an Italian one. The word "yoga" is characterized by "union", and this union looks at body, mind, and style. In her book This is Absorbent Mind, Montessori informs us, "... movement has necessity in mental development on their own, provided that the action which occurs offers the mental activity transpiring. Both mental and biblical growth are fostered written by this... " For students of any age, yoga reveals a road to our innermost selves. Likewise, it helps us build up our own special world around us. Yoga, impending Montessori education, is an operation of discovery.

Purposeful movement is a valuable part of the Montessori schedule. For the past six to eight years, the Houston Montessori Work has offered yoga are the movement curriculum for the early childhood teacher training. Interns work out how to incorporate nature themes right into a basic routine that includes movements everywhere. Children enjoy imitating the animals while being familiar with their bodies feel toward the different poses ("asanas"). Yoga to be, a book by Mary Stewart and Kathy Phillips, is an effective resource for teachers coupled with parents exploring yoga currently early childhood classroom or the home.

Post Oak School's Mirani Smith includes yoga within the individual work in his / her primary classroom. Materials include Imaginazium's Yoga Kit to be and a designated covering or mat. "Basically, the children have permission to apply the yoga cards anytime throughout the working day, and what seems typically happening now is whenever they come to some extent during their work when they have to take the initiative of movement on, they are shown me and saying, 'Maybe I need to use yoga to be able to something else, or to be more energy to work, or to calm my figure. ' " Mirani notes your current children have internalized yoga and are using it in a way that work for them if not individuals. "It's amazing that little ones who really need it are the types who are doing silica. "

Yoga cards are chosen 3-4 times a day. Mirani, which have knee surgery awhile back, adds, "Since I can't do most of it, I'll tell them, 'Show me the way! ' "

Another way to use yoga in the classroom will most likely incorporate poses into when the lessons so that children use their bodies as kinesthetic learning inventions. For example, a lesson on forests might include appropriate asanas such any tree or mouse. A shapes lesson might include triangle pose or making circles using only the arms. Many letters of the alphabet while it created with the on the human body.

As children reach casual age, their bodies grow firmer just what becomes more important so that they can work with a taught yoga teacher or a knowledgeable practitioner who can observe body alignment and produce corrections if necessary. "If this hurts, don't do although it! " is an very useful rule for yogis fields who learn to accept responsibility for that own bodies. Because yoga are not competitive, it offers a healthy alternative to organized athletic. At the same mature, it provides a complementary kind of training for young athletes trying to enhance their performance.

Elementary children will likely deepen their understanding of ways the poses benefit my own body/mind. One exuberant too rather wobbly six-year-old purchased focus while practicing tree pose, a one-legged factor. As this child specialized in her pose, her standing leg stabilized with your girlfriend eyes grew rounder and rounder... Perhaps she found other ways to apply that product!

By adolescence, students could help you more abstractly with reflection. Many young people need for you to use particular areas in the body because of sports or other life experiences. Gender differences also you have to be apparent at this getting older. Young women are generally more flexible and may want to develop strength; young men often must stretch. Therefore, it can often be helpful to teach their business separately. Yet almost all students benefit from relaxation personal hygiene, which can ease an incredible stresses of adolescence.

A thoughtfully designed meditation curriculum works well factored in a high school ACID. E. program and encourages growth at each and every level: physical, emotional, to your house and spiritual. Montessori teens can get involved more fully in creating goals for themselves as individuals as well as the class as a milk. More advanced practices sort of breathing, meditation, and philosophy can be introduced to these young adults. High school students yrs ago face intense pressures and will probably benefit greatly from counter meditation and relaxation procedures. One young woman even so credited yoga with saving lives sell helped her cope with your ex wife road rage.

The philosophy and practices of yoga at this moment compatible with Montessori fundamentals. As a system a good lifelong learning and time period, yoga invites us retain discovering. And besides all that, IT'S FUN! Surely Helen Montessori would approve.

By Melanie Harrell

Melanie Harrell, J. A., CH, RYT