Young children have a natural instinct to channel their energy through movement. As toddlers, they bend, reach and squat through play without inhibition. Throughout their primary years, children continue to need opportunities for physical activity to aid bone and muscle growth. School imposes hours of seated, often sedentary occupation-hunched over work or staring at interactive whiteboards. Whilst physical education remains a vital part of the school curriculum, crammed timetables often mean that P.E. sessions are limited to an hour or less per week. With recent spikes in the number of children presenting with additional needs, the importance of physical activity is even greater. Children with ADHD, ASD, EBD often face barriers to learning as sitting still is so challenging for them.

Yoga, can be used as a tool to integrate movement in to daily routines and as a stand-alone practise. Some schools are beginning to recognise the benefits of mindfulness techniques and ‘brain-breaks’ are facilitated within the timetable. Joga provides bespoke yoga sessions for children aged between 2 and 11 years. We use familiar themes to engage students, so that their experience is meaningful and fun. Age related content is provided, to ensure an inclusive provision, regardless of age/ability/gender. Topics for early years include Mini-Beasts, Under the Sea and Farm Animals. For children at Key Stage 1 we enjoy learning about events such as Chinese New Year and Superheros. Children in Key Stage 2 are encouraged to develop their autonomy by creating new themes and sequences. We pride ourselves in offering a holistic practise to children, where they participate in relaxation, meditation and mindfulness exercises. To this end, we strive to cultivate emotional wellbeing and mental resilience in young learners.