Does Learning Yoga Benefit Students?

Yoga may look like an aesthetic physical fitness training to take on, but it has various benefits that go beyond the mat. For example, it increases awareness, focus, attention, and more. This is why everyone, from busy professionals to students, can benefit from this practice.

Even schools are slowly trying to implement these practices in their institutions. If you also want your child to benefit from yoga, you are in the right place. We have created a complete guide to help you understand whether or not yoga benefits students.

 

1. Better Mind And Body Connection And Awareness

It is crucial for students to pay attention to the connection between their minds and bodies. For example, school stress can also manifest in physical symptoms such as low energy levels, fatigue, an upset stomach, etc. When students have such awareness, they can find ways to manage their stress. 

They can do breathing exercises or attend some breathwork courses, go for a walk, or do yoga to feel better. Actions like these can only happen when students know how they are feeling, which is a result of mind and body awareness. In the long run, a yoga practice can strengthen this connection and help students understand themselves better.

 

2. Improved Physical Well-Being

According to a health survey taken by the Ministry of Health Singapore in 2020, only 33.8% of the population was physically active. More than half of the population doesn’t engage in physical activities to improve their health. Yoga is an exceptional physical activity that you can cultivate in your children from an early age.

Even between five to fifteen minutes of yoga daily can improve the physical well-being, sleep quality, energy levels, and more for students. When students build this positive habit from an early age, they are more likely to stick to it in the long run.

So, we recommend that you slowly start incorporating this practice into your children or students. Teachers can incorporate this into the classroom for fifteen minutes to help students do better.

 

3. Self-Regulation

Self-regulation is an important tool to help manage emotions and behaviors. Many students might not be provided with the tools to self-regulate, which can lead to negative behavior. An example would be that if a student doesn't know how to manage their stress, they might lash out at others.

Yoga can help students to regulate their emotions so that they can monitor and adapt their behavior based on the environment. Students will behave in a more positive manner and induce a relaxation response in students.

So, even if they are angry at another student during playtime, they might learn to breathe deeply and simply walk away. As a classroom teacher, emotional regulation is an important self-development tool you must impart to your students.

 

4. Boosts Memory And Attention

Academic performance is directly related to the ability of students to remember things and pay attention. Many studies have shown that yoga may improve memory and attention in its practitioners. Both of these factors are important for long-term academic success.

Start incorporating this practice into your classroom and monitor whether the grades of your students improve or not. When students can learn better, they will automatically do better during class and in examinations.

One study also went on to show that students who did yoga ended up with a higher GPA in school. If you want your students to reap these benefits, you can incorporate fifteen minutes of daily yoga into your classroom setting.

 

5. Better Posture

If there is one thing you might notice in your classroom, it is that many students have banana backs when they are sitting on the chairs. Their posture is not correct, and constantly pointing it out will not help them. Instead, it is better to provide them with a physical fitness practice that will help with the root cause of this problem.

Indian monks developed the yoga practice to help them sit for long hours during meditation. Students sit all day in class, which means their backs and shoulders are taking on the burden all day. Help your students improve their posture by incorporating this practice into your routine.

It will also make it easier for them to sit in the classroom all day without feeling tired. You can also allow five minutes of movement time after every forty minutes to ensure they don’t get tired.

 

6. Reducing Stress Levels

Students go through constant stress because of homework, classwork, examinations, projects, and much more. With so many things happening at the same time, they need some time to manage their stress. Studies have shown that regular yoga can greatly reduce stress and anxiety.

Most students don’t know about yoga or its benefits, which is why it is up to the parents and teachers to incorporate these practices. Just taking out five minutes to cultivate this practice can help children manage stress. Such practices are especially important during assessment week.

It will allow students to regulate their emotions and do better on tests. So, help them reduce their stress with this fantastic practice.

 

7. Positive Classroom Environment

Teachers with yoga skills can be incredibly beneficial to students. They can use these skills to promote a positive mood, better well-being, mindfulness, a calm environment, and much more. It will help manage the classroom even better as they will be better able to deal with emotional reactivity.

Even schools can provide such training to teachers so that they can incorporate these simple yet important things in the classroom. An effective teacher can significantly improve student outcomes. Schools can also introduce yoga programs for everyone to participate in and boost student well-being.

When students feel better, they will do better, and it will promote their physical and emotional health. Schools can begin implementing these programs for an overall healthy environment in the long run.

 

Top Yoga Classes For Kids In Singapore In 2023

You don’t have to rely on teachers to cultivate the practice of yoga in students. Instead, you can enroll your children in yoga classes after school. There are many options in Singapore you can choose from, which include the following:

1. Mini Glow Yoga Club

Location	Hom Yoga River Valley, 491 River Valley Road, Valley Point, #01-18/19
Contact Details	info@miniglowyoga.com
Website	https://miniglowyoga.com/

Mini Glow Yoga Club follows the philosophy that kids should learn yoga from an early age. This is why they teach yoga to kids aged between 4 and 11. You can enroll your little ones when they are young to help them reap all the benefits of yoga.

As children grow older, Mini Glow teaches them visualization methods, breathing techniques, yoga poses, and much more. It will allow them to develop strength, flexibility, and coordination that will help them in the physical and academic spheres of their lives.

2. Ananda Marga

Location	18 Waringin Park, Sin Chuan Garden, Singapore
Website	https://anandamarga.org.sg/
Contact Details	yoga@anandamarga.org.sg

Kids aged between eight and twelve will find the Ananda Marga studio to be refreshing. The yoga school understands that children require individual attention, which is why they cap their class limit to twelve kids. Your child will receive individual attention to deepen their yoga practice with time.

Ananda Marga also welcomes kids to drop by for a class to see whether they like it or not. Parents love this studio because they offer packages for multiple classes that will help you save money. So, if you are looking for an exceptional and affordable option, then you can select this yoga studio.

3. Canvass Mindfulness Training Centre

Location	5A Binjai Park or Online
Website	http://www.canvass.com.sg/
Contact Details	info@canvass.com.sg

Canvass offers online and in-person classes to kids between four and fifteen years. If you don't want to commute to pick up and drop off your child, then you can help them practice from the comfort of your home. A unique aspect of Canvass classes is that they incorporate yoga with storytelling and art.

For example, the teachers will let the students know the traditional names of poses, tell the story behind each one, and encourage them to express themselves through yoga. Breathing and meditation are also an important part of their practice. So, consider this incredible school to enroll your kids in yoga.

4. Inspire Mum & Baby

Location	188-2 Tanjong Katong Road, Singapore
Contact Details	info@inspiremumbaby.com
Website	https://inspiremumbaby.com/babies-kids/

Do you want you and your toddler to get a good and restful sleep at night? If you do, then you can take these classes at Inspire Mum & Baby with your toddler. It will help them stretch, lower stress, and be less fussy.

Inspire also makes private bookings to come to your home for such classes. Even if you don't have time to commute, you can opt for these private bookings. Try one class and see whether you can incorporate this habit in your toddler from a young age to help their school life later on.

5. Como Shambhala Urban Escape

Location	Delfi Orchard, 402 Orchard Road, #06-01/02, Singapore 238876
Contact Details	+65 6304 3552
Website	https://comoshambhala.com/singapore

Summer is right around the corner, and many kids and parents are looking for new camps to enroll in. Lucky for you, Como Shambhala Urban Escape offers various yoga camps for students to choose from. These include holistic kids camps, youth camps, transition camps, and much more.

All of them include yoga, mindfulness, and other such techniques to help your child. You can visit their website and check the various classes and camps they offer. Then, you can decide which one will be right for your kid's needs.

6. OhmSantih Yoga

Location	219 Jalan Kayu, #02-01, Singapore
Website	https://www.ohmsantih.com/
Contact Details	Enquiries@ohmsantih.com

OhmSantih prides itself on providing creative yoga classes to kids so they can fall in love with this practice. Every class has a theme and a flow so that kids can learn from it. So, no two classes will ever be the same for them when they come here.

Many teachers also let kids be guides sometimes so they can facilitate the class using their imagination. It also allows kids to be creative with their movement and move freely. They also combine ancient techniques to ensure your child benefits in the best way from this practice.

7. MiniYogi By So-Yoga

Location	Various locations or online
Contact Details	https://www.soyoga.com.sg/contact
Website	https://www.soyoga.com.sg/miniyogi

MiniYogi has been designed for kids that are looking for a deep yoga practice to reap its benefits. It includes yoga classes, yoga camps, yoga at birthday parties, and much more. Even schools can invite their teachers to keep a yoga class for children in their classrooms.

You can go through their various programs and decide which one will be the most suitable for your child. The online option ensures convenience for anyone that doesn’t want to commute to a yoga class.

8. Vyasa Yoga And Ayurveda Singapore

Location	Civil Service Club, 60 Tessensohn Road, #03-05, Singapore 217664
Contact Details	enquiry@vyasasingapore.com
Website	https://vyasasingapore.com/

Teachers at Vyasa Yoga work hard to create a fun learning environment for kids that want to do yoga. They include activities, games, stories, and more in practice. Different age groups have different lessons that you can choose from.

Vyasa Yoga specializes in teaching yoga to kids from preschool to Grade 10. If your kid falls within this age range, then you can sign up for their classes. Once they start doing yoga here, they will never want to stop.

 

Final Thoughts

By now, you understand how yoga is beneficial to various students. You can also make sure your child benefits from this practice by opting for a yoga school. There are endless options in Singapore you can choose from, depending on your budget, preferences, and needs.

Teachers can also find creative ways to incorporate this practice into their classrooms. In the long run, it will help students improve their attention, memory, emotions, behavior, and much more. Yoga is a crucial part of positive classroom management that most teachers should include to guarantee a thriving learning environment for everyone.