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How To Create a Class Yoga Routine

Start the year off on the right (or left) foot by using yoga to build rapport among your students. Have them create a short “Class Yoga Routine,” with each student contributing a pose or movement. Student relationships and trust are established as they work together, and it’s a great opportunity to let each student shine individually while your whole class achieves a common goal. Perform your routine when you need to reiterate classroom respect or as a daily reminder. And share it with others!

Class Yoga Routine Directions

Have students arrange themselves in a large circle or standing next to their desk. Pick a student to begin, asking them to demonstrate the yoga pose of their choice. Continue around the circle or the room until everyone has shown their pose (if you have a lot of students you might partner them and have 2 students pick 1 pose to demonstrate).

Make sure they think of a way to get into their pose from the one before it (transition).

If you have 10 students (or 20 students partnered), you might have a routine that looks like this:

Mountain pose
Forward Bend
Plank
Downward Dog
Warrior I
Warrior II
Triangle
Wide-Leg Forward Bend
Lunge
Chair

Keep the order of the routine posted somewhere in the classroom until everyone knows it - or challenge your students to perform it from memory!

When to Use Your Class Yoga Routine

In the morning or after lunch to wake up everyone's bodies and brains
To diffuse classroom conflict such as teasing, bullying or cliques as a reminder of what can be achieved through teamwork and cooperation
Before or after tests and heavy concentration activities as a focus, relaxation or reward activity

Teachers Forum

How To Create a Class Yoga Routine

Class Yoga Routine Directions

When to Use Your Class Yoga Routine

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