Yoga

Transition Year – Module – Introduction to Yoga

Duration: 5 weeks

Period: one hour

Rotation: every 5 weeks

Students: 24

Requirements:  large quiet room, yoga mats, loose clothing, music for relaxation

Aim: to introduce students to the practice of Yoga

Learning Intentions:

1. To introduce students to key elements of the philosophy of yoga
   
   

2. To demonstrate and practice basic postures in yoga
   
   

3. To become aware of and practice mindful breathing
   
   

4. To strengthen and increase body flexibility
   
   

5. To practice deep relaxation
   
   

6. To practice meditation
   
   

ContentEach class consists of the following sequence

• Room set up with yoga mats
  
  

• Relaxation with mindful breathing
  
  

• Warm up
  
  

• Series of poses
  
  

• Cool  down – relaxation and meditation
  
  

• Tidy up and change into uniforms
  
  

Week  1 – introduction to basic philosophy of yoga including simple mindful breathing and relaxation.  Importance of opposites i.e. bending to the right then always bend to the left, forward movement to be followed by backward movement. Inhaling and exhaling to the movement.

Demonstration and practice of basic poses – tree, downward dog, plank, side stretches, forward and backward bends, pose of the hare and pose of the child

Week 2 – practice of poses from previous week – new poses – cat and cow, diamond, cobra, warrior 1 and 2, peaceful warrior, upside down poses and plough

Week 3 – Practice of poses from previous week – new poses – bridge, squat, crow, pigeon, ‘happy baby’

Week 4 – practice of poses from previous week – sun salutation series

Week 5 – recap of all poses and handout of 10 basic poses in picture form.

There is no assessment of the module