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Yoga in the Latin Classroom?
Yoga in the Latin Classroom?
Besides being an educator since the Fall of 1997, I also have been practicing yoga since 2000. Now, there have been some gaps in my practice due to all those responsibilities that come with teaching (moderating clubs, coaching, grading, etc.) and then with raising two amazing humans. But, throughout my years in the classroom, I have always implemented various elements of yoga whether it be "Yoga in Togas" or pranayama breathing before those Arizona standard tests. In January of 2022, I decided to finally pursue my yoga teacher certification. Throughout my training, I have noticed that are so many elements of yoga that can be used in the classroom that would be very beneficial to our students. (Also, I am finding that the similarities between Latin and Sanskrit are really neat but that is a topic for another day!) Below are some "tools and tricks" that Latin teachers can use to engage their students in the language as well as help them cope with the many challenges that face them today.
In Principio
Below are techniques that you can use to begin your Latin class.
Pranayama Breathing at the Beginning of Class
When students enter our classroom, they are frazzled. They exited another class, visited their lockers, and briefly (or maybe not so briefly chatted with their friends.). They are not mentally ready to learn. Previously, I would ask my students to take out their homework and work on the day’s warm-up. But, it is a challenge for that teenage brain to instantly switch gears. Pranayama refers to the many breathing techniques that help the mind be calm, focused, and positive. For my fellow linguists, prana means “life force” and yama means “control.” This can be done at the beginning of class ( 1-2 minutes) to help center your students. Once students are seated, have them close their eyes and place their hands on the tops of their legs. While you are guiding your students in pranayama breathing, you can use a mantra (peace/pacem-accusative of exclamation) or count the inhalations and exhalations in Latin. Below are instructions for you to use with your students.
ANGLICE
Close your eyes. Place your hands on your laps.
a. Inhale-1-2-3-4-5. Pause. Exhale-5-4-3-2-1. OR
b. Inhale-PA (Count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 in your head as you say PA). Pause. Exhale-CEM (Count 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 in your head as you say the CEM).
*N.B. Students can be encouraged to count or say PA-CEM in their heads. For an added bonus, this is a mantra and is a form of meditation.
Again. (Repeat step 2 as needed.)
Open your eyes.
LATINE
Claudite vestros oculos. Ponite vestras manus in cruribus.
a. Inspirate-Unus–Duo-Tres-Quattuor-Quinque. Consistite. Exspirate-Quinque-Quattuor-Tres-Duo-Unus.
b. Inspirate-PA (Numera I, II, III, IV, V in tuo capite dicens PA). Consistite.
Exspirate-CEM (Numera V, IV, III, II, I in tuo capite dicens CEM)
Iterum.
Aperite vestros oculos.
Students type. They text on their phones, they type on their Chromebooks, and if they are lucky, they write with a pen or pencil. By the end of the school day, their hands are probably exhausted. Then, after school, they probably practice a sport or an instrument. Their poor little hands need some much-needed TLC to make sure that they will have healthy hands when they are older. The joint freeing series was designed by Mukunda Stiles, a legendary pioneer in the practice of Yoga Therapy. This practice emphasizes joint health, improves mobility, and hopefully prevents future injuries.
Students type. They text on their phones, they type on their Chromebooks, and if they are lucky, they write with a pen or pencil. By the end of the school day, their hands are probably exhausted. Then, after school, they probably practice a sport or an instrument. Their poor little hands need some much-needed TLC to make sure that they will have healthy hands when they are older. The joint freeing series was designed by Mukunda Stiles, a legendary pioneer in the practice of Yoga Therapy. This practice emphasizes joint health, improves mobility, and hopefully prevents future injuries.
ANGLICE
Raise your arms and hands to shoulder height.
Inhale. Bending at the wrist, point the tips of your fingers toward the ground.
Exhale. Bending at the wrist, point the tips of your fingers to the sky.
(This can be repeated 3-5 times.)
Raise your arms and hands to shoulder height.
Inhale. Turn the flat palms away from each other.
Exhale. Turn the flat palms toward each other.
(This can be repeated 3-5 times.)
Raise your arms and hands to shoulder height.
Inhale. With your hands, make a circle toward the right side.
Exhale. With your hands, make a circle toward the left side.
(This can be repeated 3-5 times.)
LATINE
Tollite manus et bracchia ad altitudinem umerorum.
Inspirate. Flectentes vestros carpos, dirigite digitos ad terram.
Exspirate. Flectentes vestros carpos, dirigite digitos ad caelum.
Iterum
Tollite manus et bracchia ad altitudinem umerorum.
Inspirate. Evertite vestras palmas.
Exspirate. Invertite vestras palmas.
Iterum
Tollite manus et bracchia ad altitudinem umerorum.
Inspirate. Facite circulum manibus vestris ad dextrum.
Exspirate. Facite circulum manibus vestris ad sinistrum.
Iterum
Pavanmuktasana
Joint Freeing Series-Hands (Umeri)
Students are often hunched over their screens, whether it be their phones or their laptops. In class, they even slouch in their seats while they are diligently taking notes or reading those fascinating texts. I would like to hope that when they are home, they are engaged in activities that would encourage correct posture. Needless to say, we can try to help them at the beginning of Latin class. Hopefully, by incorporating a few more techniques from the joint freeing series, designed by Mukunda Stiles, we can help them with their postures and help them prevent future pain in their shoulders.
ANGLICE
Raise your arms and hands to shoulder height.
Inhale. Open your palms to the sky.
Exhale. Bending at the elbow, touch your tops of the shoulders.
(This can be repeated 3-5 times.)
Bend the arms and place your fingers on the tops of your shoulders.
Inhale. Open your arms to the sides of the room.
Exhale. Close your arms to your heart center.
(This can be repeated 3-5 times.)
Extend your arms and with the elbows bent, turn your hands to the front of the room.
Inhale. Turn your hands to the sky.
Exhale. Turn your hands to the ground.
(This can be repeated 3-5 times.)
LATINE
Tollite manus et bracchia ad altitudinem umerorum.
Inspirate. Aperite vestras palmas ad caelum.
Exspirate. Flectentes ad cubitum, tangite vestros summos umeros.
Iterum
Flectite bracchia et ponite vestros digitos in summis umeris vestris.
Inspirate. Aperite bracchia vestra ad latera camerae.
Exspirate. Claudite bracchia vestra ad cor tuum.
Iterum
Extendite bracchia vestra et cubitis flectis, vertite manus vestras ad frontem camerae.
Inspirate. Vertite manus vestras ad caelum.
Exspirate. Vertite manus vestras ad terram.
Iterum
Pavanmuktasana
Joint Freeing Series-Feet (Pedes)
Students like their shoes. In summer, they live in flip-flops. At school, depending on the rules, they are wearing the required shoe or they are wearing the latest trend: converse, vans, flats, boots, or even tennis shoes. Then, after school, they are wearing whatever sports footwear they need to wear, ballet shoes, tap shoes, or even dress shoes for those who participate in those speech and debate competitions. If our students are to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle, they need to take care of those feet. Our feet are the foundations of our body that allow us to move, balance, and stay grounded in our daily lives. The joint freeing series provides needed care for our feet.
ANGLICE
Place your hands on the desk/table and elevate your legs above the ground.
Inhale. Extend your feet to the front of the room.
Exhale. Bend your feet to the sky.
(This can be repeated 3-5 times.)
Place your hands on the desk/table and elevate your legs above the ground.
Inhale. Turn the feet away from each other.
Exhale. Turn the feet toward each other.
(This can be repeated 3-5 times.)
Place your hands on the desk/table and elevate your legs above the ground.
Inhale. With your feet, make a circle toward the right side.
Exhale. With your feet, make a circle toward the left side.
(This can be repeated 3-5 times.)
LATINE
Ponite vestras manus in mensa et levate vestra crura super terram.
Inspirate. Extendite vestros pedes ad frontem camerae.
Exspirate. Flectite vestros pedes ad caelum.
Iterum
Ponite vestras manus in mensa et levate vestra crura super terram.
Inspirate. Evertite vestros pedes.
Exspirate. Invertite vestros pedes.
Iterum
Ponite vestras manus in mensa et levate vestra crura super terram.
Inspirate. Facite circulum pedibus vestris ad dextrum.
Exspirate. Facite circulum pedibus vestris ad sinistrum.
Iterum
BE SURE TO VISIT PART II OF
YOGA FOR THE LATIN CLASS!
There will be suggestions for various fun and engaging brain breaks!
GRATIAS!
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