Yoga for your Latin Class

IN MEDIO

Below are tools that you can use as "brain breaks."

Ardha Chandrasana-Sukhasana

At this point, your students have been diligently working for the past twenty to thirty minutes. This, however, can vary depending on if you are on a block schedule or if you are considered a “special.” Needless to say, the student will need a break. This pose, translated as half-moon seated, is a great pose to not only stretch the sides of the body but also strengthen the abdominal muscles and the spine while stimulating the digestive organs.

ANGLICE

Raise your arms and hands to the sky.
Inhale. Extend your fingers to the sky.
Exhale. Stretch your hands to the right side.
Inhale. Extend your fingers to the sky.
Exhale. Stretch your hands to the left side.

(This can be repeated 3-5 times.)

LATINE

Tollite bracchia et manus ad caelum.
Inspirate. Extendite vestros digitos ad caelum.
Exspirate. Tendite vestras manus ad dextrum.
Inspirate. Extendite vestros digitos ad caelum.
Exspirate. Tendite vestras manus ad laevum.

Iterum

Virabhadrasana B (Sukhasana)

Virabhadrasana B or Warrior B is a standing pose that provides a great stretch to the hips, strengthens the legs, and opens the chest. This pose can be done in a seated position. Students can angle the bent leg to one side of the chair while extending the other to the leg to the other side. N.B. Make sure that the gluteus maximus of the bent leg is planted on the seat of the chair. To make this pose more active, students can move their arms to the sky on the breath. Finally, while in this pose, there could also be a brief discussion about Hindu mythology. Virabhadra was a warrior sent to exact revenge. Also, vira means hero in Sanskrit!

LATINE

Flectite genu dextrum et extendite id ad dextrum. Facite crus laevum rectum et extendite id ad laevum. Tollite bracchium dextrum super genu dextrum et bracchium laevum super crus laevum.

Inspirate. Tollite manus ad caelum.
Exspirate. Demittite manus ad altitudinem umerorum.

Iterum

Flectite genu laevum et extendite id ad laevum. Facite crus dextrum rectum et extendite id ad dextrum. Tollite bracchium dextrum super genu dextrum et bracchium laevum super crus laevum.

Inspirate. Tollite manus ad caelum.
Exspirate. Demittite manus ad altitudinem umerorum.

Iterum

ANGLICE

Bend the right knee and extend it to the right. Straighten the left leg and extend it to the left. Lift the right arm over the right knee and the left arm over the left leg.
Inhale. Raise your hands to the sky.
Exhale. Lower your hands to the height of the shoulders.

(This can be repeated 3-5 times.)

Bend the left knee and extend it to the left. Straighten the right leg and extend it to the right. Lift the right arm over the right knee and the left arm over the left leg.
Inhale. Raise your hands to the sky.
Exhale. Lower your hands to the height of the shoulders.

(This can be repeated 3-5 times.)

Utthita Parsvakonasana-Sukhasana

This pose, commonly known as side angle stretch, has many benefits for students after being seated for some time. This pose, even when seated, can provide a stretch to the legs, knees, and ankles. However, I think this pose would be even more beneficial to the chest, shoulders, and lungs. Students often are hunched over their textbooks or Chromebooks in class and this pose will provide an opportunity for them to open their chests, lungs, and heart. If pranayama breathing is incorporated, this could provide the energy boost needed to help them with the rest of their school day.

LATINE

Flectite genu dextrum et extendite id ad dextrum. Facite crus laevum rectum et extendite id ad laevum. Tollite bracchium dextrum super genu dextrum et bracchium laevum super crus laevum.

Inspirate. Tollite manum laevam ad caelum et ponite cubitum dextrum in genu dextro
Exspirate. Extendite bracchia et manus ad altitudinem umerorum.

Iterum

Flectite genu laevum et extendite id ad laevum. Facite crus dextrum rectum et extendite id ad dextrum. Tollite bracchium dextrum super genu dextrum et bracchium laevum super crus laevum.

Inspirate. Tollite manum dextram ad caelum et ponite cubitum laevum in genu laevo.
Exspirate. Extendite bracchia et manus ad altitudinem umerorum.

Iterum

ANGLICE

Bend the right knee and extend it to the right. Straighten the left leg and extend it to the left. Lift the right arm over the right knee and the left arm over the left leg.
Inhale. Raise your left hand to the sky and place your right elbow on your right knee.
Exhale. Extend your arms and hands to the height of the shoulders.

(This can be repeated 3-5 times.)

Bend the left knee and extend it to the left. Straighten the right leg and extend it to the right. Lift the right arm over the right knee and the left arm over the left leg.
Inhale. Raise your right hand to the sky and place your left elbow on your left knee.
Exhale. Extend your arms and hands to the height of the shoulders.

(This can be repeated 3-5 times.)

Tadasana

Sitting is hard work. Even though I am now an online teacher, I find that I am still taking breaks every hour to get my wiggles out. Imagine how our students must feel especially in those hard seats. Tadasana, translated as mountain pose, or mons, is a great opportunity for our students to work out those wiggles. When all of the muscles are engaged, this pose strengthens and tones many muscles groups and encourages great posture. I also like to use this pose to help with concentration and focus.

LATINE

State post mensam tacite. Ponite bracchia ad latera corporis.
Inspirate. Extendite coronam capitis ad caelum.
Exspirate. Stantes, tendite digitos ad terram.

Iterum

ANGLICE

Stand behind your desk/table quietly. Place your arms at the sides of your body.
Inhale. Extend the crown of your head to the sky.
Exhale. While standing, stretch your fingers to the ground.

(This can be repeated 3-5 times.)

Vrksasana

I admit I almost did not include this pose. If you have been teaching for a while, you can probably see the many ways in which this pose can go wrong. If you are lucky enough to have a small class and your students are not squished into the room, it might be worth it since there are benefits to tree pose. Vrksasana has been known to help reduce anxiety and stress and obviously improve balance. This pose also strengthens the muscles in those legs that have been seated for quite some time. N.B. Students will not know the word for calf or thigh (of the leg). I used the word leg but make sure the foot is not placed on the knee.

LATINE

State post mensam tacite. Ponite manus in prece pro corde.
Inspirate. Tollite pedem dextrum et ponite eum in latere cruris. Exspirate. Inspirate. Exspirate. Inspirate.
Exspirate. Ponite pedem dextrum in terra.
Inspirate. Tollite pedem laveum et ponite eum in latere cruris. Exspirate. Inspirate. Exspirate. Inspirate.
Exspirate. Ponite pedem laevum in terra.

Iterum

ANGLICE

Stand behind your desk/table quietly. Place your hands in prayer in front of your heart.
Inhale. Lift the right foot and place it on the side of the calf. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale.
Exhale. Place the right foot on the ground.
Inhale. Lift the left foot and place it on the side of the calf. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale.
Exhale. Place the left foot on the ground.(This can be repeated 3-5 times.)

BE SURE TO VISIT PART III OF

YOGA FOR THE LATIN CLASS!

There will be suggestions for ways to close your Latin class.

GRATIAS!

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