Mindfulness at BIS
Self-Awareness and Self-Management are just a couple of the skills students learn and develop at BIS as they explore their emotional and social capabilities. One of the ways they do this is through the practice of yoga.
Increasingly awareness has been growing about the benefits of yoga, breath awareness and mindfulness activities for our overall wellbeing, but particularly so within the school environment where anxiety and stress is seemingly an almost common place occurrence.
Studies are showing that schools that include Yoga as a part of their curriculum can effectively counteract any negative psychological impacts some children are experiencing at school, as they are better able to regulate their emotions, manage stress and develop calming strategies.
A United States study at Tulane University published in the journal Psychology Research and Behaviour Management is just one of a growing body of evidence supporting this. In this particular study, third-grade students who were showing signs of anxiety were divided into two groups for 8 weeks. One group received the usual care which included social worker led counselling and other activities. The intervention group of 20 received a program of yoga and mindfulness activities every morning.
Each group was evaluated at the beginning and end of the program for the student’s quality of life and life satisfaction through several areas. The results showed improved psychosocial and emotional quality of life scores for students who received the yoga and mindfulness activities.
The United States has seen a rise in the number of schools which have introduced yoga-based programs into their curriculum due to the positive effects it is having on children, particularly as it’s a gentle and non-threatening method which places on the emphasis on individual abilities rather than competition.
Australian schools are now being urged to follow the US example, with media reports earlier this year showing that nearly half (47%) of Australian students are stressed when they study, compared to 37% of students around the world.
There is no doubt of the value of yoga and mindfulness in supporting the whole of the child, helping them develop their skills in becoming calm, centred, and focused children thus reinforcing their learning abilities.
The kids at BIS thrive on their weekly Yoga program as they engage with our very patient and reassuring local Yoga instructor who guides them through a range of mindful and meditative exercises, which many then go home to show their parents, often showing off the moves they love the most. Every BIS kid starts every day with calming breath techniques and teachers often bring a class back in to focus with intentional breath exercises.
Meditation and Yoga is a natural way for kids to connect within themselves, exploring their bodies and getting a better sense of who they are and how they respond to the world around them. Weekly yoga training and the embedding of mindfulness within the BIS curriculum is part of our commitment at BIS to teach to the whole child providing tools that can be used in their lifelong journey.
