Ask Me Anything about Kids Yoga in Schools

🎥To watch the video, click here
 
To mat or not to mat!?
I’ve received lots of questions about mat use in my kids yoga classes in schools, questions like:
Do you use mats in schools?
What type of mats do you use in schools?
Are yoga mats even necessary in schools?
How do you transport your mats around to different schools?
 
So in answer to these questions…
BIG FAT YES TO MATS!!
Ideally, I think that it is best to use yoga mats in your classes with kids in schools. Giving children their own space to move is safer for everyone and also exciting for the children. 
When the hall is set up with all of the mats it is inviting for the children and they can more easily remember your rules, expectations and what the lesson will entail.

Children move around A LOT! Giving them their own space and own boundary helps them feel safe and be safe. It also means that it is easier for you as the teacher to manage behaviour and communicate effectively.

The mats I use are these ones. The initial outlay is expensive but I have found these mats to last really well (none of these ones have been picked at which can’t be said for my other cheaper mats that have since been relegated to outdoor use!).
I use these bags to transport my full size mats (which I use for ages 7 and up), I can get 11 mats in each bag.
 
When I am teaching children younger than 7 I use half sized mats (mats that I have cut in half) these are the bags that I use for my half sized mats. I can fit 16 half mats in each of these bags.
To help protect my back, I use a flatbed trolley and straps to hold the bags in place, here is the trolley I use.

Another question I have been asked is:

Do I insist on children wearing PE kits in my lessons?

This is a tricky one as schools have their own policies around wearing appropriate clothing for PE and some do not allow children to wear school uniform while exercising in PE.
I have a rule in my own classes that if the children are comfortable and happy, then I am also comfortable. I ensure that the children are safe (requesting removal of ties or other clothing that may be a danger) but I don’t mind what the children are wearing. I will also communicate this to staff, as I would rather have children joining in and experiencing the lesson, than sitting at the side.
 
I’ve also been asked:

Do children wear shoes and socks in my classes?

If I’m teaching indoors and the floor is safe, I always ask for shoes to be taken off. We are using mats anyway, so it is easy for the children to understand that we take shoes off to keep the mats clean. I also share with the children how being barefoot is easier for balances.
I tend to give the children the option themselves about whether they keep socks on or remove them. Young children especially can find it a challenge to get their socks back on their feet after the class.
Obviously, if the children keep their socks on, there may well be other safety implications when travelling around the space, especially if it has a slippy floor.

If you are reading this blog on the 17th of September 2024 (when it is being published), you may like to join the live that is taking place in the Facebook group School Yoga Teachers at noon (UK time) today. I will be live with Cerys Kenneally and we will both be there to answer any questions that you may have about teaching yoga in schools or getting into the schools or nurseries.

If you would like to work in more schools and nurseries, check out Cerys’s free challenge which will be launching on the 30th of September, you can join it here.
 
If you have any questions for me, email me at [email protected]