Description

Teaching Yoga for Children

Course Content:

This course consists of a synthesis of Yoga and Vedanta, with an emphasis on holistic Ashtanga Yoga.  In this in-depth course, we will learn the practical techniques of asanas, pranayama, meditation, and relaxation and to bring these to children in a fun and yet serious way. Yoga can be made fun, but yoga as a practice also helps children to be serious at times without additional enforced discipline. We will learn how in-depth concepts of Ashtanga Yoga as described in Patanjali Yoga Sutras and the four streams of yoga as described in the Bhagavad Gita can start at a young age itself.

The eight steps of Ashtanga Yoga give a comprehensive and systematic approach to developing one’s mind. Apart from Ashtanga yoga as a practice of Raja Yoga, the other three disciplines that we include are Karma Yoga (the yoga of detached action), Bhakti Yoga, (the yoga of love, acceptance, and devotion), and Jnana Yoga (the yoga of contemplation and reflection). By combining all four streams of yoga — Raja yoga, Karma yoga, Bhakti yoga, and Jnana yoga — one is able to achieve a state of peace, creativity, and fulfillment in life.

We will learn about each stream of yoga and delve deeply into Raja yoga specifically, which focuses on disciplining the mind and body using yoga practices. This course contains hands-on learning of yoga practices, techniques, and teaching skills through lectures, discussions, yoga manuals, offline assignments, and daily self-practice.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn in-depth, the yoga practices of breath-synchronized movements, asana, pranayama, and meditation techniques.
• Apply yoga practices and concepts to help children manage their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
• Concepts of how to teach children, the skills of mindful eating, environmental awareness, and stress-free methods to handle their homework and studies
• Some of the common special needs such as low-spectrum ADHD and Autism and how yoga can bring a sweeping change into the life of children with such needs.
•  Shadow experienced yoga instructors in the online classes to understand the teaching dynamics.
• Understand the eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga — yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and Samadhi.
• Understand the yoga philosophy as described in the Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, and Patanjali Yoga Sutras and how they apply to one’s daily life.

Program of Study: Continuing Education,

Area of Study: Yoga Studies

Required / Elective: Required

Prerequisites: None (a background of teaching or guiding children in the age range 6-12 is preferred)

Faculty / Instructor: Ashwini S, Anil S, Smita Kinhika, Savita Joshi

Quarter Offered: Spring 2021

Start Date: 24^th April 2021

End Date: 23^rd May 2021

Day: Saturday & Sunday

Time: 10:00 am EST – 03:30 pm EST

Quarter Offered: Spring 2021