Burlington third-grade class gets ready to learn with yoga

BURLINGTON, NC (WGHP) — For Sasha Denham's third-grade class at Highland Elementary School, using the stretching and breathing techniques of yoga is the perfect way to start their day of learning. A few years ago as a part of the Teacher Leadership Academy in Alamance County, Denham got the idea to start using yoga in her classroom.

The veteran teacher says, "We were able to apply for a grant that Grant allowed training for all of our staff here at Highland on kid friendly yoga and some resources as well. So since then we've been starting our morning every day with yoga and then we use it for transitions and movement breaks also."

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She added, "I think yoga makes a great impact on them. As far as our classroom environment, we can be more positive and productive. And it's also things that they can take on their own. So, if they're at their seat and they're feeling a little unfocused or it's tough for them. Maybe they're having an emotional moment. They have the yoga strategies to implement and to help them reset and help regulate themselves as well."

The moves themselves are designed just for kids and don't require any special mats or equipment.

"Some of them do mimic traditional yoga and some of them are very kid friendly as well," says Denham. "So for example, one of the yoga moves that we do is a flying bird breath. So that's something that the kids will catch on to, or there's a balloon breath. So very kid friendly in the yoga options. "

Denham says It's a change of pace for the students.

" Oh, they love it. So it gives them a chance to get up, move around, gives their brain a break. And then, of course, moving their body is always exciting, allows us to reset and then we're able to get back to learning."

It's a break from the norm that student Candace Perkins says she uses frequently.

"I like how it's able to calm me down it and it also is one of my favorite one," says the third grader. "My favorite one is the washing machine."

They like the yoga so much, it's something the students turn to away from school too.

Denham says, "I've had students talk about using yoga in the morning. They're waiting for the bus and they might be feeling a little tired, so they'll start doing yoga in the morning to wake up their brain. I've had my oldest daughter. We were sitting at the dinner table, and her teacher used yoga as well. And we were having a laugh attack. No one was really in control of their bodies with all the laughing. And she just said, I think we all need to take a balloon breath. To calm ourselves back down."

She says she sees it working for the betterment of her students every day.

"So I've always been a huge proponent of movement in the classroom and then being able to implement yoga has been wonderful to see the change in students when we're able to do it as a class and then when they're able to implement it on their own as well."

And most importantly for the students, it is fun.