YOGA & MEDITATION FOR TEACHERS FOCUSED ON KIDS AND TEENS: CONNECTING WITH OURSELVES

COURSE INFORMATION

Children and teenagers are constantly developing and the changes they experience affect their bodies, minds, and relationships with others. Yoga and meditation help them to grow healthily inside and outside. Practicing yoga and meditation helps us to understand much better who we are, to stay in our center, to seek balance and not to go to extremes. By understanding and feeling good about us we become aware of nature and the environment.

Children are yogis by nature. They come into the world with a baggage full of particular talents and gifts: agile movement, good posture, presence, curiosity, openness and great capacity to learn and discover new things. Practicing yoga and meditation teach us how to be in the center and how to find balance within ourselves and within our human and environmental community. In this way we get the ecosystem to function properly.

Yoga and meditation for kids and teens is a practical course to initiate children and teenagers into the world of yoga and meditation. The sessions will be presented as a game with which they can have fun, get to know their body, and control their breathing consciously. Also, it will serve them to connect with their inner self, they will discover their emotions and they will be able to manage them much better. They will be able to focus their attention on a better predisposition to learn the tasks they have in the classroom. They will improve their behavior and will be more receptive to creating a better environment. In addition, respect for peace, the environment and love is promoted.

It is necessary to find a moment in the day when children and teenager can disconnect from their daily tasks, stop for a while and reach a state of clam, in which they are predisposed to learning, having activated their capacity for attention and concentration through psychomotor games based on yoga and mindfulness.

METHODOLOGY

This course proposes to practice yoga and meditation as a routine within the school day since more and more scientific research supports that the practice of mindfulness and yoga favors the development of practical skills that allow children, teenagers, and adults to be in contact with what happens in them and their environment with greater wisdom and compassion. We will connect yoga with environmental awareness. Practicing yoga generates new ways of thinking and the future of the world depends on new ideas of sustainability.

We will work on the yoga postures that are inspired by the elements of nature such as animals, plants, forms, which allow the practitioner to enter in harmony with his own body and, as a reflection, with the energetic manifestations that these postures remind us of.

We will see the benefits that can be obtained through yoga: a stronger musculature and spine, a correct posture that reduces deviations and back pain, an elevation of the immune defenses and a more serene and balanced state of mind.

MAIN OBJECTIVES

We will manage to connect play, relaxation, concentration, and balance as well as allowing them to know themselves and communicate with their environment. We will teach children and teenagers to be more aware of the environment and to be more respectful of it.

We will also see how it favors their creativity. It has been demonstrated that yoga strengthens body awareness, increases concentration and helps to manage emotion. Furthermore, it promotes a strong, flexible and healthy body; improves body posture; promotes coordination and balance; increases motor skills; and it makes you enjoy it! Great discovery, which helps everyone with the lack of attention, stress and relaxation.

Through yoga, children will exercise their breathing and they will learn how to relax in order to cope with stress, conflict situations and lack of concentration, problems so evident in today’s society. Yoga will help them on their long journey towards physical and psychological mastery.

These are some of the main points that children will achieve on a physical and mental level with the practice of yoga and meditation:

- How to use yoga and meditation in the classroom.

- Discover the sensations of relaxation as a basis for development and growth.

- Improving postural habits of the spine.

- Acquire a healthy breathing pattern.

- Encourage body control, creativity, health and self-esteem.

- Raising awareness of the importance of a balanced and sustainable diet.

- Caring for and respecting the environment.

- Lowering children's stress levels.

- Better understanding of their feelings and emotions

- Improvement of the senses.

- Better development of attention, concentration, memory and imagination.

- Harmonization of personality and character.

- Good channeling of physical energy.

- Better understanding and interaction with others.

DAILY PROGRAMME

The manager of the company usually welcomes participants on Sunday afternoon and gives them all the information about courses and Erasmus week. The main training activities, instruction and practices will take place from Monday to Friday. Moreover, participants will be able to explain their own school and Erasmus project to the rest of participants in the beginning of the week and, after that, work all together to set up future eTwinnings or even Job Shadowing. On another note, participants will be involved in cultural activities held by the company during afternoon time. Finally, there will be a course’ roundup and a final evaluation on Friday or Saturday morning, depending on the participants' departure time, and the delivery of the certificates of attendance.

In the sessions proposed in this program, yoga and meditation will be alternated. Each session will be divided into theoretical parts and practical parts. Therefore we will need to wear comfortable clothes and comfortable shoes. We will take our shoes off when we do the Yoga exercises. All the proposed activities can be adapted to the age and needs of the students.

Each session will be 2 hours of theory, and 3 hours of practice with a break between sessions to refresh ourselves or take a snack. The sessions will be motivating and entertaining. So that you can put into practice everything you have learned once you return to your schools. To do this, we use a funny and participative methodology. We will watch videos, play games, share emotions and thoughts, and have the opportunity to bring out the children in us.

DAY 1 – SUNDAY. WELCOMING

Meeting and greeting with the manager of the company, trainers and locals.
Individual orientation and information about the venue and the country.
Round up presentation and networking between all participants.
Guided visit and cultural inputs to discover the city.

DAY 2: MONDAY

Networking activity: presentation of your school and projects.
Presentation of the course.
Can children and teenagers practice yoga and meditation?
Yoga and meditation lifestyle: we take care of the inside and the outside.
Game: Cultivating confidence.
The practice of yoga and awareness of environmental care.
Healthy and sustainable eating.
Yoga practice in the classroom with chairs.

DAY 3: TUESDAY

Practice yoga and meditation.
Networking activity: presentation of your school and projects.
Sensory game: we use our senses to stay in the present moment.
Breathe and relax: The best time to relax and practice yoga.
Creating a relaxed atmosphere.
Different types of breathing (pranayama).
Asanas and mudras.
Calm down: sensory bottle.
Meditation.

DAY 4: WEDNESDAY

Yoga practice and relaxation with music.
Tips for meditating with children and teenagers.
Relaxation techniques: mantras and mandalas
The mirror laws.
Activity: we are mirrors.
Meditation in pairs.
Yoga for different ages.
How long a yoga session should last.

DAY 5: THURSDAY

Yoga practice for kids and teenagers.
A mindful walk in Nature.
Guided meditation outdoors: respect for the environment.
Natural Mandalas.

DAY 6: FRIDAY

Yoga practice and meditation with mantras.
The fairy forest.
Compassion, gratitude and love for ourselves and our surroundings.
Communication: with ourselves and others.
Yoga practice for children and teenagers with storytelling.
How to implement Yoga in the classroom: recommendations for a yoga class for children and teenagers.
Course evaluation.
Releasing official course certifications.

DAY 7 – SATURDAY. CONCLUSION.

Free cultural activity visiting the best Museum in the city, to increase networking between participants and deepen the local culture.
Course evaluation.
Releasing official course certifications.
Participants departure.

YOGA sessions:

YOGA AND MEDITATION course will attend editions during 2024 & 2025 in the following dates:

2024:

SPAIN – TENERIFE:

From Sunday 2nd January to Saturday 7th.
From Sunday 11th February to Saturday 17th.
From Sunday 31st March to Saturday 6th April.
From Sunday 11th August to Saturday 17th.
From Sunday 13th October to Saturday 19th.
From Sunday 20th October to Saturday 26th.

SPAIN – ALICANTE:

From Sunday 7th January to Saturday 13th.
From Sunday 21st January to Saturday 28th.
From Sunday 11th February to Saturday 17th. CONFIRMED!
From Sunday 25th February to Saturday 2nd March.
From Sunday 17th March to Saturday 23rd. CONFIRMED!
From Sunday 24th March to Saturday 30th. CONFIRMED!
From Sunday 31st March to Saturday 6th April.
From Sunday 21st April to Saturday 27th.
From Sunday 28th April to Saturday 4th May. CONFIRMED!
From Sunday 26th May to Saturday 1st June. CONFIRMED!
From Sunday 2nd June to Saturday 8th. CONFIRMED!
From Sunday 23rd June to Saturday 29th.
From Sunday 30th June to Saturday 6th July.
From Sunday 7th July to Saturday 13th. CONFIRMED!
From Sunday 14th July to Saturday 20th.
From Sunday 21st July to Saturday 27th.
From Sunday 11th August to Saturday 17th. CONFIRMED!
From Sunday 18th August to Saturday 24th.
From Sunday 25th August to Saturday 31st.
From Sunday 6th October to Saturday 12th. CONFIRMED!
From Sunday 13th October to Saturday 19th.
From Sunday 20th October to Saturday 26th. CONFIRMED!
From Sunday 27th October to Saturday 2nd November. CONFIRMED!
From Sunday 3rd November to Saturday 9th. CONFIRMED!
From Sunday 24th November to Saturday 30th. CONFIRMED!

ICELAND – REYKJAVÍK:

From Sunday 11th February to Saturday 17th.
From Sunday 18th February to Saturday 24th.
From Sunday 24th March to Saturday 30th.
From Sunday 31st March to Saturday 6th April.
From Sunday 21st April to Saturday 27th.
From Sunday 23rd June to Saturday 29th.
From Sunday 7th July to Saturday 13th.
From Sunday 14th July to Saturday 20th.
From Sunday 21st July to Saturday 27th.
From Sunday 11th August to Saturday 17th.
From Sunday 18th August to Saturday 24th. CONFIRMED!
From Sunday 25th August to Saturday 31st.
From Sunday 6th October to Saturday 12th.
From Sunday 13th October to Saturday 19th.
From Sunday 20th October to Saturday 26th.

FRANCE – MARTINIQUE:

From Sunday 31st March to Saturday 6th April.

ITALY – FIRENZE:

From Sunday 31st March to Saturday 6th April.
From Sunday 21st April to Saturday 27th.
From Sunday 7th July to Saturday 13th.
From Sunday 14th July to Saturday 20th.
From Sunday 18th August to Saturday 24th.
From Sunday 6th October to Saturday 12th.
From Sunday 13th October to Saturday 19th.
From Sunday 20th October to Saturday 26th.

IRELAND – DUBLIN:

From Sunday 21st April to Saturday 27th.
From Sunday 14th July to Saturday 20th.
From Sunday 21st July to Saturday 27th.
From Sunday 18th August to Saturday 24th.
From Sunday 6th October to Saturday 12th.
From Sunday 13th October to Saturday 19th.
From Sunday 20th October to Saturday 26th.

SPAIN – MALAGA:

From Sunday 7th July to Saturday 13th.
From Sunday 14th July to Saturday 20th.
From Sunday 21st July to Saturday 27th.
From Sunday 18th August to Saturday 24th.
From Sunday 25th August to Saturday 31st.
From Sunday 6th October to Saturday 12th.
From Sunday 13th October to Saturday 19th.
From Sunday 20th October to Saturday 26th.

2025:

SPAIN – ALICANTE:

From Sunday 19th January to Saturday 25th. CONFIRMED!
From Sunday 23rd February to Saturday 1st March.
From Sunday 2nd March to Saturday 8th.
From Sunday 6th April to Saturday 12th. CONFIRMED!
From Sunday 13th April to Saturday 19th.
From Sunday 20th April to Saturday 26th.
From Sunday 27th April to Saturday 3rd May.
From Sunday 25th May to Saturday 31st. CONFIRMED!
From Sunday 1st June to Saturday 7th. CONFIRMED!
From Sunday 22nd June to Saturday 28th.
From Sunday 29th June to Saturday 5th July.
From Sunday 6th July to Saturday 12th. CONFIRMED!
From Sunday 13th July to Saturday 19th.
From Sunday 20th July to Saturday 26th.
From Sunday 10th August to Saturday 16th.
From Sunday 17th August to Saturday 23rd.
From Sunday 24th August to Saturday 30th.
From Sunday 5th October to Saturday 11th. CONFIRMED!
From Sunday 12th October to Saturday 18th.
From Sunday 19th October to Saturday 25th.
From Sunday 26th October to Saturday 1st November.
From Sunday 2nd November to Saturday 8th. CONFIRMED!
From Sunday 23rd November to Saturday 29th. CONFIRMED!
From Sunday 30th November to Saturday 6th December. CONFIRMED!

ICELAND – REYKJAVÍK:

From Sunday 23rd February to Saturday 1st March.
From Sunday 2nd March to Saturday 8th.
From Sunday 13th April to Saturday 19th.
From Sunday 20th April to Saturday 26th.
From Sunday 27th April to Saturday 3rd May.
From Sunday 22nd June to Saturday 28th.
From Sunday 29th June to Saturday 5th July.
From Sunday 6th July to Saturday 12th.
From Sunday 13th July to Saturday 19th.
From Sunday 20th July to Saturday 26th.
From Sunday 10th August to Saturday 16th.
From Sunday 17th August to Saturday 23rd.
From Sunday 24th August to Saturday 30th.
From Sunday 5th October to Saturday 11th.
From Sunday 12th October to Saturday 18th.
From Sunday 19th October to Saturday 25th.
From Sunday 26th October to Saturday 1st November.

SPAIN – TENERIFE:

From Sunday 23rd February to Saturday 1st March.
From Sunday 20th April to Saturday 26th.
From Sunday 20th July to Saturday 26th.
From Sunday 10th August to Saturday 16th.
From Sunday 17th August to Saturday 23rd.
From Sunday 24th August to Saturday 30th.
From Sunday 12th October to Saturday 18th.
From Sunday 19th October to Saturday 25th.
From Sunday 26th October to Saturday 1st November.
From Sunday 2nd November to Saturday 8th.

SPAIN – MALAGA:

From Sunday 13th April to Saturday 19th.
From Sunday 20th April to Saturday 26th.
From Sunday 6th July to Saturday 12th.
From Sunday 13th July to Saturday 19th.
From Sunday 20th July to Saturday 26th.
From Sunday 10th August to Saturday 16th.
From Sunday 17th August to Saturday 23rd.
From Sunday 24th August to Saturday 30th.
From Sunday 5th October to Saturday 11th.
From Sunday 12th October to Saturday 18th.
From Sunday 19th October to Saturday 25th.
From Sunday 26th October to Saturday 1st November.

ITALY – FIRENZE:

From Sunday 13th April to Saturday 19th.
From Sunday 20th April to Saturday 26th.
From Sunday 22nd June to Saturday 28th.
From Sunday 6th July to Saturday 12th.
From Sunday 13th July to Saturday 19th.
From Sunday 10th August to Saturday 16th.
From Sunday 17th August to Saturday 23rd.
From Sunday 5th October to Saturday 11th.
From Sunday 12th October to Saturday 18th.
From Sunday 19th October to Saturday 25th.
From Sunday 26th October to Saturday 1st November.

IRELAND– DUBLIN:

From Sunday 13th April to Saturday 19th.
From Sunday 6th July to Saturday 12th.
From Sunday 13th July to Saturday 19th.
From Sunday 20th July to Saturday 26th.
From Sunday 10th August to Saturday 16th.
From Sunday 17th August to Saturday 23rd.
From Sunday 12th October to Saturday 18th.
From Sunday 19th October to Saturday 25th.
From Sunday 26th October to Saturday 1st November.

FRANCE – MARTINIQUE:

From Sunday 20th April to Saturday 26th.
From Sunday 10th August to Saturday 16th.

FRANCE – TAHITI:

From Sunday 10th August to Saturday 16th.

COST AND ERASMUS + FUNDING

The cost of the seven day course is 560€ and includes course fees, free cultural activities in the city during the week and certification of attendance. Organizational costs can be charged if registration comes from an intermediate company. The company offers an Optional cultural package to deepen the relationship between all participants.

The training course is tailored to be fully funded by Erasmus + to teachers, trainers, headmasters and any other staff of education organizations. Furthermore trainers can help in Key Action 1 Application to ensure that participants can get the grant and could be eligible to receive an Erasmus + grant that covers all the costs of the course.