We are all very aware of the physical and mental health benefits of yoga participation, and Hutt City in New Zealand are on a journey to increase the awareness and accessibility of yoga in the community, and to encourage more people of all ages and abilities to give yoga a try.

Hutt City are delivering a yoga program that involves a combination of physical stretches, controlled breathing activities and focused thought or ‘mindfulness’.

School-based yoga offers many benefits to children and teachers, and is known to have positive effects on student learning, wellbeing, behaviour and performance. The Yoga for Schools program introduces students to yoga in a classroom environment.

The program involves:

• 16 x 45-minute yoga sessions in the classroom
• 2 x 60-minute yoga sessions for teachers
• Unit plan and lesson plans (level 2/3)
• Kids’ yoga resources
• Complimentary yoga deck for teachers.

To find out more about the program, email rebecca.grigg@huttcity.govt.nz