Introduction

As educators, we are always looking for new and engaging ways to teach our students important life skills. One such area of focus is Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). In this blog post, we will introduce the concept of Animal Yoga as a fun and engaging way to incorporate SEL principles into your classroom. Animal Yoga combines physical activity, mindfulness, and self-awareness, making it an excellent tool for teaching students how to better understand and manage their emotions.

No-Prep Activity: Animal Yoga

This Animal Yoga activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator. Simply follow these steps to guide your students through a series of animal-inspired yoga poses:

1. Snake Pose: Have students lie on their stomachs and place their hands underneath their shoulders. As they inhale, they should lift their upper body off the ground, stretching their spines. Hold for 5 counts and release.
2. Giraffe Pose: Instruct students to stand tall, reach their arms above their heads, and interlace their fingers. Have them gently stretch from side to side, mimicking the movement of a giraffe’s neck. Hold each side for 5 counts.
3. Turtle Pose: Students should sit on the floor with their knees bent and feet flat. They can then place their hands on their knees and slowly round their backs, tucking their heads in like a turtle. Hold for 5 counts and release.
4. Elephant Pose: Have students stand with their feet hip-width apart and interlace their fingers in front of them. They can then swing their “trunks” gently from side to side, taking deep breaths as they do so. Hold for 5 counts on each side.

Discussion Questions

After completing the Animal Yoga activity, use these questions to stimulate further discussions:

1. How did the different animal poses make you feel?
2. Which pose was the most challenging for you, and why?
3. How can practicing mindfulness through yoga help us better understand and manage our emotions?
4. What other activities can we do to practice SEL in our daily lives?
5. How can we incorporate Animal Yoga into our daily routines to promote self-awareness and emotional well-being?

Related Skills

Animal Yoga is just one way to teach students important SEL skills. Other relevant skills for students to develop include:

• Active listening
• Empathy and compassion
• Conflict resolution
• Decision-making
• Goal-setting

Next Steps

If you found the Animal Yoga activity and discussion questions helpful, why not explore more SEL resources? Sign up for free samples of the discussed skill and others at Everyday Speech. With a wide variety of engaging activities, you’ll be well-equipped to help your students develop essential Social-Emotional Learning skills.