Brain Development & Yoga Positively Influencing Classroom

Behavior by

Marilyn Leonard, LMFT and

Diane Rhodes, LMFT

CHSA Health Institute May 3rd, 2011

Goals of this training:

• Understand how parts of our brain control our senses and motor functions

• Understand how focused controlled movement effects the brain

• Have an experiential understanding of the Yoga activities

Brain Development in Children

• 90% of child’s brain develops during the first 5 years

• By 3 years old, child’s brain is about the size of an adult brain

• Sets the stage for child’s intelligence, emotional stability and personality

Brain Development in Children

• Early stimulation is crucial for brain development:

– Children exposed to opportunities in early life make more synaptic connections

– More connections that are made, the greater the cognitive and social intelligence of the child

3 Keys to Good Brain Development in Children

• Exploring – moving around getting to know their bodies, using imagination

• Energizing – stretching poses, balancing poses, poses that develop motor skills

• Engaging – conversation, problem solving, music and play

Brain Function

• Brain develops from simple to complex

• Neural connections: connectors that allow the parts of the brain to communicate with each other

• Brain Stem: Fight or Flight

• Midbrain: Motor regulation

• Limbic System: Responds to selfish demands of feeding/emotional reactivity

• Cortical: Reasoning/self-control, planning

Gamma Wave Activity in Children

• Provides a window into their cognitive development and language skills

• Associated with higher mental activity when higher cognitive functions are engaged

• High gamma power evident in children=

– better attention

– ability to moderate behavior

What does Brain Development Mean to

Early Childhood Educators Birth to age 1?

• Sensory motor: provide concrete sensory based experiences that will contribute to the development of the whole child

• Brain and environment are a reciprocal living process

Ages 2-3

• This is the time when the parts of the brain that are sensitive to language and comprehension develop

• The limbic system is that part of the brain that generates social-emotional responses, it is beginning to be connected with the frontal lobe areas; but self-control and emotions is still difficult

Ages 3- 8 years

• Fastest growth period for the frontal lobe networks

• Increased levels of attention

• Ability for complex theme play

• Beginning ability to self-regulate and explain their behaviors

How Does Controlled Movement Benefit the Child’s Brain?

• Top of Brain stem is the Reticular Formation – contains fibers that connect it to most other parts of the brain.

• Vestibular-Reticular Interactions are important for maintaining a calm, alert state

• The Vestibular System provides input about our movement and orientation in space

Yoga and ADHD

• Brain scanning points to ADHD as delay in brain neural development in right prefrontal

• However – exercises that focus on developing executive center of the brain like yoga can be beneficial

Yoga and ADHD

• Yoga exercises integrate body and mind

• Yoga encourages children to sustain different postures and find balance – developing a sense of body – proprioception

• When this whole body learning occurs – brain function is enhanced

EVEN SMARTER KIDS

Of course our children are already geniuses But yoga can help them improve their focus and concentration. In fact, a 2003 study by the University of California found that children in a Los Angeles school who had frequent yoga instruction saw significant increases in self esteem, as well as overall fitness, academic performance, and even a decrease in disciplinary problems – since students felt more relaxed and were more respectful of their peers. Gopala Amir Yaffe

Progression of Poses for Transition Routine

• Sitting

• Kneeling

• Standing

Transition Routine

• Head-to-Knee

Transition Routine

• Cat Pose

Transition Routine

• Dog Pose

Transition Routine

• Mountain Pose

Transition Routine

• Dancer Pose

Transition Routine

• Tree Pose

Transition • How do you transition to outside?

• Do you do this everyday?

• Does this work for you? For the children?

• Remember repetition, repetition, repetition, provides structure, balance and safety for children.

Progression of Poses for Naptime Routine

• Standing

• Kneeling or Sitting

• Laying down

• Relax

Naptime Routine

• Mountain Pose

Naptime Routine

• Tree Pose

Naptime Routine

• Triangle

Naptime Routine

• Floppy Bunny

Naptime Routine

• Flower Blossom

Naptime Routine

• Sitting Butterfly

Naptime Routine

• Windmill

Naptime Routine

• Sleepy Butterfly

Naptime Routine

• Sweet Dreams

Resources

• Websites:

• www.childrensyoga.com

• www.susankramer.com

• www.rainbowkidsyoga.net (excellent site, in English and Spanish)

• www.yoga4kids.org

Resources

• DVD’s:

• YogaKids 1

• YogaKids 2

• Silly to Calm

• Little Yogis volume 1

• Little Yogis volume 2

Resources

• Books: • Little Yoga, by Rebecca Whitford & Martina

Selway • Sleepy Little Yoga, by Rebecca Whitford &

Martina Selway • Walk Like a Bear, Stand Like a Tree, Run Like

the Wind, by Carol Bassett • My Daddy is a Pretzel, Baron Baptiste • Hatha Yoga for Kids, by Kids!, by the Children of

Yogaville

AS I AM

• Cloud Nine: A Visualization

• Benefits: By learning a way to focus their energy and gain perspective, children are better able to cope.

• Variations: walk on a peaceful beach, ride on a magic carpet.