Ardross students Ky Hehir, Jai Christophersen, Ziggy Kowalewski with Michelle Renton and Jamine Ellery and Charnae Niese.
Camera IconArdross students Ky Hehir, Jai Christophersen, Ziggy Kowalewski with Michelle Renton and Jamine Ellery and Charnae Niese. Credit: Supplied/Matt Jelonek

Ardross Primary students feel benefits of yoga

Jaime ShurmerMelville Gazette

ENTIRE schools are taking up yoga in a bid to boost student well-being and health.

Little yogis at Ardross Primary School took to the matt from the beginning of Term 2, with children from Year 1 to Year 6 practising weekly.

Schoolteacher and yoga teacher Michelle Renton, owner of Yogazoo, ran the classes at Ardross at the invitation of a parent and teacher.

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The school received some funding from Healthways and parents contribute a small fee.

Our Lady of Fatima in Palmyra was the first school to take on Yogazoos Mindfulness program last year, which included a term of in-class mindfulness lessons and a term of mindfulness movement/yoga.

St Benedict’s Primary, Palmyra Primary School and All Saints have also offered yoga classes.

Ms Renton said kids yoga helped children relax and unwind, reducing stress and anxiety and promoting a health and active lifestyle.

The yoga sessions were suitable for children of all abilities and were non-religious.

“It is about keeping young bodies and minds healthy,” she said.

“We introduce breathing, movement and relaxation in a fun and non-competitive way.

“From Year 1-3 boys and girls are really keen. By the time they get to Year 4 the boys start to become more self conscious thinking yoga is a ‘girl thing’ but I remind them that yoga originated from men and that many top sports people including Aussie rules football teams do yoga to keep strong, flexible and to prevent injuries,” she said.