Mindful Movement at G8
International Day of Yoga is almost here, and children at selected G8 Education centres have been celebrating this day all week!
BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE
Tomorrow is the winter solstice, but 21 June is more than just a cold, dark calendar date.
It’s also International Day of Yoga, and this feel-good event is a great way to warm the body, enlighten the mind, and come together as a healthy, global community.
Which is exactly what G8 Education has been doing!
This childcare provider knows the importance of a healthy body and headspace, and lots of their centres have rolled out the yoga mats this week, and taken part in some mindful movement sessions.
These sessions have been thoughtfully designed to nurture early learners’ physical, emotional and mental wellbeing, and let’s just say, the mindful movement has been a hit!
The children have had so much fun practising yoga, and the educators have seen really positive outcomes from all the bending, stretching, breathing and flow.
Headstart Early Learning Centre Oatlands is one centre that’s embraced the mindful movement sessions (while getting ready for their fun Open Day, also on 21 June), and Centre Manager, Kaitlyn McWhirter, is definitely a yoga fan!
She’s seen so much enthusiasm amongst the early learners, and loves how the yoga sessions support children’s overall wellbeing in a holistic (aka ‘whole child’) way.
There’s no doubt that yoga fosters a positive connection between body and mind, and Kaitlyn says, “It helps children build strength, flexibility and coordination, while encouraging them to slow down and focus.”
The sessions have nurtured children’s ability to concentrate, persevere and be present in the moment, which are important skills for learning and life.
Yoga has also taught them how to breathe deeply and intentionally, which is very helpful for emotional regulation.
Kaitlyn explains that, “By learning to breathe in and out slowly, children begin to understand how to use their breath as a tool to calm themselves when they are overwhelmed or upset.”
These skills have already been put to great use, as children navigate big emotional moments and tricky transitions (like drop-offs and naptimes); and a real sense of calm, joy and confidence has come with the yoga sessions.
All in all, the lead up to International Day of Yoga has been amazing for lots of G8’s early learners, and there are no plans to stop the sessions!
Participating centres, like Headstart Oatlands, will continue to run the mindful movement sessions.
And if you’re looking for a centre that will support your child’s physical, emotional and mental wellbeing, then we can definitely help.
The KindiCare App and Childcare Comparison Website make it easy to find quality G8 Education centres.
Community Kids, Great Beginnings, Greenwood Early Education Centres, The Learning Sanctuary and Headstart Early Learning Centres are just some of their brands.
And KindiCare enables you to look for them in your location, shortlist your favourites, and organise centre tours – bringing calm, joy and confidence to your childcare search!
