Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
NBC's Diana Gonzales ReportingIncreasing flexibility, balance and relieving stress are just a few of the reasons yoga has become a popular practice. Yoga is now helping young bodies and minds.
"Lift your knee up and we're going to count to ten." Kindergarteners are striking a pose for balance.
Student: "I feel good when I do the one where we focus."
Down the hall..."Close your eyes, breathe in." First graders take time to refocus and relax.
Student: "And when I get relaxed I get in a good mood."
This is YogaKids Tools for Schools. Valerie DeWitt, YogaKids Trainer: "Tools for Schools was developed to give teachers and students in the classroom ways to help them focus, concentrate, improve their test scores performance."
Coral Gables Elementary started using it this year in several classes.
Student: "It helps me get healthy, strong and delightful."
"Let's do the Tarzan step." Some of the poses are said to have actual health benefits, according to trainer Valerie DeWitt.
Valerie De Witt, YogaKids Trainer: "The Tarzan thymus tap is in particular where they're tapping their chest and tapping the glands in their bodies that help stimulate and help the immune system function better."
And there's a positive mantra. Student: "The light of me sees the light in you."
Teachers here are primarily using yoga as a transition tool between subjects and activities.
Heather Torres, Teacher: "And at times when I feel like maybe we are a little bit too revved up over some other activity we've been doing, we can try some breathing poses to refocus and concentrate and concentrate our energies on our work."
YogaKids Tools for Schools was started in the spring of 2006, in about two dozen schools across the country.
