Home
Should yoga be compulsory in physical education?
https://www.sportanddev.org/latest/news/should-yoga-be-compulsory-physical-education
Share
 
The URL has been copied
https://www.sportanddev.org/latest/news/should-yoga-be-compulsory-physical-education
Share
 
The URL has been copied
On 21 June, people around the world will celebrate the International Day of Yoga.

The United Nations inaugurated the International Day of Yoga in 2014, emphasising the multiple benefits of the practice. The 2017 theme is "yoga for health" which according to the UN, “highlights the fact that yoga can contribute in a holistic way to achieving an equilibrium between mind and body.”

A number of studies have confirmed the positive psychological and physical benefits of yoga. In one meta-analysis, researchers found that yoga was more physically beneficial to recovering cancer patients than other forms of exercise. The psychosocial benefits included a decrease in anxiety, depression and anger and an overall increase in quality of life.1

What distinguishes the sport is its emphasis on the mind connecting to the body. Most yoga practices go beyond building strength through holding poses. Yoga requires participants to bring active attention to their breathing, often incorporating meditation which can be particularly beneficial for hyperactivity and stress. One study of adolescents found that yoga had a significant positive effect on the emotional regulation of students, not present in their regular physical education classes. Researchers attribute this mostly to “body awareness” which they link to a higher self-acceptance, something particularly difficult among 15-17 year-olds.2

The benefits of sport on health are abundant, especially for youth. While many schools incorporate physical activity, yoga remains relatively unpopular compared to conventional sports. This is surprising given its benefits and accessibility. There is little to no equipment necessary, and it can be performed virtually anywhere.  Perhaps the main reason it remains an alternative sport is due to religious controversy. Many associate yoga with religious practice and hesitate to promote it in schools. While it may have been rooted in religion at its origin, multiple forms of yoga exist today; a secular practice is possible and quite common.

Given the potential benefits, more attention should be paid to yoga as an alternative sport. Hesitations surrounding yoga tend to reflect misconceptions of its purpose. Yoga in the mainstream sport curriculum would promote not only students’ physical health, but could potentially lead to a healthier mind and overall wellbeing.

1 Laurien M Buffart, Jannique GZ van Uffelen, Ingrid I Riphagen, Johannes Brug, Willem van Mechelen,Wendy J Brown and Mai JM Chinapaw “Physical and psychosocial benefits of yoga in cancer patients and survivors, a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.” BMC Cancer 2012 12:559.

2 Leslie A. Daly, Sara C. Haden, Marshall Hagins,  Nicholas Papouchis,  and Paul Michael Ramirez. “Yoga and Emotion Regulation in High School Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial”, Hindawi Publishing Corporation Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Volume 2015.

 

 

 

 

 

Related Articles

Inspire Inclusion

Inspiring Inclusion: Celebrating International Women's Day in Rural Andhra Pradesh Through Sports

Kailas Khanna K R
https://www.sportanddev.org/latest/news/inspiring-inclusion-celebrating-international-womens-day-rural-andhra-pradesh-through
 
The URL has been copied
Certification Ceremony from Batch 2 of Level 1: Introduction to S4D

PSD completes the first and second batches of Level 1: Introduction to S4D

Pro Sport Development
https://www.sportanddev.org/latest/news/psd-completes-first-and-second-batches-level-1-introduction-s4d
 
The URL has been copied
passion led us here

Moving People deserve organisations that treat them as their first priority

Mogens Kirkeby
https://www.sportanddev.org/latest/news/moving-people-deserve-organisations-treat-them-their-first-priority
 
The URL has been copied
Douglas Masiyazi

Empowering People with Disabilities through Inclusive Participation

https://www.sportanddev.org/latest/news/empowering-people-disabilities-through-inclusive-participation
 
The URL has been copied