Yoga as a Classroom Intervention for Preschoolers

Abstract

This quasi-experimental study examined the effects of yoga on fine- and gross-motor performance, classroom behavior, and academic performance of preschool children with and without disabilities. Children ages 3 to 5 in the intervention classrooms participated in a 10-minute yoga DVD; children in the control classroom received instruction as usual. Pre- and posttest measures included work samples, yoga poses, behavior corrections, and children's grade reports. Results indicated children participating in yoga improved more than the control on some fine-motor and academic measures. There were no significant differences between groups on most measures. Yoga participation resulted in minimal school-related benefits for children.

Keywords:

• Yoga
• preschool children
• fine- and gross-motor skills
• academic performance
• classroom behavior

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge Jeff Belden, OTR, for providing The Amazing Dream YogaRI DVD and Joy Lenz and Molly Pourhussin from the Udall School District for assistance with data collection. We also thank the many occupational therapy students who assisted with data collection and data analysis for this study. Preliminary results after 3 weeks of yoga intervention were published in the American Therapeutic Recreation Association Book of Abstracts 2009.