I’ve recently started learning yoga, focusing on strengthening my core, improving balance, and sharpening concentration. What surprises me most is how much it also helps me focus my mind—each pose requires awareness and patience, which is calming and energizing at the same time. I’m discovering that yoga is more than just exercise; it’s a way to recharge myself, reflect, and reconnect with my body. This personal practice has inspired me to think creatively about how I can bring similar experiences into my classroom for my tiny tots. I want them to feel the same sense of curiosity, fun, and discovery that I feel every time I step onto my excercise mat. I am going start with Tree Pose (Vrikshasana)

To introduce this to my students, I’ll start with an example and show a short video so they can see the poses and shapes clearly. Tree Pose

I’m taking it one little adventure at a time—learning, exploring, and sharing—and slowly connecting it with teaching shapes. It’s going to be fun—not a classroom, but a tiny forest of birch, pine, oak, and cherry trees… as the kids will become trees. LOL! On snowy days, we can practice on foam mats in the gym, letting the students safely explore movement and shapes indoors. When the snow melts, we can step outside, using nature as our guide to visualize shapes, patterns, and angles in a playful and engaging way. (safety of kids will be taken utmost care as they have to balance and I will take help of EA in the class and have some holding support for all)

Tree Pose

I want my Grade 1 students to explore math through movement in the same playful and joyful way that I’m discovering in yoga. We can trace shapes in yoga poses, form triangles, circles, and rectangles with our arms and legs, or draw their favorite poses and spot shapes in each one. Even simple exercises, like counting breaths or noticing symmetry, can show them that math isn’t just something written on a page—it’s all around them, in their bodies, the classroom, and the world outside. This hands-on approach helps children connect abstract concepts to real experiences, making learning both fun and meaningful.

Yoga is helping me connect my body and mind in ways I didn’t expect, and I hope my students can feel the same. Through these fun exercises, they’ll see that math isn’t just numbers or rules—it’s about exploring, noticing patterns, and enjoying the little surprises everywhere.