Every year on 21 June, the world marks International Yoga Day. For schools, it is a chance to bring something calm and practical into a busy term. For children, yoga can be playful, physical and surprisingly useful: it builds balance, flexibility, focus and the ability to settle down when emotions run high.

This guide explains the benefits of yoga for school children, what is suitable at each age, a simple routine you can try, safety points and ideas for celebrating International Yoga Day at school and at home. It is part of our series on choosing the best school in Kudlu Gate.

A note. This is general information, not medical advice. If your child has a health condition, check with a doctor before starting any new physical practice.

Why Yoga Belongs in a School Day

Children today spend long hours sitting, in classrooms and at screens. Yoga counters this in several ways.

• Body awareness and flexibility. Gentle stretches and poses improve posture and coordination.
• Balance and strength. Standing poses build leg and core strength.
• Focus. Breathing and holding poses train attention.
• Calm. Slow breathing helps children settle after play or before tests.
• Emotional skills. Children learn to notice how they feel and to pause before reacting.
• Fun and imagination. Many poses are named after animals and nature, which young children enjoy.

Yoga does not replace sport, play or sleep. It complements them.

Yoga at MS Dhoni Global School

MS Dhoni Global School (MSDGS) lists yoga among the activities on campus, alongside sport, music, dance and art. This fits the school’s 360-degree approach, which looks at body, mind and character together. Ask the admissions team for the current schedule and how yoga is arranged for each grade.

Age-Appropriate Yoga

Ages 3 to 5: Yoga as play

Keep it short, around ten minutes, and playful.

• Use animal poses: cat, cow, butterfly, frog, snake.
• Tell a story that moves through the poses.
• Add simple breathing games, such as smelling a flower and blowing out a candle.
• Avoid holding poses for long.

Ages 6 to 8: Poses and stories

• Add tree pose, mountain pose, child’s pose and gentle twists.
• Hold poses for a few slow breaths.
• Introduce simple counting of breaths.
• Use partner games where children help each other balance.

Ages 9 to 12: Building routines

• Try sun salutations at a slow pace under supervision.
• Practise standing balances, forward folds and gentle backbends.
• Add breathing practices such as slow belly breathing.
• Finish with relaxation lying down for two to three minutes.

Ages 13 to 16: Strength, focus and stress relief

• Longer holds and flowing sequences.
• Breathing exercises for exam stress.
• Core and balance poses that support sport.
• Short mindfulness practices.

Advanced breathing techniques and difficult poses should be learned from a qualified teacher.

A Simple 15-Minute Routine for Children

Try this at home or in class on a mat or carpet, with comfortable clothes and an empty stomach.

Step	Pose or activity	Time
1	Sit cross-legged and take five slow breaths	1 min
2	Cat and cow: move the spine up and down on hands and knees	1 min
3	Child’s pose: sit back on heels, arms forward, rest	1 min
4	Mountain pose: stand tall, feet together, arms by sides	1 min
5	Tree pose: balance on one leg with the other foot resting on the calf or ankle (not the knee), hands together	2 min
6	Forward fold: bend forward from the hips with soft knees	1 min
7	Butterfly: sit with the soles of the feet together, flap gently	1 min
8	Gentle twist: sit tall, turn the body to each side	1 min
9	Cobra: lie on the tummy, lift the chest gently	1 min
10	Relaxation: lie on the back, eyes closed, breathe slowly	3 min
11	Thank each other: hands together, smile	1 min

Tell children to move slowly and never to force a pose. A little wobble is fine.

Safety Tips

1. Warm up first. Start with slow movements.
2. Never force a stretch. Pain is a signal to stop.
3. Use a non-slip mat.
4. Avoid headstands and difficult inversions without trained supervision.
5. Keep the space clear.
6. Do not practise right after a meal.
7. Watch for dizziness or fatigue, and let the child rest.
8. Make it voluntary. Children should enjoy yoga, not feel pressured.
9. Check with a doctor if the child has a back, joint or heart condition.

Ideas for International Yoga Day at School

Schools can make the day special without turning it into a performance.

1. Whole-school yoga session led by trained teachers, with each grade doing age-appropriate poses.
2. Yoga stories for younger children, with teachers narrating an adventure through poses.
3. Student leaders demonstrate poses to classmates.
4. Breathing corner in classrooms, with a poster of simple breathing exercises.
5. Art and craft based on yoga: drawing poses, making posters.
6. Science link: discuss the heart, lungs, muscles and nervous system.
7. Parent participation: invite parents to join a short session.
8. Pledge: each child promises to practise a small habit, such as five minutes of breathing a day.
9. Yoga and sport: coaches show how yoga helps with flexibility and injury prevention, linking to the MS Dhoni Sports Academy.

Yoga and Learning

Teachers can use short yoga breaks to help the whole class reset.

• A two-minute breathing break after play.
• Seated stretches between lessons.
• A calm relaxation before a test.
• Mindful minute at the start of the day.

These small pauses can improve the atmosphere and help children return to learning with fresh focus.

How Parents Can Support Yoga at Home

• Practise together for five to ten minutes a few times a week.
• Let your child pick the poses.
• Use stories and music.
• Avoid comparing your child with others.
• Pair yoga with a bedtime wind-down. Our guide to how much sleep school children need has ideas for evening routines.
• Model calm breathing yourself.

Yoga, Sport and the Wider School Day

Yoga works best as part of a balanced timetable that includes sport, play, arts and rest. MSDGS has a 2-acre sports complex, performing and visual arts labs and, as described on its website, a 360-degree approach to learning. Read more in our guide to what 360-degree development really means, or see our school selection checklist when comparing schools. Parents interested in CBSE options can read about the best CBSE school in Kudlu Gate.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is International Yoga Day?

It is observed every year on 21 June.

At what age can children start yoga?

Children can enjoy playful yoga from preschool age. Formal practice can begin once they can follow instructions.

How long should a child’s yoga session be?

Ten to thirty minutes, depending on age, is enough.

Is yoga safe for children?

Yes, when done gently under supervision, with age-appropriate poses.

Does MS Dhoni Global School include yoga?

Yoga is listed among the school’s campus activities. Ask the school for the current schedule.

Visit and Experience Campus Life

See how sport, yoga, arts and academics fit together at MS Dhoni Global School. Book a campus visit today.

Call +91-7397757777 or +91-7397767777, email info@msdhoniglobalschoolblr.com, or use the admission enquiry form.