Student pushes to see yoga

Practicing yoga for two years has improved Naranidh's public speaking skills, especially when she uses breathing techniques she learned in yoga to regulate her rate of speech during class presentations.

Away from problems Naranidh's teacher was Napisa Chandanachulaka Pant, or Khru Oam. Khru Oam has taught yoga for more than 15 years. With the help of her yoga teacher, Naranidh has taught yoga at the government funded Central Welfare and Vocational Training Center for Women in Pak Kred, Nonthaburi. At the training center, unemployed and disadvantaged women, from age 16, receive vocational training for up to six months in dress making, barber and beauty salon services, traditional Thai massage and computers.

"Besides trade skills," says Piyada Isarangkoon na Ayuttaya, the center's seminar and vocational training section head, "these women are taught other life skills such as law, marriage planning, and Aids prevention, so we are very happy when outsiders bring in activities (referring to the yoga session)".

Naranidh explains why she wanted to teach yoga at the training center. "They (the young women) are being pushed around by poverty, strict parents and even abuse. I want to make a little sanctuary for them to be away from whatever is pulling them, so that they will have a center and become more confident. I have experienced [the benefits of yoga], the children have experienced [the benefits], so why not let [these young women] experience [the benefits], too."

She says that the feedback from the nearly two week session is rewarding. These young women report that they sleep better, have more energy and feel less fatigue.

"I feel more content and peaceful. My memory has also improved," says 42-year-old housewife Pornpisut Vanitjarean. Pornpisut is now a computer student at the center. For many years, she has suffered physical pain on her left leg. She says yoga relieves the pain.

Better concentration in school

Initially when Naranidh taught yoga lessons to Grade 4 students at ISB, she found the youngsters hard to control. Taking yoga classes have calmed the youngsters, and parents say their children's concentration has improved.

She says she taught them positions based on themes, demonstrating various positions to imitate a tree or a tiger, for example. One essential part is that students find that they have enjoyed something during the day, some of whom would practice their new lessons at home. Naranidh also plans to teach yoga for the next school semester.

Co-teacher Khru Oam says that some children first arrived with self-esteem problem, for example, feeling insecure that they are too short for their age. Although genetics play a part in their growth, says Oam, "certain positions we taught, such as straitening the body and stretching the shoulders to the back, increases their confidence. She recalls a girl confidently telling her that she is now as tall as a mountain.

Benefits

"Children can begin yoga training as young as six because children at this age are old enough to follow directions and have sufficient attention spans. Yoga will help their body structure. We emphasize positions that will help the growth of their bones, legs and arms, to make them taller. Yoga helps their growth hormone and also their concentration," says Sunee Yuvachitti, founder and director of Sunee Yoga School, a school certified by the Education Ministry.

For yoga to be beneficial, Sunee advises a person to practice it three times per week for one-and-a-half hours. Yoga, however, is suitable for a range of ages, but Sunee says that the majority of her students are career women from ages 20 to 40. People over 60 years make up at least 10 percent of total enrolment.

Some of the benefits of yoga include improved blood circulation and other body systems; increased flexibility and more relaxed muscles. It also improves the emotional stability, concentration and confidence of yoga students.