Inhale. Exhale. Ooooooooh.... Aaaaaaaaah......Yes! Oohs and ahhs are completely appropriate. We finally received the results from our 2006 TFS study with Purdue and Indiana Universities. They are beyond our wildest expectations. We are delighted and grateful, and I trust you will be too!

The validity and importance of this program is published in a long, detailed document that is attached here. Please find summarized the highlights of this study below, along with special quotes from educators, students and parents.

Here is the CONCLUSION of the study called “Factors Affecting Student Achievement and Related Behaviors’ by Dr. Janet Buckenmeyer. Purdue University Calumet, IN, USA
Dr. David Freitas, Indiana University, South Bend, IN, USA

“YogaKids Tools for Schools has a significant positive effect on the academic achievement, general health, personal attributes and relationships of students in Kindergarten through 5th grade.’

OVERVIEW

This study explores the effect of the YogaKids Tools for Schools program on the academic achievement, general health, personal attributes and relationships of participating students.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION FROM YogaKids® Tools for Schools

The international leader of yoga for children, YogaKids® International, provides a proven teaching solution for children ages 5-12 with the primary goal of less stress and greater success for teachers and students. YogaKids Tools for Schools links movement and creative activities to the core and secondary subjects educators are required to teach each school year

YogaKids Tools for Schools is the culmination of over 20 years of collaborative work with children, teachers and other professionals to enhance children's mental and physical health. It is also designed to improve academic retention through movement.

Among the many benefits that educators, parents and children may derive from Tools for Schools are:

Increased subject retention and improved test scores
A more participatory and community oriented learning environment
A positive attitude toward learning and life
A higher degree of self-confidence and self-esteem
The ability to relax, self-nurture and regulate emotions
Enhanced communication and problem solving skills
Better posture, increased fitness and improved self image

METHODOLOGY, DESCRIPTION AND DESIGN

Survey research methodology was utilized in this study to determine the effect of YogaKids Tools for Schools on students' academic achievement and related behaviors.

Six survey instruments were created to elicit responses. Two surveys captured reflections from Kindergarten through Grade 2 students before (pre) and after (post) a series of YogaKids Tools for Schools experiences. Two additional surveys captured pre and post data from students in grades 3-5. Teachers and parents/guardians also completed surveys regarding the effect of YogaKids Tools for Schools on participating students.

TOTAL # of Questions 214
TOTAL # of Responses 684

Each survey contained questions related to one of four categories: academic achievement; general health; personal attributes; and relationships.

SURVEY RELIABILITY AND RESPONSES

Reliability is reported on a scale from 0 to 1.0. A score of 1.0 means the instrument has perfect reliability. Thus, the closer the reliability is to 1.0, the better. By scientific convention, reliability coefficients lower than .60 is common in beginning or exploratory research. A .70 is considered “adequate.’ A “good scale’ is at least .80. Over .80 is considered exceptional.

The reliability coefficient for the student survey was .92. Reliability coefficients for the teacher and parent/guardian surveys were above .83. The surveys in this study yielded, therefore, highly dependable data.

EFFECT OF YOGAKIDS TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS EXPERIENCES ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, GENERAL HEALTH, PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES AND RELATIONSHIPS

Teacher responders unanimously (100%) agreed on the positive effects of YogaKids Tools for Schools. Parents/guardians responders, while not unanimous, were also overwhelmingly positive. Positive effect responses across all categories were over 90%. Their reflections are impressive.

Responses by students were similar. Positive effect responses were in a range between 75% and 93% across all categories. Again these overwhelming positive reactions are noteworthy.

A SMALL SAMPLE OF RESPONSES FROM K-5TH GRADE STUDENTS

I like the lemon toes because I like to drink lemonade when it is hot, and wiggle my toes. Yoga is just fun. I like helping my teacher get the mats out and sometimes I help pass out the ducks to put on our tummies.

My behavior has changed.

The mountain (is my favorite) - all you have to do is stand still. Yoga makes me feel good and nice and happy.

Quiet time and Yoga makes me happy. I like the flamingo pose the best.

I don't just, out of the blue, scream at someone, I stay calm. I am getting better grades and I participate more. It helps me when my teacher made a Yoga zone in our room because I can go there during free time and silent reading time to

I think behavior in the class has changed. It has improved after yoga because we are calm, relaxed and ready to learn.

My grades have risen slightly. I hardly ever get in trouble. I concentrate the same and my self-confidence is high and my attitude is normal.

It made me more calm and happy and now I do it before competitions and it makes me feel strong and happy. After learning yoga, I started to encourage my parents and my friends to do it. It brought down their stress levels and made them very calm.

A little bit because some of the boys did not change. I don't really know about other people but I started liking yoga and teaching it to my mom. When I am tired in class, I really like doing yoga especially outside. My classmates laugh in yoga but after, it seems they calmed down and enjoyed it. I know I did. I would actually like to do more Yoga in class!

When I get stressed out, I right away find a quiet spot and listen to music and then do Yoga. It has also made me more calmer and more patient. In school. I find that I am paying attention more and also raising my hand. Yoga has really not changed my life but is has helped my personality. I feel my confident about myself.

RESPONSES FROM TEACHERS, PARENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS

Open-Ended Question Prompt: Have you observed significant changes in your students' academic achievement, behavior, self-confidence, stress level and/or concentration since they began participating in YogaKids Tools for Schools? Please share with us some specific examples of the changes that occurred.

YogaKids for Schools really helped those children that were at risk - emotionally, behavior-wise, ADHD, low academic. It seemed to really help them calm down!

I was a bit amazed how much the children took home . Several said that they have to have quiet music and they do the lemon toes and breathe at bedtime.

You forgot an important section - teacher's stress load! YogaKids for Schools helped me be a better teacher as it helped calm me down and it helped me have more patience. On the days we did yoga, I always had a better day and it encouraged me to join a yoga class on Saturday mornings.

They are excited to begin the day now because they enjoy movement. They are proud of their accomplishments.

The students love the YogaKids Tools for Schools program. They ask all the time if we are doing Yoga today. It is such a great way to bond with the students. I also use it when there is some negative energy (i.e. fighting, stress) in the room It is extremely helpful in letting it go. I am very impressed with the effects.

I noticed that students were able to use the calming exercises when they needed to relax. Before tests, exercises helped students to concentrate and lower stress.

I have been using YogaKids Tools for Schools in the classroom for two years as an instructional tool. I have noticed that the students enjoy YogaKids for Schools since it brings movement and something different to class. They all respond very positively to YogaKids for Schools in our Spanish class. Some students view it as "play time" and don't always pay attention to learning Spanish in the activities, which can be frustrating. Since this "official" study was limited to six weeks, I feel the results are more limited. Given a longer period of time, I think you would see even better results.

FROM PARENTS/GUARDIANS

Open-Ended Session Prompt: Have you observed significant changes in your child's academic achievement, behavior, self-confidence, stress level and/or concentration since he or she began participating in YogaKids Tools for Schools? Please share with us some specific examples of the changes that occurred in your son or daughter.

* My daughter does dance lessons and when she did her recital, she was scared and nervous. She and three of the the girls from her class started doing the YogaKids for Schools stuff and stretching and breathing and it calmed them down before the recital. Sometimes she tells her little brother to do some Yoga stuff when he is being difficult.

My child enjoys the Yoga positions and often shares them with our family. She has used the bunny breathing to relax at home and seems to find yoga a very enjoyable experience.
Yes, I have. My child is more neat and relaxed and her concentration skills have grown stronger.
When he does yoga, his self-confidence improves. He becomes healthier and his attitude and posture changes.
I observed that my son was always calmer and kinder after YogaKids for Schools. He was more helpful at home after some breathing.
I did not see any changes in my child's behavior. It did help him with some flexibility and he did enjoy it.
She enjoyed it. Thank you for offering it.
She has had significant change in her academic achievement. This is the first year that she has done this well in school.

MAJOR CONCLUSION

Results were consistently positive.

While numerous conclusions evolve, the major research question posed in this study has been answered in the affirmative. YogaKids Tools for Schools has a significant positive effect on the academic achievement, general health, personal attributes and relationships of students in Kindergarten through 5th grade.

For more information:
Crystal W. Rody
YogaKids Associates
957-8755
cwrody1@comcast.net