CITATION (APA):

Toscano, L., & Clemente, F. (2013). Dogs, Cats, and Kids: Integrating Yoga into Elementary
Physical Education. Strategies: A Journal for Physical and Sport Educators, 21(4), 15-18.
Retrieved September 15, 2014, from http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08924562.2008.10590779

ABSTRACT:
The article Dogs, Cats, and Kids: Integrating Yoga into Elementary Physical Education
by Lisa Toscano and Fran Clemente specifically focuses on the integration of yoga into the
elementary classroom based upon the National Standards for Physical Education (NASPE,
2004). The purpose of the article is to educate teachers on benefits and methodology of teaching
yoga within the classroom. Throughout the article many yoga poses are identified in detail so as
to provide the necessary content for a teacher to incorporate yoga into their classroom. The
trustworthiness of this article is proven through its publication in the journal Strategies: A
Journal for Physical and Sport Education, the use of multiple references including NASPE, and
that the article was published in joint between the Physical Education and Human Performance
Department of Manhattan College and the Newmark High School in Carteret, New Jersey.
Dogs, Cats, and Kids primarily covers the multiple benefits from yoga content (physical,
emotional, and mental) and how to teach yoga within a elementary classroom. As to the benefits
of yoga, the article clearly outlines how yoga can help with discipline, balance, flexibility,
strength, and proper body alignment. In addition the article emphasizes the benefits that yoga has
upon relieving stress and pressure, for adults as well as children. When outlining the
methodology and content involved with teaching yoga, the article describes in detail many poses
that can be used in an elementary classroom. Other areas concerning the teaching of yoga place
emphasis upon teaching children not activities and emphasizing breathing when practicing yoga
positions.
This article is quite valuable in terms of providing many content ideas for yoga poses and
how to teach yoga within the framework of NASPE. This article clearly identifies the uses of
yoga within the classroom and identifies how yoga can be taught so as to engage students in a
continuously beneficial lifelong physical activity. The information presented in this article is
helpful to the teaching/learning process because it relates directly to multiple national standards
and is presented from the perspective of educators that present a fun and challenging activity that
is applicable to all ages. Integrating yoga into elementary physical education classes offers new
movement possibilities for a wider group of students, (Clemente and Toscano, 15). Within the
context of my own elementary lessons, this information can be very useful in helping students to
obtain better body alignment and control in terms of improving individual balance. This
information can be of great use in multiple areas of physical activity and helps to conect the
importance of balance to other areas such as strength, flexibility, and movement.

Joshua P. Barnhart - Education Student at Central Michigan University - PES 415