Unity at Greenside Primary School Ubunye Yoga
GREENSIDE – Vanyah Malherbe's knowledge of the benefits of yoga has motivated her to work with the learners to bring improved respiration, energy and vitality.
A beautician and parent at Greenside Primary School offers her time and yoga skills every Wednesday to the learners, teaching them yoga in an attempt to bring them more mindfulness, help them with stress management and to have fun.
Vanyah Malherbe explained that they only started to implement Ubunye Yoga this term. “I do two classes on a Wednesday with the learners. I feel that bringing in yoga, mindfulness, and meditation into their routines is beneficial to them. Just by learning to take deep breaths, I know that these days children deal with a lot of stresses daily in school and from home, therefore, I know this helps them to just redirect their energies.
“I hope to teach them these small techniques at their young age and allow them the benefit of being outside, flexibility, balance, and relaxation.”
According to Malherbe, the response has been positive. “The response has been amazing from the learners, it’s a positive activity they can look forward to every week.”
Malherbe said her love for yoga and the benefits she has experienced in her life motivated her to give her time with the free classes she does once a week. “I go to the Sivananda School of Yoga in Westcliff, five times a week for about half an hour – that helps me cope and that is how I know this mindfulness works. I think the learners will really benefit from it as starting at a young age helps them to be able to stress-manage and focus better.
“I teach the class through games. At the end of the day, it is about enjoyment and fun for the learners. Each time I bring a different routine, each week we have a different theme and I teach them different poses and now I am bringing in sequencing into the lessons.”
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