Why Yoga in Schools Matters

Transforming Education Through Well-being
Some UK schools already teach yoga—but imagine the transformative impact if every school integrated it into daily life. This doesn’t require mats or special equipment. Simple chair-based practices can be done in classrooms, gyms, dining halls, or assembly halls.

Yoga is a holistic discipline that nurtures every aspect of a child’s development:

Physical Health – Builds strong, flexible bodies, keeps joints healthy, and muscles lean and supple.
Mental Clarity – Sharpens focus, enhances memory, and improves emotional regulation.
Emotional Well-being – Reduces stress, lifts mood, and fosters resilience and self-discipline.
 
The Power of the Breath

Breathing exercises (Pranayama)—a core element of yoga—have powerful health benefits. By expanding lung capacity and increasing nitric oxide levels, they can:

Clear bacteria and viruses from nasal passages
Regulate blood pressure and aid digestion
Improve memory, vision, and circulation
These simple techniques support both physical vitality and mental balance, making them life-changing tools for children.

A Universal, Inclusive Practice

Yoga is a global, non-religious practice already integrated into schools worldwide. It can be embraced by every UK school, regardless of faith. Its benefits ripple outward, as children share their learning with parents and grandparents—strengthening families and communities across generations.

Personal Experience

I began practicing yoga 14 years ago and have been teaching for the past 9 years—primarily to seniors, and more recently to children and teachers in London schools. Some students have even reduced or eliminated medications as their health improved.

At 72, I still take daily cold showers and maintain my yoga practice. On my 66th birthday, I held a headstand for 8 minutes and 50 seconds. Yoga has given me strength, confidence, and mental resilience.

Children deserve to experience these same benefits—to believe in themselves, thrive academically, and grow into compassionate, balanced individuals.

 
The Science Behind It

Research consistently demonstrates yoga’s effectiveness:

Sharper Brain – Boosts memory, focus, and emotional control (Harvard, 2015)
Stress Relief – Lowers cortisol and calms the nervous system (IJY, 2013)
Better Mood – Increases GABA, the brain’s calming chemical (JACM, 2010)
Mental Clarity – Enhances alpha brain waves for focus (Frontiers, 2016)
Stronger Body – Improves flexibility, cardiovascular health, and reduces inflammation (JCP, 2009)
 
A Call to Action

As a grandparent, I believe our future generations must grow up healthy, kind, and resilient—free from anger and hate, and mindful of the planet. A peaceful mind does not harbor anger.

I have already shared this campaign with former Education Secretary Justine Greening, who showed genuine interest, and continue to engage with leaders and promote yoga through the NHS. 

We Need Your Support

To bring this issue to a Parliamentary debate, we need 100,000 signatures. With your help, yoga can become part of every schoolchild’s life—fostering health, harmony, and hope.

Would any MP truly oppose this vision for our children’s future?