Schoolchildren in Cheltenham using yoga to ease lockdown stress
Active Gloucestershire have funded the programme at Pitville School
A yoga programme is helping combat stress levels amongst schoolchildren in Cheltenham.
Pitville School have rolled out the programme which has been funded by Active Gloucestershire.
The sessions, which are being offered as an alternative exercise in P.E lessons, start off with breathing techniques to help them relax.
They then take part in sun salutations where they perform a string of yoga movements to stretch out muscles.
It finishes with a relaxation technique called 'tense and release' to let go of any negative energy still within them.
P.E teacher, Miss Guinan, has been trained as a Yoga and Wellbeing Ambassador as part of the programme too.
Miss Guinan said: "The children have responded really, really well. I think it's been most beneficial to key stage four who've had a lot of stress due to exams.
"It gives them a moment of calm away from the stress, technology and everything else in their lives just to sit and breathe and think about their body and mind.
"It's just really beneficial for their physical, mental and emotional health."
15-year-old Ruby Roberts said: "Teenagers do go through a lot so I feel like yoga is a really good way just to relieve any negative emotions.
"I'd really recommend it to other people because your stress levels massively come down. I came into school quite stressed this morning and after this session I feel absolutely fine now.
Lily Rollason-Powell, 15, added: "Being in and out of lockdown has definitely affected sleep schedules, work schedules and having online lessons too.
"I think it's a lot better to wake up with something to do that day and refresh your mind rather than just be on repeat.
Ibby May, who's also 15, said: "I think when you're stressed out and you're having a bad day, especially with Covid, people don't really have the time to just sit back and relax.
"And I think yoga really helps with that. It relaxes you and you can just take a moment and forget your problems.