Lesson 6 - Animal Flow Sequences
Mindful Movement & Body Awareness
•Year 1
•Yoga
•Start Planning Better PE Lessons
Sign up free to access 3 complete units per month, unlimited activity library, and your personal locker.
What's included
- Complete activity instructions & timing
- Teaching tips & differentiation strategies
- Assessment guidance & success criteria
- Downloadable lessons & units
How can we move like animals while staying calm and controlled?
Learning Objectives
- To show control in an animal flow sequence
- To coordinate breathing with movement
- To work cooperatively to create and share yoga sequences
Key Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate controlled animal yoga poses with coordinated breathing
- Students will create their own 4-5 pose animal flow sequence with a partner
- Students will teach and perform their sequence to others with confidence
Equipment & Resources Required
Arrange in circle formation with space between each mat
Alternative: Towels or carpet squares if mats unavailable
Have readily available for demonstration
Alternative: Create visual cards with animal poses
Test audio system before lesson begins
Alternative: Calm instrumental music or nature sounds
Place around room for student reference during pair work
Alternative: Hand-drawn pose cards or tablet images
Key Vocabulary
A sequence of yoga poses that copy animal movements and are linked together smoothly
A respectful greeting used in yoga, meaning 'the light in me honours the light in you'
An inverted V-shape yoga pose copying how dogs stretch
Moving smoothly and slowly between poses without stopping
Paying attention to your breath and feeling it move in your body
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic yoga poses (cat, cow, down dog)
- Understanding of breathing techniques
- Working safely on yoga mats
Current Skills
- Linking poses into flowing sequences
- Coordinating breath with movement
- Creating original animal-themed flows
Next Steps
- More complex yoga sequences
- Advanced breathing techniques
- Leading whole class sequences
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Always demonstrate poses with perfect alignment before students attempt
- Emphasise slow, honey-like movement between poses throughout lesson
- Coordinate animal sounds with pose demonstrations to aid memory
- Monitor breathing patterns and encourage nasal breathing
- Create supportive environment where creativity is celebrated over perfection
- Use partner work to build cooperation and peer teaching skills
- Maintain calm, peaceful atmosphere appropriate for yoga practice
Common Misconceptions
- Thinking yoga poses need to be perfect - emphasise personal best effort
- Believing flexibility is required - focus on control and awareness over range
- Assuming yoga is competitive - reinforce personal practice and support for others
- Rushing through poses - consistently model and reward slow, mindful movement
- Forgetting breathing - regularly remind about breath awareness throughout
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Shorter pose holds, frequent movement variety, clear boundaries for partner work, calming breathing focus
dyspraxia
- Simplified pose sequences, extra time for coordination, visual and physical supports for positioning
autism spectrum
- Visual schedule of poses, quiet space option during group activities, predictable routine structure
visual impairment
- Clear verbal descriptions of all poses, tactile guidance for positioning, partner support for spatial awareness
hearing impairment
- Visual demonstration cards, hand signals for breathing rhythm, visual cues for animal sounds
physical disability
- Chair-adapted yoga poses, modified positions for limited mobility, focus on accessible breathing exercises
Cross-Curricular Links
English
Vocabulary development with pose names, following and giving instructions, describing movements
Maths
Counting breathing rhythms, sequencing poses in order, understanding spatial positioning
Science
Learning about breathing, how lungs work, animal movements and characteristics
Art
Creative expression through movement, animal characteristics and representation
PSHE
Self-awareness, managing emotions, cooperation, building confidence through teaching others
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Move around perimeter during individual work, centre for demonstrations, kneeling level for floor guidance
Observation Focus
Watch for proper pose alignment, breathing coordination, cooperative partner work, and mindful movement quality
Intervention Points
Step in if poses attempted beyond safe capability, if partners not cooperating effectively, or if breathing becomes forced
Demonstration Notes
Always demonstrate poses with perfect alignment, breathe audibly, move slowly between positions, make animal sounds enthusiastically but appropriately
Verbal Cues
- •'Move like honey - slow and smooth'
- •'Feel your breath moving in your body'
- •'High hips in down dog like a mountain peak'
- •'Make your animal sound with confidence'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Minimum 8m x 8m clear space with yoga mats spread 1.5m apart
Surface Check
Non-slip mats on clean, dry floor free from obstacles
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Check yoga mats are non-slip and in good condition
- •Ensure adequate spacing prevents collisions during movement
- •Audio equipment tested and at appropriate volume
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Slips on mats during transitions
- •Wrist strain in weight-bearing poses
- •Lower back strain in backbend positions
- •Collision between students during movement activities
Risk Mitigation
- •Demonstrate proper alignment for all poses
- •Emphasise slow, controlled movement throughout
- •Monitor individual capabilities and modify as needed
- •Maintain adequate spacing between students
- •Stop activity immediately if students become overstimulated
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position for clear view of all students during floor work
- •Circulate during partner work to monitor safety
- •Pay particular attention to wrist and back alignment
Emergency Procedures
Stop activity, assess injury, provide appropriate first aid, notify school procedures for significant injuries