Lesson 2 - Mindful Breathing and Core Poses
Breath & Movement Connection
•Year 5
•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 combining mindful breathing with yoga poses help us develop both physical strength and mental focus?
Learning Objectives
- To prepare the body safely for yoga practice through mindful breathing and movement
- To demonstrate core yoga poses with correct alignment and breathing
- To understand the wider benefits of regular yoga practice for physical and mental wellbeing
Key Outcomes
- Students will perform a complete yoga sequence with proper breathing techniques
- Students will demonstrate improved balance, flexibility and core strength
- Students will explain the benefits of yoga for stress relief and concentration
Equipment & Resources Required
Arranged in rows with space for arm movements around each mat
Alternative: Towels or carpet squares
Volume low enough to hear instructions clearly
Alternative: Natural sounds or silence
Key Vocabulary
A foundational standing pose that improves posture and strengthens the core
A balancing pose that strengthens legs and improves concentration
A flowing sequence of poses that stretches the entire body
A resting pose that helps calm the mind and stretch the hips and back
Conscious, deep breathing that helps focus the mind and relax the body
Skill Progression Pathway
Understanding where pupils are coming from and where they're going
Prior Learning
- Basic body awareness and spatial understanding
- Experience with simple stretching exercises
- Understanding of breathing as a calming technique
Current Skills
- Mindful breathing techniques for relaxation
- Core yoga poses with proper alignment
- Balance and coordination through pose sequences
Next Steps
- Advanced pose variations and transitions
- Independent practice of yoga sequences
- Teaching simple poses to younger students
Milestone Indicators
Key Teaching Points
- Always emphasise listening to individual body needs over achieving perfect poses
- Connect breath with movement throughout the practice
- Create inclusive environment where all abilities are valued and supported
- Model calm, mindful energy and speak in slower, gentler pace
- Provide modifications and alternatives for every pose offered
- Use yoga as opportunity to build self-awareness and emotional regulation
- Emphasise process and personal growth rather than performance or comparison
Common Misconceptions
- Yoga is only for flexible people - correct by showing that yoga develops flexibility gradually
- Poses must look perfect - emphasise individual variation and comfort over appearance
- Breathing doesn't matter - demonstrate how breath awareness enhances every aspect of practice
- Yoga is too easy or not real exercise - explain strength, balance and mental benefits
- Meditation is boring - introduce as adventure for the mind and opportunity for inner exploration
SEN Adaptations
ADHD
- Include movement breaks between poses, provide clear structure and expectations, allow fidget tools during meditation if helpful
dyspraxia
- Break poses into smaller steps, provide extra practice time, use wall support for balance poses, emphasise effort over perfection
autism spectrum
- Provide visual schedule of lesson, allow alternative to partner work, offer quiet space if needed, maintain predictable routine
visual impairment
- Use clear verbal descriptions of all poses, allow students to feel pose alignment through touch, provide consistent spatial references
hearing impairment
- Use visual demonstrations, written pose cards, ensure student can see teacher clearly, use hand signals for breathing
physical disability
- Offer chair-based versions of poses, modify poses for individual abilities, use props for support as needed
Cross-Curricular Links
Maths
Counting breaths and pose holds, understanding symmetry in poses, exploring geometry through body shapes
Science
Understanding respiratory system and effects of deep breathing, exploring how muscles work and stretch
Geography
Learning about yoga's origins in India, understanding different cultural practices around the world
PSHE
Building self-awareness, managing emotions through breath and movement, developing empathy through partner work
Teacher Guidance
Positioning
Move around space to observe all students, demonstrate from front where all can see
Observation Focus
Watch for safe alignment, appropriate effort, and mindful breathing
Intervention Points
Step in if students forcing poses, showing signs of dizziness, or becoming competitive
Demonstration Notes
Model calm, mindful energy throughout, show modifications alongside main poses, emphasise process over perfect form
Verbal Cues
- •'Listen to your body'
- •'Breathe deeply and slowly'
- •'Only go as far as feels good'
- •'There's no perfect pose, only your pose'
Safety Considerations
Space & Surface Requirements
Space Requirements
Large, clear indoor space minimum 8m x 10m with non-slip surface
Surface Check
Clean, dry, non-slip surface free from objects or obstacles
Equipment Safety
Safety Checks
- •Check yoga mats are clean and in good condition
- •Ensure adequate spacing between mats for arm movements
- •Verify any blocks or props are stable and appropriate size
Risk Management
Key Risks
- •Overstretching or forcing poses beyond individual limits
- •Loss of balance in standing poses
- •Wrist discomfort in weight-bearing poses
- •Dizziness from inversions or quick position changes
Risk Mitigation
- •Emphasise listening to body and stopping if uncomfortable
- •Provide modifications for all poses
- •Ensure adequate warm-up before challenging poses
- •Teach safe transitions between positions
Supervision & Emergency Procedures
Supervision Points
- •Position to see all students during practice
- •Monitor for safe alignment and effort levels
- •Watch for students pushing beyond comfortable limits
Emergency Procedures
Stop activity immediately if injury occurs, assess need for first aid, contact office if medical attention required