Derry City Council is using the ancient art of yoga to tackle the problem of obesity in children.
Classes in the Hindu form of exercise and meditation could be permanently introduced to primary schools across the education board to fight the flab and get young people fit.
An evaluation is to be commissioned by the council to investigate the ef
fects of yoga on pupils’ health. And, if successful, it could be rolled out to schools across the city. And a conference held in April will investigate the success of the programme.
The yoga programme targets primary seven children in schools in areas of high social deprivation to help make a positive impact on childhood obesity, improved self-esteem, confidence and educational attainment.
The evaluation is being funded by Sports NI, through the Big Lottery Fund to the Outer North Fit Futures Yoga Schools programme.
The project has been highly commended by Sports NI which will host conference in Derry in April to examine yoga as an activity to be used to tackle obesity in young people in the city.
Yoga has been chosen because of its unique appeal to children and primary schools are seen as an ideal place to implement programmes aimed at influencing children’s behaviour with regard to health in early childhood which will hopefully be retained in later life.
John Bell, a yoga instructor who has been working with children all over the city for the past two years, said it was great way to build confidence in children who would not usually take up a sport.
He said: “I am teaching in five schools at the minute all over Derry. It is great stuff for them and helps them to build confidence and awareness. It is just fun for them.It also helps their self esteem.
“If kids have a problem with other sports and they don’t play football and netball, they are left out. But in yoga they are able to do it, they are able to get involved in and do the postures and we see their confidence building.”
