Movement and learning are more deeply connected than we often acknowledge. In most traditional classrooms, children are expected to sit still and concentrate, with movement treated as a break from learning. But science—and experience—tells us a different story. For growing minds, movement is not a distraction. It’s a powerful tool that actually fuels learning.
This International Yoga Day is the perfect time to reflect on how practices like yoga, physical play, and even simple stretches can support not just physical health, but also cognitive development. At Mirai Minds, we see this link between movement and learning every day in our classrooms and workshops. When children move, they think more clearly, focus more easily, and engage more deeply.
The Science Behind Movement and Learning
In recent years, neuroscience has revealed a growing body of evidence that supports the connection between movement and learning. Physical movement increases blood flow to the brain, enhances oxygen delivery, and activates what are known as motor-cognitive networks. These are systems in the brain responsible for memory, attention, self-regulation, and higher-order thinking.
In other words, movement doesn’t just support learning—it enables it. Activities like jumping, spinning, stretching, and balancing stimulate parts of the brain that are also responsible for decision-making, concentration, and problem-solving. When children engage in physical movement, they are strengthening both their bodies and their minds.
This is why short bursts of movement—like a few minutes of yoga, a dance game, or even walking while discussing a topic—can significantly enhance a child’s ability to absorb information. They’re not just burning energy. They’re activating the very brain systems they need to understand, reflect, and retain knowledge.
At Mirai Minds, we design experiences with this in mind. Whether it’s through yoga-inspired mindfulness exercises or movement-rich storytelling, we encourage children to use their whole bodies to make sense of the world around them.
Movement in Education: A Path to Deeper Learning
Traditionally, learning is thought of as a quiet, still activity. But that model often doesn’t align with how young children actually develop. Children are natural movers. They explore the world through physical interaction—crawling, climbing, reaching, building, mimicking. When we ask them to suppress this instinct for the sake of discipline or classroom control, we risk disengaging them from the very process of learning.
Integrating movement and learning helps us create environments where children don’t just memorize—they make meaning. Movement can reinforce abstract concepts, improve recall, and allow children to express understanding in diverse ways. For example, when a child acts out a story or counts using their fingers and toes, they’re using kinesthetic pathways to anchor their learning in the body.
Yoga offers a particularly powerful method of integrating movement into education. With its focus on balance, breath, posture, and stillness, yoga doesn’t just bring calm—it fosters body awareness, focus, and emotional regulation. These are all foundational for effective learning. Through yoga-inspired activities, children learn to tune into themselves, regulate their reactions, and access a sense of calm confidence—all while developing physical strength and flexibility.
At Mirai Minds, we’ve seen firsthand how incorporating yoga and movement into everyday learning builds not just academic skills, but life skills. Children who learn through movement tend to collaborate more confidently, express themselves with ease, and feel more connected to what they’re learning.
Rethinking Classrooms as Dynamic Spaces
It’s time to stop thinking of movement as a break from learning—and start recognizing it as a vital part of how learning happens.
The link between movement and learning is well-supported by research and reinforced by daily experiences in child-centered environments. When children are encouraged to move, they learn more deeply. They’re more engaged, more joyful, and more likely to retain and apply what they’ve learned.
This International Yoga Day, let’s celebrate movement not just as a physical activity, but as an educational superpower. In classrooms that move, children thrive—not just in academics, but in confidence, creativity, and connection.
Let’s keep their brains—and their bodies—in motion.
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