Year 11 - Physical education
Basic poses and breathing techniques
Health and wellbeing: yoga, pilates and mindfulness for life
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit will develop pupils' awareness of the restorative powers of pilates, mindfulness and other daily routines that can support holistic wellbeing and help with stress management. Pupils will experience a variety of classes and also learn about the power of breathwork.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to perform Downward Facing Dog, Child's Pose and Warrior in any variation you choose.
Key Notes
- Move: in Downward-Facing Dog, spread your fingers, press heels down, lift hips, keep spine long and engage your core.
- Think: exhaling while deepening the movement helps the body stretch more effectively and achieve greater flexibility.
- Feel: feeling the stretch until it's tight helps you understand your limit, ensuring a safe and effective stretch.
- Connect: a group practice allows a shared sense of calm and unity through synchronised movement and breath.
Vocabulary To Learn
- downward facing dog: hips lift up and back, forming an inverted 'V' shape, pressing heels towards the ground
- child's pose: a resting yoga pose where you kneel on the floor, sit back on your heels and stretch your arms forward on the mat while lowering your head to the ground
- warrior: one leg forward with knee bent and other leg extended back, arms reaching overhead
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Holding your breath when performing different moves or going deeper into a stretch is beneficial.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Move: in Downward-Facing Dog, spread your fingers, press heels down, lift hips, keep spine long and engage your core. Think: exhaling while deepening the movement helps the body stretch more effectively and achieve greater flexibility.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'downward facing dog'
hips lift up and back, forming an inverted 'V' shape, pressing heels towards the ground.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Holding your breath when performing different moves or going deeper into a stretch is beneficial. Correction: Holding your breath while performing movements or deepening a stretch can create tension, reduce oxygen flow and limit flexibility. Focus on steady, controlled breathing to help the body relax, move safely and maximise the benefits of each pose.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 11 Physical education guide library.