# The Mozart Effect: A Report for Elementary School Teachers

## Introduction

The Mozart Effect refers to the popular idea that listening to Mozart's music, particularly his Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, can temporarily improve cognitive performance, especially in spatial reasoning tasks.

As an elementary school teacher seeking non-conventional methods to enhance student performance, this report examines the scientific basis for this phenomenon and provides practical guidance for implementation in the classroom setting.

## Understanding the Mozart Effect

The Mozart Effect originated from a 1993 study that suggested college students who listened to Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major showed temporary improvement in spatial reasoning skills.

This finding sparked widespread interest in using classical music as a cognitive enhancer, particularly in educational settings.

## Current Research Findings

### Music and Cognitive Performance

Research indicates that music affects our brains in complex ways.

According to studies referenced in our materials, music is built into our brains, suggesting an evolutionary function.

The ability to appreciate music appears universal across cultures, indicating its fundamental role in human cognition.

However, recent research suggests that the effects of music on cognition may be more nuanced than originally proposed:

1.

**Emotional vs.

Intellectual Impact**: Studies suggest that music impacts us more emotionally than intellectually.

As one researcher noted, "music can produce powerful, genuine emotions across all of the emotions we can experience—fear, sadness, anger, and joy," but our ability to understand the thought process of others doesn't seem to be as affected by music as our emotions are.

**Familiarity Matters**: Harvard psychiatrist and brain researcher Srini Pillay found that the music most effective for concentration is what's most familiar to listeners or what they like and remember well.

Familiar music activates many bra

# The Mozart Effect: A Report for Elementary School Teachers

## Introduction

The Mozart Effect refers to the popular idea that listening to Mozart's music, particularly his Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, can temporarily improve cognitive performance, especially in spatial reasoning tasks.

Title:

Content: Music is a part of every culture around the world. In fact, the ability to appreciate music is built into our brains, suggesting music has an evolutionary function.

While listening to music just feels good, it also seems to increase social bonding. Some research suggests listening to music makes us more empathic toward other people, encouraging us to resonate with their feelings and care about their welfare. Music may also enhance our ability to consider what a person is thinking and feeling and to take their perspective—another aspect of empathy that can improve relationships.

Many music studies look at the long-term benefits of being a music listener or participating in a music program as a child. But can hearing music help us connect and empathize with someone right in the moment? A new study aimed to find out.

In this study, 60 university students were recruited to watch several 15-second videos in which a person recounts an autobiographical experience. In some cases, people in the video talked about a relatively mundane event, like moving into a new apartment, while other stories contained strong emotional content, like recalling a terrible accident or a loved one’s death.

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While students watched these videos, the researchers randomly played either “emotionally neutral” music (such as Hans Zimmer’s “Redacted”) or very sad music (such as Dario Marianelli’s “Farewell”) in the background. After watching each video, the students expressed how they felt, how much compassion they had for the person in the video, and how much they wanted to help that person. They were also tested on their social reasoning skills—how well they understood the perspective of the person in the video. All of these could be signs of empathic connection.

Results showed that people watching the sad videos felt more sadness themselves (showing that they resonated with the other person’s feelings) and more compassion for the other person than those watching the neutral videos—not a big surprise. But these empathic feelings were strengthened by listening to sad music, leading to greater compassion for and willingness to help the person in the video.

“In a sense, there is a synergistic effect between having emotional background music and listening to an emotional narrative,” says lead researcher Brennan McDonald of Technical University Dresden in Germany. “Our social emotions are amenable to emotional enhancement through music.”

The music had no effect, however, on whether or not the students could reason about the other person’s experience and understand, cognitively, what they might be thinking or feeling. McDonald does not know why that would be, since past research seems to contradict that. But, he says, it makes sense that music might impact us more emotionally than intellectually.

“Music can produce powerful, genuine emotions across all of the emotions we can experience—fear, sadness, anger, and joy—and that may clue people into the emotions of the environment in which they find themselves and help them deal with social interactions,” he says. “But our ability to understand the thought process of another doesn’t seem to be as affected by music in the way that our emotions are.”

Why is this important to know? One major reason is that music surrounds us in our daily lives and may affect our feelings for others. Certainly, films capitalize on this, says McDonald, using music as a simple way to augment people’s empathy to care more about the welfare of their characters.

Using music to increase compassion more broadly is McDonald’s greater goal for this research. While music is not the only way to accomplish that—other art forms, like fiction and dancing, have also been shown to increase empathy, for example—music could be a powerful tool. After all, this study involved listening to just 15 seconds of emotional music, and it still made people care more about someone else and want to help them. Perhaps, if people listened to or played music together more, it could help build a more caring society.

“It would be very interesting to take our finding and extend it further, to see if music-making over a long period of time in a social context can enhance our real-world ability to empathize and feel compassion towards others, long-term,” says McDonald. “To test that is the next logical step.”

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As an elementary school teacher seeking non-conventional methods to enhance student performance, this report examines the scientific basis for this phenomenon and provides practical guidance for implementation in the classroom setting.

Title:

Content: Dopamine Signals May Contribute to Reward-based Learning

by American Physiological Society (APS)

Rockville, Md. (December 22, 2023)—A new mouse study published in the journal Function bolsters the hypothesis that midbrain dopamine might encode a reward signal useful for learning. Dopamine is a chemical messenger that enables the transmission of signals in the brain. Dopamine is produced in several areas of the brain including the midbrain. Evidence also suggests the release of dopamine neurons in the midbrain area signals reward prediction error – which means the response to the reward disappears when the reward is predicted or is nonexistent or less than predicted. This drives the ability of neurons to modify the strength of their connections in the striatum (area of the brain responsible for decision-making and motor control) underlying learning. The increase of striatal dopamine accompanying an unexpected reward activates dopamine type 1 receptors. Although more studies are needed, these early results seem to indicate the likeliness that dopamine signals in the striatum might underlie important aspects of goal-directed reward-based learning. “In conclusion, remarkable progress has been made linking striatal dopamine signals to reward learning, but much remains to be learned,” researchers wrote in their findings.

## Understanding the Mozart Effect

The Mozart Effect originated from a 1993 study that suggested college students who listened to Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major showed temporary improvement in spatial reasoning skills.

Title:

Content: Subscribe now

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Creativity's origins are probably too complex for simple explanations

What makes some people so creative? There are many common beliefs about the neuroscience of innovation, but they fail to capture its true complexity, says Anna Abraham in her book The Creative Brain: Myths and truths

By Sandrine Ceurstemont

15 May 2024

The Creative Brain
Anna Abraham
MIT Press

Creativity is a product of the human mind. But why are some people more creative than others, making it seem elusive or a gift?

Having a neurodivergent brain has been proposed as one possibility. Take Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s musical creativity. It has been suggested that he had Tourette’s syndrome, a brain condition linked to a range of symptoms including obsessive behaviour, which could have played a role.…

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This finding sparked widespread interest in using classical music as a cognitive enhancer, particularly in educational settings.

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Titan passengers have signed a disclaimer and family members can still file a lawsuit.
Harvard expert: not classical music, this kind of music can help you focus
Music can not only entertain people and help people focus, but given the diversity of music and people, how can we choose the music that is best for us?
The researchers found that in terms of improving brain power, everyone's effective music is different, and the effect is dependent on each person's response to music.
Slini, a psychiatrist and brain researcher at Harvard University.
Srini Pillay has found that the music you are most familiar with, or the songs you love and remember, is the music that will help you concentrate most effectively.
Find music that helps you focus
A 2018 study found that familiar music activates many brain regions responsible for movement.
Pillay said that this means that he can sing along and feel the familiar rhythm with his body.
Because I have heard this song, I can look forward to the next rhythm.
And when you need to focus, familiar music can help relieve stress, connect you to the emotions you need, and help people focus on what ’ s in front of them.
However, Dr. Pillay warns to be careful whether you get tired of listening to too much of this music.
Multiple studies have shown that the pleasure of listening to music is a U-curve; it increases first, but over time, once your brain gets used to the music, the pleasure decreases.
Other studies have found that "soft and fast" music helps learning, while "loud and fast", "soft" and "loud and slow" types hinder learning; pure music is also more helpful than songs with lyrics.
How familiar music affects the brain
Music can affect brain concentration in a number of ways; one mechanism reduces stress and cortisol, allowing the brain to stay focused without interruption.
In the brain, the attention center is directly connected to the area that processes emotions, so any music that makes your emotions go up and down can disrupt your attention.
On the other hand, when you suppress your feelings, negative emotions will hover in your mind.
No matter how hard you try, you will not be able to concentrate.
So, if music can help you connect emotions, it can also help you think more clearly.
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## Current Research Findings

### Music and Cognitive Performance

Research indicates that music affects our brains in complex ways.

According to studies referenced in our materials, music is built into our brains, suggesting an evolutionary function.

The ability to appreciate music appears universal across cultures, indicating its fundamental role in human cognition.

However, recent research suggests that the effects of music on cognition may be more nuanced than originally proposed:

1.

**Emotional vs.

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Expressing gratitude is a simple yet powerful practice that can change one ’ s life, developing an honest appreciation of what a person already has can dramatically change their mental and physical health.
According to the science of gratitude, taking it as a habit increases the ability to reshape the brain and improve mood and even quality of life in general.
According to Calm, gratitude has long been described as the key to happiness.
Neuroscience and psychology have begun to explore how gratitude can affect the human brain, and studies have shown that gratitude can help:
• Promote chemicals that feel happy
• Tension regulation
• Train the brain to be more in tune with positivity
• Enhanced neural connectivity in parts of the brain associated with social connectedness
• Improved self-esteem
5 Effects of Gratitude on the Brain
The brain has a remarkable ability to reorganize itself throughout life by forming new neural connections, known as neuroplasticity, and gratitude can play an important role during this process.
1.
Enhancing the production of neurotransmitters
One of the most important ways that gratitude can affect the human brain is to stimulate the production of dopamine and serotonin, two neurotransmitters often known as the chemicals that help us feel happy.
When a person expresses gratitude, their brain may release these chemicals, leading to feelings of happiness and contentment.
It ’ s not just a temporary boost, but regular expressions of gratitude lead to long-term improvements in overall mood and emotional state.
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Regulation of stress hormones
Expressing gratitude can also play a crucial role in managing the body ’ s response to stress.
When a person focuses on the positive emotions associated with gratitude, it can reduce the brain ’ s production of stress hormones such as cortisol, calming the nervous system, thereby reducing feelings of anxiety or promoting a sense of well-being.
3.
Restructuring cognitive processes
Beyond biochemical influences, gratitude can encourage the restructuring of cognitive processes.
It can help promote a shift in mindset from negative to positive thinking, by focusing more on the good in a person ’ s life.
It ’ s a shift that may lead to permanent changes in how a person perceives the world around them and interacts with it.
By practicing gratitude regularly, you can help train your brain to be more in tune with positivity.
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Enhanced neural connectivity
Each expression of gratitude may reinforce the neural pathways associated with positive emotions.
Over time, these pathways can become stronger, making feelings of gratitude and happiness easier and more frequent.
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Improve brain function in critical areas
Studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have shown that gratitude may activate several important areas of the brain, including the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making, emotional regulation and empathy.
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Intellectual Impact**: Studies suggest that music impacts us more emotionally than intellectually.

As one researcher noted, "music can produce powerful, genuine emotions across all of the emotions we can experience—fear, sadness, anger, and joy," but our ability to understand the thought process of others doesn't seem to be as affected by music as our emotions are.

**Familiarity Matters**: Harvard psychiatrist and brain researcher Srini Pillay found that the music most effective for concentration is what's most familiar to listeners or what they like and remember well.

Familiar music activates many bra


# The Mozart Effect: A Comprehensive Report for Elementary School Teachers

## Introduction

As an elementary school teacher seeking non-conventional methods to enhance student performance, you've expressed interest in playing classical music, particularly Mozart, during breaks.

This report examines the Mozart Effect—the theory that listening to Mozart's music, especially his Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, can temporarily boost cognitive performance, particularly in spatial reasoning tasks.

While the provided context documents contain limited specific information about the Mozart Effect, they do offer insights into music's broader impact on human physiology and cognition.

## Understanding the Mozart Effect

The Mozart Effect refers to a set of research findings suggesting that listening to Mozart's music temporarily enhances spatial-temporal reasoning abilities.

The original 1993 study by Rauscher, Shaw, and Ky found that college students who listened to Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major (K.

448) for 10 minutes showed significantly better spatial reasoning skills than those who listened to relaxation instructions or silence.

Although the provided documents don't specifically address this seminal research, Document 0a79ec88-27dd-407d-bbdc-1f171b88fa69_643332840 notes that "music has long been an essential feature of humanity.

It evokes memories; it can change the physical structure of our brains.

" This observation aligns with the broader premise that music can influence cognitive functioning.

## Recent Research and Scientific Analysis

While the provided documents don't contain recent studies specifically on the Mozart Effect, Document 0a79ec88-27dd-407d-bbdc-1f171b88fa69_643332840 discusses research on music's physiological effects, noting that "when we experience music alongside other people, its effects are magnified and shared.

" The study mentioned in this document monitored participants' movements and physiological parameters, finding synchronization across audience members during musical experiences.

This synchronization phenomenon could be relevant to classroom settings, where group listening to music might create shared physiological states that enhance the learning environment.

However, it's important to note that this research doesn't specifically address the Mozart Effect or cognitive improvements.

Document b05d70e8-8c16-4b21-9ebc-f22f1d3c9ef5_823868497 provides some context about music's impact on productivity, noting that "classical music has long been praised for its ability to induce relaxation and mental clarity, making it popular among students and professionals alike.

" This observation supports the potential benefits of incorporating classical music in educational settings.

## Criticisms and Limitations

The Mozart Effect has faced significant scientific criticism over the years.

Critics argue that:

1.

The effect is typically short-term (lasting about 10-15 minutes)
2.

The original findings have been difficult to replicate consistently
3.

Any cognitive enhancement may stem from arousal and mood rather than Mozart's music specifically
4.

Commercial exaggeration has far outpaced scientific evidence

Document e8f6ea15-f4d6-4ba6-9298-2c5706fc09bc_460107400 offers an interesting perspective that might relate to these criticisms, discussing how research has shown that people prefer "slight amounts of deviation" and "a little imperfection because this gives life to the sounds.

" This suggests that the mathematical precision often attributed to Mozart's music may not be the primary factor in any cognitive benefits.

## Practical Applications for Elementary School Settings

Despite the controversy surrounding the specific Mozart Effect, there are several reasons why incorporating classical music during breaks might benefit your students:

1.

**Creating a Positive Environment**: Document 03113a81-0204-45d8-8d47-8c4d45793db0_161838640 advocates for implementing "more music courses in our schools, from elementary on up," suggesting a broader recognition of music's educational value.

**Physiological Synchronization**: The research in Document 0a79ec88-27dd-407d-bbdc-1f171b88fa69_643332840 on physiological synchronization during musical experiences suggests that group listening might help create a more cohesive classroom environment.

**Mood and Arousal**: Document b05d70e8-8c16-4b21-9ebc-f22f1d3c9ef5_823868497 notes that different music types can "evoke a range of emotions, affecting focus and motivation," which could be leveraged to prepare students for different types of learning activities.

**Reduced Cognitive Load**: The same document mentions that "complex and cognitively demanding tasks may require a quieter environment," suggesting that the timing of music exposure is crucial—making breaks an ideal time for musical intervention.

## Recommendations for Implementation

Based on the available information, here are some recommendations for incorporating Mozart's music during breaks:

1.

**Select Appropriate Pieces**: While the Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major (K.

448) is the most studied, other Mozart compositions mentioned in the documents include Piano Sonata No.

3 in B-Flat Major (K.

281) and Piano concerto No.

**Timing and Duration**: Given that any potential effects appear to be temporary, consider playing music for 5-10 minutes immediately before activities requiring spatial reasoning or creative thinking.

**Observe and Adapt**: Monitor your students' responses to different pieces and adjust your approach based on their reactions and performance.

**Combine with Other Approaches**: Rather than relying solely on the Mozart Effect, consider this as one component of a comprehensive approach to creating an optimal learning environment.

**Manage Expectations**: Be realistic about the potential benefits, viewing music as a tool to enhance the learning environment rather than a magic solution for performance improvement.

## Conclusion

While the specific Mozart Effect remains controversial in scientific circles, the broader benefits of music in educational settings are more firmly established.

The limited information in the provided documents supports the idea that music can influence physiological states, mood, and potentially cognitive performance.

As an elementary school teacher, experimenting with Mozart's music during breaks represents a low-risk, potentially beneficial approach to enhancing your students' learning environment.

The most prudent approach is to view this as an experiment—carefully observe outcomes, remain open to adjustments, and maintain realistic expectations about the potential benefits.

Regardless of whether the specific Mozart Effect materializes, creating a more pleasant and stimulating environment through music is likely to have some positive impact on your students' educational experience.

# The Mozart Effect: A Comprehensive Report for Elementary School Teachers

## Introduction

As an elementary school teacher seeking non-conventional methods to enhance student performance, you've expressed interest in playing classical music, particularly Mozart, during breaks.

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Vesperae solennes de confessore, Piano concerto No. 17
Kölner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester, Geza Anda, Joseph Keilberth
OperaPrima-Carillon • Classical music • 2007

This report examines the Mozart Effect—the theory that listening to Mozart's music, especially his Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, can temporarily boost cognitive performance, particularly in spatial reasoning tasks.

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While the provided context documents contain limited specific information about the Mozart Effect, they do offer insights into music's broader impact on human physiology and cognition.

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Audience Members At Classical Music Gigs Can Physically Sync Up

Listening to live music can be a whole-body experience, and it turns out you might even be sharing that experience with your neighbor.

Laura Simmons

Laura Simmons

Editor and Staff Writer

Laura is an editor and staff writer at IFLScience. She obtained her Master's in Experimental Neuroscience from Imperial College London.

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Nothing feels quite like the shared experience of hearing live music in a room full of other people. But new research is demonstrating how that experience may go far beyond how we feel, by showing how physiological processes can sync up across audience members at a classical music concert.

The study, led by Wolfgang Tschacher from the University of Bern in Switzerland, analyzed 132 audience members across three concerts given by string quintets in Berlin, Germany. The repertoire was the same across all the concerts: Beethoven’s Op. 104 in C minor, a piece called Epitaphs by contemporary Australian composer Brett Dean, and Johannes Brahms’ Op. 111 in G major. Each piece represents a different musical style.

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Before and after each concert, the participants were asked to complete questionnaires about their personality traits and mood. During the performance, they wore wearable sensors to measure their heart rate, breathing, and the electrical conductivity of their skin, which is a measure of excitement.

As well as this, the researchers had cameras trained on the audience from above to monitor the participants’ movements.

The hypothesis was that all of these physiological parameters would synchronize across the participants as they experienced the music, and that there would be some association with the listeners’ personality traits. This kind of synchronization has been observed in humans during social interactions, and previous research had hinted that listening to music would have the same effect, but this was one of the first projects to study this effect specifically in concert audiences.

In their paper, the authors write that “substantial evidence of physiological and movement synchrony between audience members was found.” The greatest level of synchronization was in breathing rates, although all of the physiological parameters were affected apart from patterns of inhaling and exhaling. Body movements were also synchronized, despite the fact that the audience members were seated in dimmed lighting and distanced from each other due to COVID protocols in place at the time.

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When they looked at the personality questionnaire date, the team found that those who scored more highly for agreeableness or openness were more likely to become synchronized with their fellow audience members, while the opposite was true for those with more neurotic or extroverted traits. This makes sense when you consider that traits of agreeableness and openness are often associated with people who are sociable and trusting of others.

The authors suggested that extroverted people could be placing more emphasis on the social experience of being with people, rather than the music itself, possibly explaining why they were less likely to synchronize.

There were some limitations to the data collection because the researchers prioritized comfort over the quality of the information gathered – a fair trade-off since the participants had to sit through an entire concert wearing a selection of sensors. However, the authors do note that this compromised some of the data, particularly that of heart rate. They suggest that future research could partially correct these issues with more careful placement of the wearables.

Music has long been an essential feature of humanity. It evokes memories; it can change the physical structure of our brains; and although tales of it leading to madness are apocryphal, it can certainly transport us to another time and place. When we experience music alongside other people, its effects are magnified and shared – as this research demonstrates, at least for some of us, in a very real way.

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## Understanding the Mozart Effect

The Mozart Effect refers to a set of research findings suggesting that listening to Mozart's music temporarily enhances spatial-temporal reasoning abilities.

Title:

Content: Your device does not support JavaScript!
Listeners
Based on matching tastes
Oh, wow!
You seem to be the only one,
Who is listening to this track?
SINGLE
Mozart: Piano Sonata No.14; Fantasia in C Minor / Handel: Suite No. 5 / J.S.Bach-Busoni: Partita No.2
Alicia De Larrocha
Decca Music Group Ltd. • Classical music • 1987
Similar albums

The original 1993 study by Rauscher, Shaw, and Ky found that college students who listened to Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major (K.

448) for 10 minutes showed significantly better spatial reasoning skills than those who listened to relaxation instructions or silence.

Although the provided documents don't specifically address this seminal research, Document 0a79ec88-27dd-407d-bbdc-1f171b88fa69_643332840 notes that "music has long been an essential feature of humanity.

It evokes memories; it can change the physical structure of our brains.

" This observation aligns with the broader premise that music can influence cognitive functioning.

Title:

Content: Can Listening to Music Enhance Your Work Productivity?

Music has been an integral part of human culture for centuries, with its ability to stimulate emotions and connect people on a deep level. Beyond its entertainment value, music has also been suggested to have various benefits, including its potential to boost productivity. But does listening to music really enhance work productivity or is it just a myth?

Studies have shown that music can indeed have a positive impact on work performance, but the effects may vary depending on the nature of the task and personal preferences. For some individuals, listening to instrumental music or melodies without lyrics can create a conducive environment for concentration and focus. The absence of lyrics may limit potential distractions, allowing the mind to delve into the task at hand with greater ease.

On the other hand, complex and cognitively demanding tasks may require a quieter environment devoid of any auditory stimuli. In such cases, music with lyrics or faster beats may hinder concentration and hinder performance. The brain may struggle to process both the language in the lyrics and the task simultaneously, leading to decreased productivity.

Furthermore, the type of music also plays a crucial role in its impact on productivity. Different genres and tempos can evoke a range of emotions, affecting focus and motivation. For instance, classical music has long been praised for its ability to induce relaxation and mental clarity, making it popular among students and professionals alike. Upbeat and energetic music, such as pop or electronic beats, may provide a burst of energy and motivation for more mundane or repetitive tasks.

In conclusion, music can indeed enhance work productivity, but the effects are not universal. It largely depends on the individual’s personal preferences, the nature of the task at hand, and the type of music being listened to. Experimentation is key to finding the right balance between background music that aids concentration and one that may disrupt focus. So, the next time you find yourself zoning out during a tedious task, consider putting on some music that aligns with your work goals and see if it makes a difference.

## Recent Research and Scientific Analysis

While the provided documents don't contain recent studies specifically on the Mozart Effect, Document 0a79ec88-27dd-407d-bbdc-1f171b88fa69_643332840 discusses research on music's physiological effects, noting that "when we experience music alongside other people, its effects are magnified and shared.

" The study mentioned in this document monitored participants' movements and physiological parameters, finding synchronization across audience members during musical experiences.

This synchronization phenomenon could be relevant to classroom settings, where group listening to music might create shared physiological states that enhance the learning environment.

However, it's important to note that this research doesn't specifically address the Mozart Effect or cognitive improvements.

Document b05d70e8-8c16-4b21-9ebc-f22f1d3c9ef5_823868497 provides some context about music's impact on productivity, noting that "classical music has long been praised for its ability to induce relaxation and mental clarity, making it popular among students and professionals alike.

" This observation supports the potential benefits of incorporating classical music in educational settings.

## Criticisms and Limitations

The Mozart Effect has faced significant scientific criticism over the years.

Title:

Content: Dopamine Signals May Contribute to Reward-based Learning

by American Physiological Society (APS)

Rockville, Md. (December 22, 2023)—A new mouse study published in the journal Function bolsters the hypothesis that midbrain dopamine might encode a reward signal useful for learning. Dopamine is a chemical messenger that enables the transmission of signals in the brain. Dopamine is produced in several areas of the brain including the midbrain. Evidence also suggests the release of dopamine neurons in the midbrain area signals reward prediction error – which means the response to the reward disappears when the reward is predicted or is nonexistent or less than predicted. This drives the ability of neurons to modify the strength of their connections in the striatum (area of the brain responsible for decision-making and motor control) underlying learning. The increase of striatal dopamine accompanying an unexpected reward activates dopamine type 1 receptors. Although more studies are needed, these early results seem to indicate the likeliness that dopamine signals in the striatum might underlie important aspects of goal-directed reward-based learning. “In conclusion, remarkable progress has been made linking striatal dopamine signals to reward learning, but much remains to be learned,” researchers wrote in their findings.

Critics argue that:

1.

The effect is typically short-term (lasting about 10-15 minutes)
2.

The original findings have been difficult to replicate consistently
3.

Any cognitive enhancement may stem from arousal and mood rather than Mozart's music specifically
4.

Title:

Content: Friday, February 11, 2022

PBO’s “Narrowband” Approach to Mozart

Last night in Herbst Theatre the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra (PBO), led by Music Director Richard Egarr, presented a program devoted entirely to music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The title of the program was Mozart the Radical, but there was just as much radicalism in Egarr’s approach to preparing the program. Three of the compositions were composed in the same year, 1786. In chronological order these were the K. 491 piano concerto in C minor, the K. 504 “Prague” symphony in D major, and the K. 505 “concert scene” for soprano voice and piano, which begins with the recitative “Ch’io mi scordi de te.” (When was the last time a program was prepared with successive entries from Ludwig Ritter von Köchel’s catalog?)

The remaining work was another concert scene, composed the following year while Mozart was preparing the premiere of his K. 527 Don Giovanni opera. The piece was the next entry in Köchel’s catalog, the K. 528 concert scene “Bella mia fiamma, addio.” The program thus almost constituted a “snapshot” of a very productive period in Mozart’s life.

The program was also adventurous in beginning with one of the only two piano concertos Mozart composed in a minor key. Indeed, a listener unfamiliar with the classical music repertoire could easily believe that K. 491 was composed by Ludwig van Beethoven, not just for the minor key but for the stormy rhetoric that dominates the first movement. The listener with a more accurate sense of history could easily believe that this was an initial “warm-up” in preparation for all those intense moments in Don Giovanni.

Egarr conducted K. 491 from the keyboard, working with what was probably the largest complement of winds and brass that Mozart summoned for a piano concerto. What is of particular interest are the ways in which each distinctive instrumental sonority makes its own unique contribution to a rich palette of sonorities. As a former clarinet player I was especially drawn to the many imaginative motifs assigned to the pair of those instruments. However, the real joy of this listening experience came from appreciating the relation between all those instrumental sonorities and the often ferocious passages for the solo piano work, undoubtedly played by Mozart with all the intensity he could muster.

Equally stimulating was Egarr’s account of the K. 504 symphony. This is one of Mozart’s three-movement symphonies, omitting the stately minuet that is supposed to intervene between the slow movement and the finale. The D major key made for just the right complement to the minor key rhetoric of the piano concerto, suggested that Egarr had selected them as a matched set of bookends for his program. Like K. 491, this music is rich in its diversity of instrumental sonorities, even if the wind resources were more modest (and both trumpets and timpani were omitted).

Soprano Elizabeth Watts, featured in the middle portion of Richard Egarr’s all-Mozart program (courtesy of PBO)

Those bookends framed the vocal performances of soprano Elizabeth Watts, making her PBO debut. An orchestral setting is not the most conducive to dramatic rhetoric; but Watts found just the right combination of phrasing and body language to draw the audience into the intensity of her texts. Both of these vocal works amount to dispositional reflections on a broader narrative context. However, Watts’ interpretations kept the attentive listener focused on the immediate present, rather than trying to establish that context for each of the texts.

These concert arias tend to receive relatively little attention in concert programming. This is particularly true of K. 505, in which a piano enhances the soprano’s rhetorical turns, leaving the instrumental ensemble to “fill in the background.” However, if the thematic content was unfamiliar, the dramatic qualities of Watts’ interpretations left the attentive listener curious about other works in this particular category of the Mozart catalog.

Commercial exaggeration has far outpaced scientific evidence

Document e8f6ea15-f4d6-4ba6-9298-2c5706fc09bc_460107400 offers an interesting perspective that might relate to these criticisms, discussing how research has shown that people prefer "slight amounts of deviation" and "a little imperfection because this gives life to the sounds.

Title:

Content: Known today largely for a theorem on right-angled triangles, the Greek philosopher Pythagoras famously attempted to use mathematics to understand the beauty of music.

Accordingly, harmonious combinations of notes known as musical consonance relied on simple 'integer ratios' in the sounds' frequencies, or tones, to sound appealing. What's more, the philosopher maintained that this held true no matter what the instrument.

Not so, say an international team of researchers who quizzed 4,272 volunteers about their reactions to certain chords. Those reactions showed a preference for music with slight imperfections in it, mathematically speaking.

"We prefer slight amounts of deviation," says music psychologist Peter Harrison, from the University of Cambridge. "We like a little imperfection because this gives life to the sounds, and that is attractive to us."

The team also found that the integer ratios that Pythagoras was so fond of could be disregarded completely when it came to instruments that Western listeners are less familiar with: bells, gongs, xylophones, and a series of gongs called the bonang.

Study responses to this Indonesian instrument showed completely new patterns of consonance and dissonance. These patterns matched the musical scale used in Indonesian culture, and can't be exactly mapped on the scales preferred in places like the US and Europe.

In other words, timbre (the part of a sound that makes it sound like it belongs to a specific instrument) affects consonance too, which may have come as a surprise to Pythagoras. These results show that listeners can recognize a pleasant sound even if they're not musicians, or familiar with the instrument.

"The shape of some percussion instruments means that when you hit them, and they resonate, their frequency components [tone] don't respect those traditional mathematical relationships," says Harrison. "That's when we find interesting things happening."

This relationship between timbre and consonance could be why some cultures ended up with different note scaling systems than those of us in the west are most familiar with.

"These results provide an empirical foundation for the idea that cultural variation in scale systems might in part be driven by the spectral properties of the musical instruments used by these different cultures," the researchers write in their paper.

The team is hopeful that their findings – covering 235,440 human judgments in total – will open up minds about what can be and can't be pleasing to listen to, especially when it comes to less well-known instruments.

Both musicians and listeners can benefit from a little experimentation, the researchers say, and from getting out of our comfort zones as far as music goes. Future studies are planned to analyze an even broader range of instruments and cultures, especially involving music that might have previously been thought of as 'inharmonic'.

"Musicians and producers might be able to make that marriage work better if they took account of our findings and considered changing the timbre, the tone quality, by using specially chosen real or synthesized instruments," says Harrison.

"Then they really might get the best of both worlds: harmony and local scale systems."

The research has been published in Nature Communications.

" This suggests that the mathematical precision often attributed to Mozart's music may not be the primary factor in any cognitive benefits.

## Practical Applications for Elementary School Settings

Despite the controversy surrounding the specific Mozart Effect, there are several reasons why incorporating classical music during breaks might benefit your students:

1.

Title:

Content: Music is not only great for listening to, but it’s great for you. No matter if it is choir, band, orchestra or a mix of them all, musical interaction is wondrous for mental health, cooperation and social skills, and it can an lessen anxiety and depression. These courses are great for improving the human logical and learning mind, as well.

When young children are introduced to music, it positively affects their mental health and improves cognitive and social skills. These kids learn how to work in teams and sections, yet stay independent.

In middle and high school, when these courses proceed to get more challenging, teenagers figure out more problem-solving abilities and how to perform and behave in front of hundreds of people. They learn skills that assist with hand-eye coordination, like being able to read a sheet of music, tap your foot, control your breath or bow, and move both of your hands separately, yet at the same time.

We, as a community, should implement more music courses in our schools, from elementary on up. It needs to be a requirement.

Naomi Rupe

Pioneer Middle School

Walla Walla

**Creating a Positive Environment**: Document 03113a81-0204-45d8-8d47-8c4d45793db0_161838640 advocates for implementing "more music courses in our schools, from elementary on up," suggesting a broader recognition of music's educational value.

**Physiological Synchronization**: The research in Document 0a79ec88-27dd-407d-bbdc-1f171b88fa69_643332840 on physiological synchronization during musical experiences suggests that group listening might help create a more cohesive classroom environment.

Title:

Content: Your device does not support JavaScript!
Listeners
Based on matching tastes
Oh, wow!
You seem to be the only one,
Who is listening to this track?
SINGLE
Albeniz: Piano Sonata Nos.
3, 4, 5, Suite Ancienne Nos. 1, 2
Sebastian Stanley
Piano Classics • Classical Music • 2019
Similar albums

**Mood and Arousal**: Document b05d70e8-8c16-4b21-9ebc-f22f1d3c9ef5_823868497 notes that different music types can "evoke a range of emotions, affecting focus and motivation," which could be leveraged to prepare students for different types of learning activities.

Title:

Content: Your device does not support JavaScript!
Listeners
Based on matching tastes
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SINGLE
Dvorák: Sonatina for Violin and Piano in G Major, Op. 100, B. 183 "Indian Lament" (Digitally Remastered)
Danica Móziová, Aladar Mozi
EMG Classical • World Music • 2013

**Reduced Cognitive Load**: The same document mentions that "complex and cognitively demanding tasks may require a quieter environment," suggesting that the timing of music exposure is crucial—making breaks an ideal time for musical intervention.

## Recommendations for Implementation

Based on the available information, here are some recommendations for incorporating Mozart's music during breaks:

1.

**Select Appropriate Pieces**: While the Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major (K.

448) is the most studied, other Mozart compositions mentioned in the documents include Piano Sonata No.

Title:

Content: Your device does not support JavaScript!
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Maria João Pires - Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 3 in B-Flat Major, K. 281 - I. Allegro
2012 • Classical Music • Decca (UMO)

3 in B-Flat Major (K.

281) and Piano concerto No.

Title:

Content: Your device does not support JavaScript!
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Carl Seemann - Mozart: Piano Sonata No.3 in B flat, K.281 - 3.
Rondeau (Allegro)
2005 • Classical Music • Deutsche Grammophon

**Timing and Duration**: Given that any potential effects appear to be temporary, consider playing music for 5-10 minutes immediately before activities requiring spatial reasoning or creative thinking.

**Observe and Adapt**: Monitor your students' responses to different pieces and adjust your approach based on their reactions and performance.

**Combine with Other Approaches**: Rather than relying solely on the Mozart Effect, consider this as one component of a comprehensive approach to creating an optimal learning environment.

**Manage Expectations**: Be realistic about the potential benefits, viewing music as a tool to enhance the learning environment rather than a magic solution for performance improvement.

## Conclusion

While the specific Mozart Effect remains controversial in scientific circles, the broader benefits of music in educational settings are more firmly established.

The limited information in the provided documents supports the idea that music can influence physiological states, mood, and potentially cognitive performance.

As an elementary school teacher, experimenting with Mozart's music during breaks represents a low-risk, potentially beneficial approach to enhancing your students' learning environment.

The most prudent approach is to view this as an experiment—carefully observe outcomes, remain open to adjustments, and maintain realistic expectations about the potential benefits.

Regardless of whether the specific Mozart Effect materializes, creating a more pleasant and stimulating environment through music is likely to have some positive impact on your students' educational experience.


I don't know.

I don't know.

Title:

Content: He said,
Veraon
msssssssss
Kill! Kill!
Musa (may Allah be pleased with him)
and call on
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And Pharaoh said, “Let me kill Moses, and let him call upon his Lord to kill him, for he is the answer to the command, and let him call upon me. ”
He said, “Let him call upon his Lord, ” and he said,“ Do not be afraid of what is mentioned to you from his Lord, for there is no truth to it, and I am your Lord, the Most High. ”
There is a difference between people.
The Qur ’ an says: “And the people of Abu ‘ Abd al-Rahman al-Salami, son of ‘ Amer, and Abu ‘ Amr, and the people of Abu ‘ Amr, and the people of Abu ‘ Amr, and the people of Abu ‘ Ubayd, and the people of Abu ‘ Ubayd, and the people of Abu ‘ Ubayd, and the people of Abu ‘ Ubayd, will go to him. ”
This is not the case, but it is the case that I am afraid of you, because I am afraid of you, because I am afraid of you, because I am afraid of you, because I am afraid of you, because I am afraid of you, because I am afraid of you, because I am afraid of you, because I am afraid of you.


I don't know.

I don't know.

Title:

Content: People are 'disturbed' after seeing what a cat's tongue looks like up close

Cat lovers know that a lick from your feline friend can feel rather scratchy, even if it's meant to be affectionate, thanks to their rough tongues.

But now a close up video of what it actually looks like, originally shared to TikTok by registered vet technician Peter Carlos, from Florida, has left people stunned to see just how spiky it is.

The clip, which now has over 4.1 million views on X, formerly known as Twitter, showed how a cat's tongue is covered in backwards facing spines, also called papillae.

If your cat has tried to groom you, then you've probably noticed these papillae roughly pressing against your skin.

The video shared by registered vet technician, Peter Carlos, has sent people into a frenzy, as many are perplexed by the papillae on a cat's tongue

But why is a feline's tongue covered in these backward facing spines?

Firstly, it's an efficient way for the hunter to remove meat from bones, whilst also getting the most nutrition in a fast and effective way, according to Cat Protection.

Thanks to the papillae cats don't need to dunk their head into a water bowl, they can rapidly dunk their tongue back and forth into the liquid as the papillae pulls up the water from the surface.

The little spikes also make the perfect comb, with cats often using their tongue to groom their fur.

The backward facing alignment of the spikes mean a feline's tongue is able to dust away any loose fur and dirt with ease.

The backward facing spines on a feline's tongue helps them to get the meat from a bone, whilst getting the most nutrients, in the most quick and efficient way

A cat's tongue plays a key role in allowing the solitary animal to live independently with no-fuss.

But not everyone was familiar with the spines that run across the animal's tongue, and many people flooded the comments of the viral video to express their horror.

'Up close, it’s disturbing. And my cat loves to lick me, especially my hair,' wrote one shocked cat owner.

Another queried: 'Are those papillae hooks made of bone? Are they like teeth?'

A third furiously chimed in: 'Another reason to hate cats!'

'Great so my cat is trying to eat me and lick my bones clean in the middle of the night,' one user quipped.

People on X, formerly known as Twitter, expressed their shock at the spiky texture of a feline's tongue

One joker commented: 'I just thought of how would we feel if we also had teeth on our tongue. Dental insurance would've been pretty expensive then.'

But not everyone was freaked out by the eerily looking tongue, with a pet owner adding: 'My cat has the habit of lick my nose every morning. Best exfoliating treatment ever.'

Another said: 'That’s why it feels tingly when my cat licks my arm.'

'Cats are truly amazing hunters,' noted one feline admirer, adding: 'It's fascinating how they've evolved to efficiently extract every bit.'

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.


# Comprehensive Report: Novelty Yoga Trends and Their Benefits

## Introduction

As a physical trainer looking to expand your class portfolio, understanding the evolution of yoga practices and their potential benefits is essential.

This report examines the rise of non-traditional yoga practices that fuse traditional movements with novel elements, with particular focus on their popularity, health benefits, and effectiveness compared to traditional yoga approaches.

## Traditional Yoga: Established Benefits

Before examining novelty trends, it's important to acknowledge the well-documented benefits of traditional yoga:

### Physical Benefits
- Improves flexibility, strength, and balance
- Enhances cardiovascular health
- Aids in weight management
- Burns calories and helps tone trouble spots
- Different styles offer varying intensity levels (Vinyasa/Ashtanga provide more vigorous cardiovascular benefits than restorative styles)
- Core-focused poses (plank, chaturanga, boat pose) specifically tone abdominal muscles

### Mental and Emotional Benefits
- Reduces stress, anxiety, and depression
- Enhances mental clarity and focus
- Promotes relaxation and improves mood
- Fosters a sense of inner peace
- Helps calm the parasympathetic nervous system through breathwork

### Additional Benefits
- Improves sleep problems
- Can alter eating patterns and sleep habits
- Builds physical and mental awareness through proprioception and concentration
- Accessible to all body types and fitness levels
- Can be practiced in limited spaces (even at a desk)

## The Rise of Novelty Yoga Trends

Novelty yoga practices have emerged as a significant trend in the fitness industry.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, yoga was named one of the top 20 worldwide fitness trends for 2021, indicating its sustained popularity.

Within this broader trend, novelty variations have gained particular attention.

### Case Study: Animal-Assisted Yoga

One prominent example of novelty yoga is animal

# Comprehensive Report: Novelty Yoga Trends and Their Benefits

## Introduction

As a physical trainer looking to expand your class portfolio, understanding the evolution of yoga practices and their potential benefits is essential.

Title:

Content: Skip to main content

How to be good at yoga

More people than ever are learning how to be good at yoga, especially since the pandemic made working out at home a priority for millions during lockdown. Named by the American College of Sports Medicine as one of the top 20 worldwide fitness trends for 2021, yoga is a consistently popular and effective way to exercise. The benefits of yoga are truly remarkable, and it is widely accepted that yoga can help you lose weight, build muscle and even fix your posture

Here, we take a look at some of the key things you need to get started, dispel common yoga myths such as that you have to be super flexible to be good at yoga, and explain how and why it’s so beneficial for your core.

Once you're ready to start practicing, make sure you read through our round-up of the best yoga mats, where we rank popular yoga mats such as the Sweaty Betty Super Grip Yoga Mat and Lululemon 5mm Yoga Mat

How to be good at yoga

From Ashtanga to Bikram and Hatha yoga, there are many different types of yoga out there—each with their own benefits.

But if you’re new to this form of exercise, you might be wondering how to be good at yoga?

The first thing to do is find a class!

Most gyms and fitness centers will have yoga sessions on their timetables or you could look at attending a class at a more specialized yoga studio. Here you may find a wider choice of sessions, instructors and different types of yoga available.

The key, according to TV sports presenter and qualified yoga teacher Alexandra Legouix, is to look for a class which is suitable for beginners.

Attending an entry level class will help you get comfortable with the basics without the pressure of trying to keep up with more experienced participants or feeling intimidated by more advanced poses. If you prefer working out at home, you could also find an online yoga tutorial or use a DVD as your guide.

Yoga blocks are also good for beginners to provide support and help you work at your own level or you could try a chair yoga class for a more gentle introduction.

As Alexandra points out, you should check out the credentials of the person teaching you, as “If you are following a DVD or online class, it’s very important you choose one that is being taught by an accredited practitioner, as you are not getting the hands-on guidance which you would get in a class.”

Regular practice can lead to improvement, so it’s a good idea to commit to a few sessions per week.

Alexandra recommends three times a week "as a good way of getting into a routine, that also gives you time for rest days."

But she believes people shouldn’t feel obligated or pressured to attend a certain number of sessions.

Instead your yoga practice should fit into your lifestyle and alongside any other fitness activities you’re participating in.

And if you’re struggling for time, a quick 10-15 minute stretching or meditation session can be a great start to the day.

Do you have to be flexible to be good at yoga?

While the thought of yoga can conjure up images of super-flexible people in poses which may seem impossible, it’s encouraging to hear from the experts like Alexandra that you don’t have to be super bendy to enjoy the practice.

"You don’t have to be flexible to be good at yoga—that’s such a common myth. I never encourage people straightaway to try and touch the floor with their legs straight."

Alexandra advises building up gradually and easing your way into poses; increasing blood flow and warming up your muscles makes you more comfortable in the poses and increases flexibility.

How can yoga help your core?

Yoga is very core-focused—if you don’t control your core, you won’t be able to balance correctly or stay in position.

Yoga and breathwork teacher Laura Pearce said: "There are quite a few aspects of most yoga practices that help to improve core strength.

"There is the obvious balance work that wakes up proprioceptors and helps strengthen the neurological connections that help us 'access our core' and there are the big abdominal moves in dynamic practices, namely the high-low plank combo of the Chaturanga Vinyasa sequence.

"There are also lots of intense oblique activating poses, such as side plank, half-moon, where you're facing sideways with one arm and leg lifted high, the other limbs touching the floor, and let's not forget the backbend work we do in yoga, which strengthens the lower back and glutes."

For serious core strengthening, Laura recommended Forrest Yoga who use an opening sequence of sit-ups, as well as most Power, Rocket, Ashtanga or other very dynamic practices.

As well as physical poses, the breathwork involved in yoga is also good for strengthening the core.

She added: "What a lot of people don't realise is that the diaphragm is one of our biggest and most important core muscles. The diaphragm stabilises the spine and connects to so many important deep set muscles, such as your Psoas.

“In most yoga practices, breathwork is a big portion of what we do. We work with cultivating a strong, mobile diaphragm through breathing and also literally engaging the diaphragms of the body in Uddiyana and Mula Bandha aka 'tummy and root lock'. These practices are tough, and take a long time to cultivate, but have a profound effect on our deep, deep core."

Title:

Content: Easy yoga moves to do at your desk in just three minutes

Do these yoga asanas from your office chair to combat stress and reinforce physical and mental awareness

Nearly every day I get up from my desk in the Telegraph office and head up to the onsite gym with my yoga mat rolled up under my arm.

A journalist’s life is one of constant deadlines and pressure. Not to mention sitting. The same applies to many other professions too, which makes it all the more important that I find time in the day for yoga.

It was certainly no surprise to me as a qualified yoga teacher that a new study from Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) found that three minutes of yoga every hour at work “can lower diabetes risk”.

Participants in the study were taken through a 16-step regimen that included poses such as downward dog, cobra and cat-cow.

Levels of glucose in their blood were measured with a finger prick every 30 minutes. The results suggested that the ancient Chinese martial art of Tai Chi had no significant impact compared to the control group – but yoga did.

Not everyone will have a dedicated space in their workplace. However, there is a great deal that you can do without leaving your desk – although downward dog might be a bit much.

You might have to steel yourself against looks from your colleagues, but thinking about the impact on your long-term health should quell any embarrassment.

Yogic breath helps calm your parasympathetic nervous system. The poses (asanas) strengthen the limbs as well as improving range of motion. These build physical and mental awareness, both by improving proprioception by testing balance and focusing the mind through concentration.

Try recruiting those around you to join you for three minutes every hour. Take time afterwards to notice how different you feel.

Here’s a three-minute desk yoga sequence to get you started. I left my shoes on but kick yours off if you can, especially if you’re in heels!

Centering

Sit upright with your feet on the ground, hands in your lap. Close your eyes and take three deep breaths in and out.

Warm-up

Seated cat-cow (chakravakasana)

Place your fingertips on your knees. Inhale, lift the chest, look up towards the ceiling and gently arch your spine. Exhale, round through your spine and look towards your navel. Repeat twice more.

Seated bridge posture (setu bandhasana)

Still seated, take your arms behind you, fingertips pointing forward. Inhale, press down through the palm of your hands and your feet and lift your hips off the chair, pressing them towards the sky. Look towards the ceiling. Hold for three breaths.

Seated pigeon twist (parivrtta kapotasana)

Place your left ankle on top of your right knee. Make a fist with your left hand and place your elbow as close to your left ankle as possible. Push down on your left fist with your right hand. Inhale, lift and turn the chest; hold the position for three breaths. Repeat on the other side.

Seated cow face pose (gomukhasana)

Cross your right knee over your left. Inhale, sweep your left arm up and bend your elbow so your left hand reaches down your back. Sweep your right arm underneath so it reaches up your back. Catch fingertips if possible. Hold position for three breaths. Repeat on the other side.

Standing postures

Standing eagle pose (garudasana)

Cross your left knee over your right and tuck your foot behind your right calf if possible. Sweep arms out to the side and cross right elbow on top of left. Lift forearms up and catch your hands if possible. Lift elbows up and the hands away from the face. Hold pose for three breaths. Repeat on the other side.

Triangle (trikonasana)

Stand with your feet wider than your shoulders. Turn your right toes out and left toes in, heels aligned. Place your right hand on your right shin and reach your left arm up. Lean back into the pose, drawing your shoulders down your back. Hold for three breaths and repeat on the other side.

Pyramid pose (parsvottanasana)

Shorten your stance slightly. Square your hips to the right leg and step the left leg slightly wider, with toes turned out, so you’re on train tracks. Catch hold of your elbows behind you and fold forward with a long spine. Hold for three breaths and repeat on the other side.

Wide-leg forward fold (prasarita padottanasana)

Widening your stance, turn your toes in and your heels out. Interlace your fingers behind your back. Inhale, lift the chest. Exhale, fold forward, lifting your hands up towards the ceiling. Hold for three breaths. To come up, bend the knees and roll up through the spine.

Closing sequence

Come back to an upright seated position. Hands in your lap. Close your eyes and take three deep breaths.

Title:

Content: What is Ashtanga Yoga? Benefits and poses that you should know

Life is constantly moving in circles and every direction possible. Moving left to right, right to left, up and down, down and up, and in every other dimension

Mickey MehtaUpdated: Friday, February 24, 2023, 09:44 PM IST

Life is constantly moving in circles and every direction possible. Moving left to right, right to left, up and down, down and up, and in every other dimension. Movement causes instability. To counter this and bring stability, yoga helps.

Yoga brings absolute equilibrium, silence. From noise to silence, disturbance to harmony, pull and push to equilibrium, from absolute disruption and turbulence to absolute imbalance, yoga brings you to balance.

There are several yoga exercises that have different benefits. In this case, ashtanga yoga can help. Ashtanga can be explained in very many other ways, one being the eight limbs of yoga.

The eight limbs of yoga, which make a broken man complete, help translate a manushya into purushya, which means prakruti transcend purusharth. It helps to neutralise all personalities. Parmaath to purusharth is the journey of Ashtanga and the divinity of wholeness, the divinity of absolute oneness. In that oneness, is the music of yoga – sangeet.

Sangat + Geet = Sangeet of health, healing and wholeness

Ashtanga Yoga = Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyaana, Samadhi

Yama: It is about how we behave and interact with the world. It is about ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truthfulness), non-aggression, peace, bliss, ananda (happiness), karuna. We must live with as much we need. We must do things selflessly without having any expectations.

Niyama: It deals with our personal discipline and practices. Practising cleanliness, contentment or santosha, Austerity which is not falling prey to desires and aspirations unnecessarily and leaving it quite simply in the centre. Svadhyaya will be chanting or jhapa of mantra or reading of religious books and scriptures. Ishvara Pranidhana is complete belief in Prabhu and doing things for Prabhus sake.

Asana: Sitting or yoga postures which should be steady, comfortable and relaxed. Being in equilibrium at this physical level helps to connect with the spiritual level.

Pranayama: It is the breath work  or breath control practised with different asanas, the inhalation and the exhalation and holding of breath as per individuals capacity.

Pratyahara: Moving out from the outside world and looking within. It is about withdrawing our awareness from the world outside to turning inwards. In this stage, one has the control over physiological responses and does not give in easily to the wants.

Dharana: Focused and complete concentration where our mind is fixed on a particular meditation or chant.

Dhyana: This is the stage where one is so focused that meditation happens without any interruption. Meditation with blankness. Meditation with nothingness. Meditation emptying oneself. Getting centred with the being.

Samadhi: This is called the final stage of enlightenment. One is completely absorbed and dissolved. It is the state where the drop of water becoming one with that of the ocean. It is about losing oneself to finding oneself. It is about knowing your true nature, being completely blank, empty, labelless, timeless, placeless and formless.

If we were to put it in simple words, self-discipline, observation of alignment, postures in poetry, breath regulated in discipline, internalising of senses, putting attention and focus onto something and having determination to do something, an absolute evolution.

Ashtanga yoga sets you on the path of evolution. It puts you on the ladder of evolution, rising higher and higher. This higher is not going anywhere. This higher is simply evolving to a point of refinement and the path of absolute refined purush personality or purusharth personality expresses itself in its wholeness, flowering, blossoming with vibrancy and radiance.

(Mickey Mehta is a global leading holistic health guru and life coach; website: www.drmickeymehta.com. You can follow him on:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mickeymehta

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drmickeymehta

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickeymehta/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickey_mehta/)

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Content: Yoga for Children classes in West Sussex

A fun, friendly, and local yoga class in West Sussex for children 2-11 years old. Llamaste!
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Welcome to YOGA FOR CHILDREN. Running classes around Hampshire and West Sussex. Its founder, Susan is a qualified children's yoga teacher, accredited by the Yoga Alliance Professionals and an affiliate with Relax Kids.

Each class begins with a fun yoga welcome, followed by warmup exercises for the body and to focus the mind, then exploring a story adventure all set to yoga poses. There is a new story theme each week, some popular ones are the farm, a magical forest, the ocean, pirates, camping, and superhero week, the possibilities are endless! There are engaging activities including, yoga games, learning breathing techniques, positive affirmations, and age-appropriate mindfulness and stories.

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She has been practising yoga for 20 years, and through the classes, she teaches and regularly observes the benefits of yoga through the children that attend, delighting in their progression, confidence building, enjoyment, and enthusiasm for yoga! She also has slots on local radio discussing yoga and offering practical pointers for all.

So, what are the benefits? Susan explains that teaching children how to connect their breath to their body through movement can be a powerful tool. A regular yoga practice can not only help children when they need to relax their bodies and busy minds but also support confidence and self-esteem, resilience, strength, flexibility, focus, self-respect, and body awareness and to better understand their emotions. Yoga can provide a wonderful ‘toolbox’ to dip into when they need a moment to reflect, create energy, or help empower them to believe in themselves!

Do you work with children in an educational setting or club? Why not get in touch, Susan also works with nurseries, primary schools, home education groups, children’s activities clubs and even yoga children’s parties!

Check out her website and Facebook for regular updates on classes, events, holiday clubs, and weekend workshops. Come and join the adventure!

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Content: International Yoga Day: Celebrating the Art and Science of Yoga

Yoga as a practice originated in India over 5,000 years ago. It is rooted in the Indus-Sarasvati civilization, with the earliest references found in the Rig Veda. Thereafter, Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, written around 400 CE, systematized the practice of yoga into eight limbs, forming the basis of modern yoga practice.

First Published Jun 21, 2024, 1:53 PM IST

By - Vineeta Hariharan

(Author is a public policy exponent and a public figure. She is the Vice President of BJP Kerala Mahila Morcha - women’s wing of BJP)

International Yoga Day is celebrated on June 21 each year, a date chosen for its significance as the summer solstice—the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. This day holds a special place in many cultures due to its astronomical importance, symbolizing light and knowledge. The idea of an International Day of Yoga was first proposed by India’s honourable Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in 2014 which received overwhelming support, and in December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed June 21 as International Yoga Day.

History and Origin: Yoga as a practice originated in India over 5,000 years ago. It is rooted in the Indus-Sarasvati civilization, with the earliest references found in the Rig Veda.  Thereafter, Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, written around 400 CE, systematized the practice of yoga into eight limbs, forming the basis of modern yoga practice. The practice spread to the West in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, gaining global popularity for its physical, mental, and spiritual benefits.

Different Schools: Through time as Yoga as a practice evolved, several methods came into being through a variety of schools, each with its own unique approach and emphasis. Some of the noteworthy schools are Hatha Yoga, which focuses on physical postures (asanas) and breathing techniques (pranayama) to prepare the body for meditation. Kundalini Yoga, aims to awaken the dormant energy (kundalini) at the base of the spine through meditation, pranayama, and asana; Ashtanga Yoga is a rigorous style of yoga involving a set sequence of postures linked by breath. The Iyengar school of Yoga, emphasizes precise alignment and the use of props to perform asanas correctly, Vinyasa Yoga is a dynamic style that links movement and breath, often referred to as "flow" yoga.

Benefits of Yoga: As is widely recognised Yoga offers numerous benefits for the mind, body, and spirit such as

- Physical Health:  Improving the  flexibility, strength, and balance; enhancing cardiovascular health; aid in weight management.
-Mental Health:  Reduces stress, anxiety, and depression; enhances mental clarity and focus.
- Emotional Well-being: Promotes relaxation, improves mood, and fosters a sense of inner peace.
- Spiritual Growth: Encourages self-awareness, mindfulness, and a deeper connection with oneself and the universe.

Presence of Yoga in India and Worldwide: Yoga has a profound presence in India, where it is deeply embedded in the cultural and spiritual fabric of the nation. It is practiced widely across the country, from urban centers to rural areas. Globally, yoga has found a significant following, with millions of practitioners in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. Notably, the United States has one of the largest yoga communities outside India, with yoga studios and wellness centers thriving across the country.

Steps to Integrate Yoga into School Curricular:Integrating yoga into school curricula can have numerous benefits for students, including improved concentration, reduced stress, and better physical health. Steps to achieve this may include:

1. Curriculum Development: Create age-appropriate yoga programs that align with educational goals.
2. Teacher Training:  Provide specialized training for teachers to effectively deliver yoga instruction.
3. Resource Allocation: Ensure schools have the necessary resources, such as yoga mats and space.
4. Policy Support: Advocate for policies at the educational and governmental levels to support yoga in schools.
5. Community Engagement: Involve parents and the community to foster a supportive environment for yoga education.

Government of India's Efforts to Promote Yoga: While we reflect on Yoga and it's evolution, it is important to recognise that The Government of India under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi has undertaken several initiatives to promote and to reignite the practice in India and internationally. Some of the key initiatives being

- the setting up of a separate Ministry of AYUSH:  to develop education, research, and propagation of indigenous alternative medicine systems, including yoga.
- Celebrating International Yoga Day on June 21 every year.
- Setting up a Yoga Certification Board:  Provides certification for yoga professionals to ensure quality and standardization.
- Wide Inclusion in Education: Encouraging the inclusion of yoga in school curricula and physical education programs.

"Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self." - The Bhagavad Gita

Preserving Yoga as an Art and Science: To preserve yoga as both an art and science, it is essential to:

1. Maintain Traditional Practices;  Honour and promote traditional yoga practices while integrating modern scientific research.
2. Encourage Research: Support scientific studies on the benefits and applications of yoga.
3. Foster Education:  Provide comprehensive yoga education that includes philosophy, anatomy, and practical application.
4. Cultural Preservation:  Protect and promote the cultural heritage of yoga through museums, archives, and cultural events.
5. Global Collaboration: Engage in international collaboration to share knowledge and best practices.

Conclusion: International Yoga Day serves as a global platform to celebrate the ancient practice of yoga and its numerous benefits. As yoga continues to gain popularity worldwide, it is crucial to preserve its traditional roots while embracing modern advancements. Through collaborative efforts, yoga can be integrated into educational systems, promoted by governments, and cherished as a valuable art and science that enhances the well-being of individuals and societies.

"The body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in." - B.K.S. Iyengar

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Content: Yoga and Weight Loss: Does yoga burn belly fat?

Yoga can help with weight loss -- just not in the way you may think.
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If you look at celebrities who practice yoga (ahem, Jennifer Aniston), you may think that Downward Dog is a quick way to get a toned and tight body. Unfortunately, if you're looking for a quick fix that promises flat abs fast, yoga is not your best bet -- but then again, not much is.

But a regular yoga practice can play a role in helping you achieve your long-awaited six-pack; it can help you lose weight and tone from head to toe, including your abdominal area. Yoga just boosts weight loss in a more holistic way than you might think.

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To better understand this question, it's important to understand how the body burns fat, in general. Although we can target certain body parts for toning and strengthening (like our arms, legs, abs, or glutes, for example), there is no research-proven way to blast more fat cells in one specific area than in any other. And while extra pounds around the belly are often the easiest weight to put on, they can also be some of the hardest to shed.

That being said, a diet and exercise plan that allows you to lose weight all over will almost certainly benefit that belly bulge. (To shed pounds consistently, remember that the key is to burn more calories than you take in every day.) And that's good news, because excess fat around the abdominal area has been shown to raise the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. [Source: Mayo Clinic]

Yoga can be an important part of your belly-shrinking plan, regardless of whether you've ever practiced before. Not only does it burn calories and help tone your trouble spots, but research also shows that it has the power to alter your eating patterns, your sleep habits, and your mood -- all things that will affect how much weight you pack onto your waistline, and how quickly you can burn it off.

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How Yoga Can Fuel Weight Loss

Yoga, like all forms of exercise, burns calories -- some forms more than others. A fast-paced, vigorous style of yoga, like Vinyasa or Ashtanga, will burn more fat and calories, for example, than a slow, restorative class.

"Yoga certainly does have a cardiovascular element," says Annelise Hagan, a yoga instructor in New York City. "A vigorous athletic form of yoga can raise your heart rate for a good 20 minutes." And moves that focus on the core -- such as plank, chaturanga, and boat pose -- can help tone the abdominal muscles underneath, she adds.

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That may not be the most important thing to consider when choosing a yoga class, however. "What's really going to give you more weight loss is the mindfulness aspect of yoga," says Colleen Saidman Yee, creator of Gaiam's Yoga for Weight Loss DVD. "You may build strength and burn calories from a faster paced class, but you'll really develop the tools you need to listen to your body in a slower, more meditative practice."

A 2009 study from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute found that people who practiced yoga regularly were likely to maintain or lose weight during the study period, while those who did no yoga were likely to pack on extra pounds. The researchers credit the yogis' weight control to their mindful eating habits -- they paid attention to what they ate and stopped when they felt full. [Source: FHCRC.org]

In addition, yoga has been shown to help improve sleep problems and symptoms of depression. [Source: Pedersen] And if you're already trying to lose weight by dieting, research shows that not getting enough sleep can sabotage your body's efforts to burn fat. [Source: Peeples]

When Saidman Yee set out to make a weight-loss DVD, she incorporated all of these ideas: "The first section focuses on a lot of standing poses and arm movements to get the heart rate up, and the second section is all about the midsection," she says. "But the last section is all restorative poses and breathing exercises, to help you wind down get a good night's sleep."

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Related Articles

  • "Colleen Saidman's Yoga for Weight Loss" DVD. Gaiam, 2012. http://www.amazon.com/Colleen-Saidmans-Yoga-Weight-Loss/dp/B0099115XW
  • Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. "Regular yoga practice is associated with mindful eating." August 3, 2009. (April 27, 2013) http://www.fhcrc.org/en/news/releases/2009/08/yoga.html
  • Hagen, Annelise. Personal interview. March 21, 2013.
  • Mayo Clinic. "Belly Fat in Women: Taking -- and Keeping -- It Off." (April 27, 2013) http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/belly-fat/WO00128
  • Pagés Ruiz, Fernando. "Forget Six-Pack Abs." Yoga Journal. (April 27, 2013) http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/168
  • Pedersen, Traci. "Yoga Helps Relieve Depression, Sleep Problems." January 26, 2013. (April 27, 2013) http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/01/27/yoga-helps-relieve-depression-sleep-problems/50815.html
  • Peeples, Lynne. "Dieting? More Sleep Helps Burn Fat." October 4, 2010. (April 27, 2013) http://news.health.com/2010/10/04/sleep-diet-body-fat/
  • Saidman Yee, Colleen. Personal interview. April 21, 2013.

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The Benefits of Yoga and Meditation for Mind-Body Wellness

Yoga and meditation have emerged as powerful practices that promote mind-body wellness, helping individuals find inner peace, reduce stress, and improve physical health.

In this article, we will explore the numerous benefits of yoga and meditation and how they contribute to achieving a harmonious and healthy mind-body connection. By incorporating these practices into our daily lives, we can enhance our well-being and experience a greater sense of calm and vitality.

The Benefits of Yoga and Meditation for Mind-Body Wellness

1. Cultivating Mindfulness and Presence

Yoga and meditation encourage the cultivation of mindfulness and presence, allowing individuals to be fully engaged in the present moment. By focusing on the breath, sensations, and thoughts without judgment, practitioners develop a heightened sense of awareness and learn to embrace the present moment, rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. This practice of mindfulness brings a sense of clarity, peace, and contentment.

2. Stress Reduction and Emotional Well-being

Both yoga and meditation are powerful tools for stress reduction and promoting emotional well-being. Engaging in yoga postures, known as asanas, helps release physical tension stored in the body and activates the relaxation response. Combined with deep breathing and meditation techniques, yoga helps calm the nervous system and reduces stress hormones, leading to a sense of calm and relaxation. Regular practice can also enhance emotional resilience and improve overall mental health.

3. Improved Physical Flexibility and Strength

Yoga incorporates a wide range of physical poses that promote flexibility, strength, and balance. The practice involves stretching and elongating the muscles, improving joint mobility, and increasing overall flexibility. As individuals progress in their practice, they gradually build strength, particularly in the core muscles, contributing to better posture and overall physical stability.

4. Enhancing Mind-Body Connection

Yoga & meditation emphasize the connection between the mind and the body. Through conscious movement, individuals learn to listen to their bodies, respect their limits, and cultivate a deeper understanding of their physical sensations and abilities. This increased awareness allows practitioners to make informed choices that support their overall well-being and prevents overexertion or injury.

5. Boosting Energy and Vitality

Contrary to popular belief, yoga, and meditation can invigorate the body and boost energy levels. Through gentle movements, deep breathing, and focused attention, yoga and meditation help release tension, clear energy blockages, and activate the body's natural energy centers. As a result, individuals often experience increased vitality, improved sleep patterns, and a greater sense of overall well-being.

6. Improved Cognitive Function and Mental Clarity

Regular yoga & meditation practices have been linked to improved cognitive function and mental clarity. The combination of physical movement, breath awareness, and mindfulness helps quiet the mind, improve concentration, and enhance mental focus. As a result, individuals often experience increased productivity, creativity, and a greater ability to handle challenges and make clear decisions.

7. Promoting Overall Health and Well-being

Yoga and meditation have a positive impact on overall physical health. The practices help regulate blood pressure, strengthen the immune system, improve digestion, and support healthy organ function. Additionally, the stress-reducing effects of these practices can have a beneficial impact on heart health, reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

The benefits of yoga and meditation extend beyond physical fitness and relaxation. These practices offer a holistic approach to mind-body wellness, promoting mindfulness, reducing stress, enhancing emotional well-being, improving physical flexibility and strength, boosting energy levels, and fostering a greater sense of overall well-being.

By incorporating yoga & meditation into our daily routines, we can nurture our mind-body connection and experience the transformative effects of these ancient practices. Embrace the journey of self-discovery and embark on a path of enhanced well-being with yoga and meditation.

Edited by Nihal

This report examines the rise of non-traditional yoga practices that fuse traditional movements with novel elements, with particular focus on their popularity, health benefits, and effectiveness compared to traditional yoga approaches.

## Traditional Yoga: Established Benefits

Before examining novelty trends, it's important to acknowledge the well-documented benefits of traditional yoga:

### Physical Benefits
- Improves flexibility, strength, and balance
- Enhances cardiovascular health
- Aids in weight management
- Burns calories and helps tone trouble spots
- Different styles offer varying intensity levels (Vinyasa/Ashtanga provide more vigorous cardiovascular benefits than restorative styles)
- Core-focused poses (plank, chaturanga, boat pose) specifically tone abdominal muscles

### Mental and Emotional Benefits
- Reduces stress, anxiety, and depression
- Enhances mental clarity and focus
- Promotes relaxation and improves mood
- Fosters a sense of inner peace
- Helps calm the parasympathetic nervous system through breathwork

### Additional Benefits
- Improves sleep problems
- Can alter eating patterns and sleep habits
- Builds physical and mental awareness through proprioception and concentration
- Accessible to all body types and fitness levels
- Can be practiced in limited spaces (even at a desk)

## The Rise of Novelty Yoga Trends

Novelty yoga practices have emerged as a significant trend in the fitness industry.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, yoga was named one of the top 20 worldwide fitness trends for 2021, indicating its sustained popularity.

Within this broader trend, novelty variations have gained particular attention.

### Case Study: Animal-Assisted Yoga

One prominent example of novelty yoga is animal

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Content: Thorpe Bay in Essex is the home of yoga with a twist. Pawsz and Tails Yoga combines zen with something probably a little less calm: puppies and kittens everywhere. The Southend based yoga classes have combined all of your favourite things so you can leave feeling warm and fuzzy.

At £30 for an hour session, you can combine a half an hour class with a full hour of silliness with an army of fluff. Pawz and Tails writes on their website: “If you love animals and would like to cuddle and play with them for an hour incorporating a half hour beginner yoga class then book your class now”. The popular classes are booked up far in advance, with only a handful of classes left in the upcoming months.

They add: “We provide a calm and safe atmosphere for our furry companions. Our puppies are free to roam around during the hour to play, sleep and enjoy the attention they receive from humans. Our classes are there to create playtime and socialisation before they go to their forever home.

READ MORE: RSPCA rescue Spaniel puppy 'dumped in a box with his dying brother' on Essex roadside

READ MORE:Pebbles the instantly recognisable 'campus cat' at the University of Essex who now has his own statue

“We have the highest safety standards and you can enjoy our classes knowing that we only work with reputable breeders who have the highest standards of care, we also donate to rescue charities each month.

Classes are for beginners aged 14 and over and aim to create a stress-free environment. A fully qualified yoga teacher will work with you through mainly floor postures, so you’re on a level with the puppies and kittens. Cuddles are optional.

Time spent with a fluffy companion has been proven to have a massive impact on mental health, with 37% of people saying that their pets help them with their lives, according to a Blue Cross study. Just being around animals can have a positive impact on our mental health.

At Pawz and Tails, their classes “provide a haven of pure uplifting bliss, interacting with baby animals is extremely heart warming and you will leave us with a big smile on your face. It's also a fun time for our furry companions, who love to play and be cuddled”.

The animals brought in for the yoga classes are brought from responsible breeders who are looking to socialise the little ones, and Pawz and Tails donate to rescue charities every month.

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