Elementary School Yoga Teacher
Sathya Sai School of Toronto – Canada
Location - Scarborough, ON
Part Time Contract Position (10 hours per week)
August 31, 2026 – June 30, 2027
(*_Expected continuation into the 2027–2028 school year based on performance)*_
Sathya Sai School of Toronto is an independent elementary school serving students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8. The school provides a structured academic program with clear expectations, highly engaged students, and a supportive parent community.
We are seeking a qualified and engaging Yoga and Mindful Movement Teacher to deliver a structured, age-appropriate program for students in Grades 1–8.
The program will focus primarily on yoga, mindful movement, balance, flexibility, coordination, strength, body awareness, breathing, and self-regulation. The ability to incorporate simple creative movement, rhythm, or dance activities is an asset but is not required.
Responsibilities
- Plan and deliver safe, engaging, and age-appropriate yoga and mindful movement lessons for students in Grades 1–8.
- Follow the school’s Mindful Movement, Yoga, and Dance Program Manual and approved grade-band expectations.
- Teach foundational yoga postures, movement sequences, balance, flexibility, coordination, strength, and body awareness.
- Incorporate age-appropriate breathing, calming, concentration, and self-regulation activities.
- Provide clear demonstrations, instructions, safety cues, and movement modifications.
- Adapt activities to accommodate different ages, abilities, physical needs, and levels of confidence.
- Maintain a calm, inclusive, structured, and non-competitive learning environment.
- Establish clear routines, safe spacing, efficient transitions, and consistent behaviour expectations.
- Monitor student participation, movement development, engagement, and safe use of space.
- Provide brief observations and feedback to classroom teachers when required.
- Collaborate with classroom teachers and school leadership regarding student needs and program delivery.
- Participate in approved school presentations, assemblies, or special activities when scheduled within the contracted hours.
Instructional Approach
Lessons will generally be 30–40 minutes and should include:
- A gentle warm-up.
- Age-appropriate yoga postures and movement sequences.
- Balance, flexibility, coordination, or strengthening activities.
- Breathing, quiet focus, or another calming activity.
- A brief reflection or closing activity.
Instruction must prioritize safety, student choice, participation, gradual skill development, and individual improvement rather than competition or performance.
The program supports the Ontario Health and Physical Education curriculum and may include appropriate connections to creative and expressive movement.
Program Boundaries
The school’s yoga program is secular, educational, and inclusive. Instruction must not include chanting, devotional practices, religious teaching, forced stretching, hands-on physical adjustments, or advanced high-risk postures. Student safety, comfort, choice, and accessibility must be respected at all times.
Assessment and Communication
Assessment will be observational and formative. The teacher will monitor:
- Movement control and coordination.
- Balance, flexibility, strength, and body awareness.
- Participation, engagement, and effort.
- Safe use of space and equipment.
- Ability to follow postures and movement sequences.
- Development of calming and self-regulation strategies.
The Yoga and Mindful Movement Teacher will provide relevant feedback to classroom teachers but will not independently assign report-card grades unless directed by school administration.
School and Program
- Motivated, respectful, and engaged students.
- Clear school-wide expectations for behaviour and routines.
- Structured curriculum and approved movement repertoire.
- Support from classroom teachers and school leadership.
- Established lesson-planning and assessment guidelines.
- Supportive and engaged parent community.
- Opportunity to contribute to a developing school-wide yoga and wellness program.
Human Values
The program supports the school’s values-based environment by encouraging calmness, self-discipline, cooperation, perseverance, respect for others, and responsible use of the body. These values are reinforced through practice and are not presented as religious instruction.
Required Qualifications
- Recognized yoga instructor certification, with a 200-hour certification preferred.
- Demonstrated knowledge of safe yoga postures, sequencing, movement modifications, and age-appropriate instruction.
- Experience teaching yoga, movement, physical activity, recreation, or wellness programming to children or youth.
- Strong classroom management, organization, and communication skills.
- Ability to provide inclusive instruction for students with different abilities and physical needs.
- Commitment to secular, curriculum-based, and age-appropriate instruction.
- Current Standard First Aid and CPR certification, or willingness to obtain certification.
- Vulnerable Sector Screening satisfactory to the school, or willingness to obtain one.
- Legally entitled to work in Canada.
Preferred Qualifications
- Children’s yoga certification or experience teaching yoga to elementary-aged students.
- Experience working in a school or structured children’s program.
- Bachelor of Education, Ontario College of Teachers membership, or experience with creative movement or dance is an asset.
Hours and Compensation
- $32–$40 per hour, based on qualifications and experience.
- Approximately 10 paid hours per week during the school year.
- Paid hours include scheduled instruction and required lesson preparation, documentation, collaboration, and approved program activities.
- The specific weekly schedule will be established by the school and will primarily occur during the regular school day.
Application Requirements
Applicants should submit:
- Cover letter.
- Current résumé.
- Details of yoga certification and relevant professional training.
- Summary of experience working with children or youth.
- Two professional references.
- Copies of current First Aid and CPR certifications, where available.
- Vulnerable Sector Screening, or confirmation of willingness to obtain one.
Candidates selected for an interview may be asked to prepare and deliver a brief demonstration lesson for elementary-aged students.
Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Pay: $32.00-$40.00 per hour
Benefits:
Flexible language requirement:
Education:
- Bachelor's Degree (preferred)
Experience:
- Yoga Teaching for school children: 2 years (required)
Work Location: In person
