Lemur Yoga
WORKSHEET
1. Suggested Use
Health and wellbeing focus, followed by closed practice B1+-level vocabulary and grammar activities.
2. Suggested Activities
A. Project-based learning
Students work in small groups to design their own wellbeing activity that connects people with nature or animals, inspired by the idea of lemur yoga. They should decide what the activity is, where it takes place and who it’s for, how it helps people’s body, mind, or emotions and how it supports animals or the environment. Allow students time to research other ideas online for inspiration if necessary. Students prepare a short pitch or digital poster to promote their idea, using language from the video.
B. Mediation task: Relaying specific information (+ note taking)
Students imagine they are writing a short message for a local community website to explain lemur yoga to readers. They read or listen to the video and take short notes on what lemur yoga is, why it’s good for people and how it helps animals. Then, they write a short summary of the activity in their own words.
C. Pronunciation task: Weak forms and connected speech
Highlight some weak forms and connected sounds in the videoscript, e.g. looking after (g - a), kind of roaming around (kinda, silent g), being aware of (silent g, pron ‘of). Model, drill and practise the sounds with students. Have them listen to the pronunciation from the video if necessary. Have students write their own short texts including the phrases from the video to practise them in context.
3. Vocabulary
Wellbeing
wellbeing
relax
breathe
stress
flexible
mental health
connection
slow down
reduce
pace
Nature and animals
lemur
wildlife
conservation
species
endangered
charity
Madagascar
protect
awareness
nature
Verbs
reduce
connect
move
raise
protect
4. Grammar
Relative clauses:
… If we can raise awareness of the plight that they're facing then great.
Conjunctions:
So, funds from these sessions go …; And the money goes to…
Gerunds:
Looking after our body and our mind is important …; "Spending time with animals is a …; and being aware of how you're moving …; go directly to help on the ground working towards …
TRANSCRIPT
Lemur Yoga
NARRATOR:
Looking after our body and our mind is important, and one place in the UK has found a surprising way to help people do both. At a wildlife park in the Lake District, yoga fans can now take part in outdoor classes with Madagascan ring-tailed lemurs. The idea, called lemoga, combines gentle exercise, nature, and animals — all known to help with physical and mental health.
SOUNDBITE - Richard Robinson:
"Spending time with animals is a well proven fact. It slows us down, it reduces our pace. It's all about wellbeing."
NARRATOR:
Yoga can help people stay flexible, breathe better, and relax. It’s also a natural treatment for stress. And here, the lemurs add something special. Yoga teacher Katherine Beaumont believes animals can help people connect with their own body and mind, as well as the natural world around them.
SOUNDBITE - Katherine Beaumont:
“I think to have them kind of roaming around and being aware of how you're moving and being aware of your own body and being aware of your own connection to them is just beautiful."
NARRATOR:
The sessions also help people learn about wildlife conservation. And the money goes to protect lemurs in the wild.
SOUNDBITE - Richard Robinson:
"Ring tailed lemurs are an endangered species. It's thought to be fewer than 5000 in the wild. So really low numbers. If we can raise awareness of the plight that they're facing then great. We are also able to work with a charity out in Madagascar itself. So, funds from these sessions go directly to help on the ground working towards lemur conservation."
NARRATOR:
So, could yoga with lemurs improve your health and help save animals at the same time? At this park, the answer seems to be yes.