PRAKTIK YOGA ASANAS DALAM MENINGKATKAN DAYA KOGNITIF SISWA SEBAGAI IMPLEMENTASI PENDIDIKAN KARAKTER

Abstract

This study aimed to describ e the shift of cognitive power and the reinforcement of character s by yoga asana s practice . This study was a qualitative descriptive study involv ing the students of SDN 2 Sesetan, Denpasar , Bali. The data were collect ed through interview and observation. The n, the data were analy zed based on the result s of observation related to the students’ learning concentration and character reinforcement during yoga extracurricular activities as well as from the analysis of interview related to the systematic and material s of yoga asana s . Findings of this study revealed that (1) yoga asana s could improve one of the cognitive functions, i.e. students’ learning concentration for as much as 71%, (2) yoga asanas strengthen ed the students’ character, especially the main character aspect s , such as independent, religious, and integrity for as much as 85%, and (3) the type of yoga taught was hatta yoga in which the main material s were pavanamuktasana I, hamsa, asana (surya namaskara and chandra namaskara) and acro yoga ; these included the steps starting from prayer, asana stretching, the core of asana, asana relaxation, pranayama, and simple meditation .