School Movement Programmes in Nottingham
Structured 45-minute yoga, Pilates and movement sessions for pupils who need strength, confidence, focus and a better relationship with their bodies.
Delivered by Viki Thorbjorn, a qualified yoga and Pilates teacher, children’s movement teacher, former athlete and MA graduate in Creative Practice, these sessions combine physical confidence, body awareness and emotionally intelligent teaching in a practical school-friendly format.
Available for primary and secondary schools across Nottingham and surrounding areas.
Practical, inclusive and school-friendly
Inclusive
For pupils with different abilities, confidence levels and movement experience.
Age-Appropriate
Sessions are adapted for primary and secondary pupils, with suitable structure, language and challenge.
Safe & Professional
Fully qualified, DBS checked and committed to safeguarding.
Safeguarding, First Aid, insurance and qualification documents are available on request.
Movement that builds confidence, not comparison
Many pupils need more than standard PE. That does not mean PE is wrong. It means children are different, and movement serves different purposes.
Some pupils thrive in competitive sport. Others shut down the second they feel watched, compared or judged. Some children need a movement space where they can build strength, coordination, focus and confidence without being ranked, timed, picked last or pushed into performance.
These school movement programmes offer a different route into physical activity.
The sessions combine yoga, Pilates, strength-based movement, mobility, balance, coordination, breath awareness and guided relaxation. They are active, structured and calm without being boring.
The aim is simple: to help pupils feel stronger, steadier, more capable and more connected to themselves through movement.
Start with a 6-week school movement programme
The simplest way to begin is with a focused 6-week programme.
Each session lasts 45 minutes and is designed to give pupils a clear, structured experience of movement that supports strength, confidence, coordination, focus and body awareness.
A 6-week block gives pupils enough time to become familiar with the structure, build trust, practise movement safely and begin to notice progress.
It also gives the school a practical way to trial the programme before deciding whether to continue into a longer school-year offer. This works well for:
After-school clubs
Wellbeing and enrichment provision
Confidence-building movement sessions
PE enrichment
Transition support
Pupils who need a different route into movement
Schools want a practical programme before the summer break
The programme can then continue as a regular weekly school-year offer if the school would like ongoing provision.
Programme options for schools
6-week movement programme
A focused 6-week block of 45-minute sessions designed to build strength, confidence, coordination, focus and body awareness.
Best for schools want a clear, practical starting point.
Ongoing school-year programme
Regular weekly sessions across the school year for pupils who benefit from consistency, progression and structured movement support.
Best for schools want longer-term enrichment or wellbeing provision.
After-school clubs
Weekly after-school movement sessions for pupils who would benefit from a calmer, confidence-building end to the school day.
Best for schools want a regular enrichment club.
Wellbeing and enrichment events
Longer or one-off sessions for wellbeing days, enrichment weeks, transition days or school events.
Best for schools want a practical, active wellbeing experience.
Who these sessions support
- Enjoy movement but do not want a competitive sports environment
- Do not naturally feel confident in traditional PE
- Would benefit from improved strength, balance and coordination
- Need clear structure and age-appropriate challenge
- Would benefit from better body awareness and movement control
- Prefer a calmer, more focused movement environment
- Enjoy active sessions but need clear boundaries and progression
- Would benefit from movement that supports focus, confidence and physical self-awareness
- Are quieter and need space to build confidence gradually
- Would benefit from a calmer transition after the school day
The sessions can be adapted for primary and secondary pupils, with suitable structure, language and challenge for each age group.
What pupils practise
Simple strength patterns
Balance and coordination
Controlled movement
Mobility
Postural awareness
Core strength
Breath awareness
Confidence in trying new movements
Safe challenge
Rest and recovery
Focus and attention
Moving without comparison
Respecting personal space
Recognising effort without pushing into strain
What a typical 45-minute session looks like
Each session follows a clear structure, adapted to the age group and school setting.
Arrival and settling
A short opening to help pupils arrive, understand the session focus and transition into the space.
Warm-up and movement preparation
Simple movement to prepare the body, including mobility, coordination, balance and gentle pulse-raising work.
Main movement section
Yoga, Pilates and strength-based movement designed to build confidence, control, balance, mobility and body awareness.
Cool-down and reset
A calmer ending using stretching, breath awareness, guided rest or reflection, so pupils leave settled rather than overstimulated.
Detailed programme information available
A more detailed programme document is also available for schools that would like to review the structure before enquiring or sharing it internally.
This includes further information about the 6-week programme, session structure, age-appropriate adaptations, safety considerations, safeguarding, what schools need to provide, and how the sessions can continue into regular provision.
What pupils can gain
The programme supports pupils physically, mentally and emotionally.
Physical confidence
Pupils build strength, balance, coordination, mobility, posture, core control and safer movement habits.
Focus and regulation
Structured movement, breath and rest can help pupils notice their bodies, settle their attention and understand how effort and calm work together.
Confidence without competition
The sessions give pupils a way to experience challenge without being ranked, timed or compared.
Better body awareness
Pupils learn how to move with more control, recognise effort and understand their own capacity.
A more positive relationship with movement
The aim is to help pupils experience movement as useful, enjoyable and confidence-building, not something they either win at or avoid.
A different route into movement
Sport can be brilliant. But not every child finds confidence through sport. Some pupils need a movement space where they are not picked last, scored, timed, watched or compared.
These sessions offer a different experience. There are no teams, winners or public rankings. There is no pressure to be the fastest, strongest or most flexible.
Instead, pupils are encouraged to notice what they can do, practise safely, try again, build strength gradually and understand their own bodies better.
The sessions still involve effort. They are not passive. They are not “just stretching”. They are not a soft option. They are simply built around confidence rather than comparison.
Safety, safeguarding and professionalism
Sessions are delivered with clear boundaries, appropriate structure and attention to safety. Credentials and documents available on request include:
About Viki Thorbjorn
Viki Thorbjorn is a qualified yoga and Pilates teacher, children’s movement teacher, former athlete, abstract artist and MA graduate in Creative Practice.
Her teaching combines structured movement, physical confidence, body awareness and emotionally intelligent practice.
Before teaching movement, Viki spent years in sport and creative practice, developing a strong understanding of discipline, confidence, recovery, body awareness and the relationship between physical and emotional resilience.
Her approach is calm, practical and inclusive.
She takes movement seriously, but not in a way that makes pupils feel they need to perform, compete or be perfect.
Areas covered
School movement programmes are available for schools in and around Nottingham, including:
Rushcliffe
West Bridgford
Colwick
Lady Bay
Gamston
Edwalton
Gedling
Carlton
Mapperley
Sneinton
Nottingham city
Nearby Nottinghamshire areas
If your school is nearby and you are not sure whether the location is possible, please get in touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Standard school sessions are 45 minutes. Longer sessions may be available for wellbeing days, enrichment events or special school programmes.
The simplest starting point is a 6-week programme. This gives pupils time to settle into the structure and gives the school a practical way to trial the work before considering ongoing sessions.
Yes. The 6-week programme can continue into a regular weekly school-year offer if the school would like ongoing provision.
Yes. These sessions are especially useful for pupils who may not feel confident in traditional PE or competitive sport. The focus is on confidence, strength, body awareness and safe movement rather than winning, ranking or performing.
They include yoga-informed movement, but they are not traditional yoga classes. The sessions also include Pilates-based strength, mobility, balance, coordination, breath awareness and relaxation.
No. Pupils do not need previous experience, flexibility or sporting ability. The sessions are designed to meet pupils at their current level and help them build confidence gradually.
A school hall, studio, gym space or clear classroom may be suitable depending on the group size and session type. Pupils need enough space to move safely.
Mats may be useful for some sessions, but they are not always essential. This can be discussed depending on the school’s space, age group and session format.
Yes. An Enhanced DBS check for the child workforce is available on request, along with safeguarding, First Aid, insurance and relevant teaching qualification documents.
Schools can send an enquiry through the website with basic details about the age group, number of pupils, preferred format and aims for the session. Viki will then suggest the most suitable next step.
No problem, email me at hello [at] vikithorbjorn [dot] art and I’ll be happy to answer any other question you have.
Bring structured movement into your school
If your school is looking for practical, inclusive movement sessions that support confidence, strength, focus, body awareness and wellbeing, please get in touch.
The simplest starting point is a 6-week programme of 45-minute sessions, with the option to continue into regular weekly provision.
If you would like to review the full programme structure first, a detailed school information document is available and can be shared with the relevant staff member or decision-maker.
Request the School Movement Programme Document
A detailed overview of structured 45-minute yoga, Pilates, and movement sessions for schools, including the 6-week programme, delivery options, pupil outcomes, and a progression framework.
You’ll receive the document by email. I may follow up to ask whether the programme could be useful for your school.