ICSE Class 10 Syllabus 2023 Yoga (Revised)

YOGA (84)
Note: The Syllabus for this Subject has not been changed.
CLASS X
There will be one written paper of two hours duration carrying 100 marks and Internal Assessment of
100 marks.

PAPER I (THEORY) The Sense of touch: Nerve endings in the skin
related to pressure, pain, hot and cold.
SECTION I: HUMAN BIOLOGY
How Yoga helps to maintain the health of the
1. The Nervous System nervous system and sense organs.
The neuron, central nervous system and peripheral
nervous system, the sense organs. Role of Yoga in 2. The Endocrine System
maintaining the health of the nervous system.
A study of the Pituitary gland, the Thyroid, the
The neuron: Structure (cyton, axon, terminal Adrenal glands and the Pancreas; role of Yoga in
branches, synapse, myelin sheath) and function maintaining the health of the endocrine glands.
(carry messages in the nervous system in the form
of electrical impulses); Kinds of neurons: Sensory, The above must be studied with respect to the
Motor, Association. Nerves and ganglia: definition following: location, hormones secreted, effects of
only. over-secretion and under secretion of hormones.
The Central Nervous System: The Brain: How yoga helps to regulate the functioning of the
Meninges, Forebrain: Cerebrum (Temporal, endocrine glands and helps in achieving hormonal
Parietal, Occipital, Frontal) and Diencephalon; balance.
Midbrain; Hindbrain (Cerebellum, Pons, Medulla
oblongata). Location and basic function of each of 3. The Circulatory System
the above parts. Structure and functioning of the heart; disorders of
The Spinal Cord: Structure and function; Reflex the circulatory system; the lymphatic system;
action: Simple reflex, Conditioned reflex. composition of blood; role of yoga in improving
blood circulation.
The Peripheral Nervous System: Somatic nervous
system: Cranial nerves and spinal nerves (the Heart: Location, covering (pericardium),
number of cranial and spinal nerves present in the chambers of the heart, blood vessels entering and
body); the Autonomic nervous system: Sympathetic leaving the heart: Vena Cava, aorta, pulmonary
nervous system and Parasympathetic nervous artery, the pulmonary vein; blood supply to the
system (location and function). heart: coronary arteries; Valves: Bicuspid,
Tricuspid, Semilunar Valves; Circulation of blood
The Sense Organs in the heart: systole and diastole; blood vessel
Eyes: Structure and function of different types: arteries, capillaries, veins, structure and
constituent parts; common eye defects: Myopia, function; some of the other main blood vessels:
Hyperopia, Cataract. Hepatic portal vein, Hepatic artery and vein,
Renal artery and vein;
Ear: outer ear, middle ear, inner ear (structure and
Some disorders of the circulatory system:
function of the constituent parts); the Eustachian
atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, myocardial
Tube; role of the ear in maintaining balance.
infarction, angina: definition of each disorder;
The sense of smell: importance of the olfactory Composition of blood: plasma, the liquid
nerve; flavour: a combination of taste and smell. component of blood; a brief description of the
The sense of taste: The 4 fundamental tastes: sweet, structure and functions of RBC, WBC and platelets
salty, bitter, sour. disorders of the blood: Haemophilia, anaemia.

1

(The types of WBCs and the blood groups need not Parasara, his role as the grandfather of Pandavas
be studied); and Kauravas, his son Shuka.
How yoga helps to improve blood circulation and Works: The Bhramasutras, The Mahabharata,
hence enhances the body’s immunity. Srimad Bhagvatam, The Puranas, Vyasa Bhashya.
2. Yagnavalkya
4. The Excretory System
Birth and education, dynamics of his relationship
Organs of excretion; Parts of the excretory system;
with his guru Vaisampayana (growing
urine formation, disorders of the excretory system;
disagreement between the two at the ashram, Meet
Role of Yoga.
at Mount Meru, King Supriya and the formation of
Lungs, skin and kidneys are the three organs of the Krishna Yajurveda); relationship with Surya
excretion; parts of the excretory system: the Bhagvan, King Janaka, Gargi and Maitreyi
Kidney, Cortex and Medulla; Ureters; Bladder;
Works: The Yajurvedas, The Brihadaryanka and
Urethra.
Bhramanas, Yoga Yagnavalkya Samhita.
Disorders of the excretory system: Kidney failure,
3. Narsi Mehta
Gout, Kidney stones; the Dialysis machine:
meaning of each. Birth and early life, three miraculous events in his
life. His teaching and contributions- composition
How the practice of yoga helps in maintaining the
‘Vaishnava Jan To….’
health of the excretory system and hence the
elimination of waste from the body. 4. Sri Aurobindo
His early life and education abroad; his mastery
5. Personal Hygiene through Yoga over several European and Indian languages;
Purpose of maintaining hygiene in Yoga; Yogic return to India; experience of the silent mind after
care and/or cleaning of sense organs. guidance from Lele; Sri Aurobindo as one of the
leaders of the freedom movement the newspaper -
Purpose of maintaining hygiene in yoga: removal
Vande Mataram; solitary confinement in Alipore
of diseases, purification of the body, maintaining
Jail; acquittal and journey to Pondicherry;
efficiency of the body, better immunity, long life,
meeting with Mirra Alfassa who would in later
moral and spiritual elevation.
years be called the Mother of the Sri Aurobindo
Yogic Care and/ or cleaning of the sense organs: Ashram; Auroville, Matri Mandir and the Sri
Care of teeth, mouth, cleaning of the tongue Aurobindo Society.
(jivhamulashodhanam: benefits and procedure),
cleaning of the ears (karnarandhradhouti Teachings of Sri Aurobindo: Yoga results in
procedure and its benefits); care of eyes: factors ‘accelerated evolution’; Sri Aurobindo’s Integral
affecting the health of the eye, eye exercises-trataka Yoga, guidelines on how man can consciously
(central fixation)-candle gazing. collaborate with the Divine in accelerating his
evolution (An understanding of the human
SECTION II: SAGES OF INDIA consciousness as having four beings
simultaneously coexistent in it: (1) The Physical
Candidates are to write notes on the lives and Being (2) The emotional being (3) the mental
teachings of the following sages: Vyasa, Yagnavalkya, being (4) The spiritual being); the triple formula
Narsi Mehta, Sri Aurobindo, Swami Vivekanand, of Aspiration, Rejection and Surrender. His
Ramana Maharishi. words: ‘All life is Yoga’ – bringing perfection,
For each of the above mentioned sages, the peace and harmony into all aspects of day-to-day
candidates need to know briefly, two important life.
aspects of their works. Works of Sri Aurobindo: Savitri, The Life Divine,
1. Vyasa Synthesis of Yoga (couple of sentences on the
Birth and early life; his birthday is celebrated as contents and/or purpose of the above books)
Guru Purnima; training under his father Rishi

2

5. Swami Vivekananda SECTION III: THE YOGA SUTRAS OF
PATANJALI
Vision of his Guru Ramakrishna: story of the
seven sages and a little boy. Childhood stories of The Four Padas
Narendra’s courage and truthfulness. His first
(i) Samadhi Pada
meeting with Sri Ramakrishna and his historical
Chitta Vrittis: definition of Yoga. The different
question: “Sir, have you seen God?” His father’s
types of Chitta Vrittis: Klishta and Aklishta;
demise and leaving the family in poverty; his first
Pramana Viparyaya Vikalpa, Nidra, Smriti;
living experience with the Divine Mother in the
Kali temple at Dakshineshwar. starting the Ways to still the Chitta Vrittis: Abhyasa and
Ramakrishna Mission order post Ramakrishna’s Vairagya, Ishwar Pranidhana, the Pranava
demise. His travels in India right upto Mantra, the four virtues, Pranayama (elongating
Kanyakumari where he was inspired to travel the bahya kumbhak), heightened awareness of the
abroad; his speech at the Parliament of World senses, concentrating on a light beyond all
Religions. Setting up centres of the Ramakrishna sorrow, contemplating and recollecting the
Mission in the West. Setting up the Belur Math. experiences of dreams-filled or dreamless sleep
Inspiring speeches to Indian youth. Early death. during the waking state.
Obstacles: Vyadhi, Styana, Samshaya, Pramada,
Literary Works by Swami Vivekananda: Raja Alasya, Avirati, Bhrantidarshana,
Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga. Practical Alabdhahumikatva, Anavasthi-tattva.
Vedanta, My India – the India Eternal, My Master. Accompaniments of the obstacles: Dukha,
Teachings: The soul of man is more powerful than Daurmansya, Angamejayatva and Shvasa
anything else; service to man is service to God; Prashvasa.
His teaching of Vedanta, the world is one; Samadhi - definition and types of Samadhis
civilization will be complete in the world when (Sabeej, Nirbeej, Savitarka, Nirvitarka,
India gives to the world the marvels of its Savichara, Nirvichara).
spirituality and in exchange, receives from the
(ii) Sadhana Pada
world the marvels of modern science; to preach
Kriya yoga, Kleshas, cause of pain: identification
unto mankind their divinity and how to make it
of the seer (drashtu) with the seen; Kaivalya:
manifest in every movement of life. There can be
no salvation if one has faith in Gods outside but destruction of ignorance through right knowledge
no faith in oneself. The real atheist is one who breaks the link between the seer and the seen and
doesn’t believe in himself. leads to liberation or kaivalya (refer to Sutra 2.25,
the students need not learn the Sutra); Ashtang
6. Sri Ramana Maharishi yoga; Pratipaksha Bhavanam (refer to Sutra 2.33,
Birth and early life; His death experience which the students need not learn the Sutra)
led to the all-consuming question for him, “Who (iii) Vibhuti Pada
am I”? His travel to Thiruvannamalai; His Concept and definition of Samyama, study of the
Enlightenment; Setting up of the Ramana Ashram; following objects of samyama and the powers
granting his mother moksha at the time of her attained: distinguishing marks on another man’s
moving on.
body, qualities of friendliness and compassion,
Teachings: Self enquiry: Who am I? and his
strength such as that of an elephant, the sun, the
method of self-enquiry.
moon, the pole star, the naval, the pit of the throat,
Works: Who Am I, 5 Hymns to Arunachala, 40
the head, the heart; These Vibhutis (attainments)
verses on Reality.
are hindrances to achieve the spiritual goal.
(iv) Kaivalya Pada
5 ways of spiritual accomplishment; Karma:
black, white or black and white; subject and object

3

(relationship between the two in the light of pain, accumulated from the past that occupies the
Patanjali’s yoga sutras); Chit and Chitta; dharma mind and body periodically as an inexplicable dark
megha samadhi. emotional state; methods to enter the eternal Now
as a means of breaking free from the addiction to
SECTION IV: SOME IMPORTANT SCHOOLS thought:
OF PHILOSOPHY AND SOME SUTRAS • Tuning into the awareness of the breath and
1. Some of the Orthodox Philosophies body
• Dis-identification with the thinker, watching
Sankhya, Yoga, Vedanta, Purva Mimansa with the thought
respect to each philosophy - Meaning of the name, • Surrendering to what is, dropping the
founder, dates, important texts, tenets, salvation, resistance to what arises in the moment
concept of God. • Paying attention to environmental sounds and
Tenets of Sankhya tuning into the silence between the sounds
Purusha and Prakriti (dualistic system) (the 4. Five Important Sutras
student needs to know just a basic understanding
of these terms); Gunas, 23 evolutes of Prakriti. Patanjali Yoga Sutra 1.2, 1.14, 1.33, 2.3, 2.28
Tenets of Yoga
PAPER 2 (INTERNAL ASSESSMENT)
Yoga also called Sa Ishvara Sankhya; 5 vrittis and
5 Chitta Bhumis; 5 kleshas; 4 virtues; Ashtang The practical work is to be divided into two sections
yoga. as follows:
Tenets of Vedanta Section A (40 Marks): Course Work - the course work
Basic meaning of the following terms: Advaita, will be assessed by the teacher on the basis of
Brahman, Jagat, Mithya, Maya, Sookshma continuous assessment. The candidate will be assessed
(subtle) and Sthool (gross) buddhi on the basis of his/her output in the following areas:
Tenets of Purva Mimansa (a) Degree of effort and progress in his/her yoga
Importance of rituals and Mantras, concept of practice (judged through periodical tests).
many Gods and Goddesses, concept of divinity in (b) Assisting the yoga therapy sessions.
non-living objects, Karma and dharma.
Improving his/her own health and wellbeing
2. Some of the Heterodox Philosophies through yoga therapy.
Buddhism and Jainism with respect to each (c) Participation in programmes.
philosophy - meaning of the name, founder, dates,
important texts, tenets, salvation, concept of God. Section B (60 Marks): Practical Tests - There will be
Tenets of Buddhism three tests in this section – to be assessed by an
The 4 noble truths, the 8-fold path, two schools of External Examiner.
Buddhism - Hinayana and Mahayana.
Tenets of Jainism Test 1: Predetermined Asanas (30 marks)
The 3 jewels, transmigration of the soul and The candidates must perform any six asanas from
moksha, everything has a jiva, no belief in Gods those given below:
and Goddesses, 24 tirthankaras, Mahavira the
24th one. Ardha Chandrasana, Parivritta Trikonasana,
Chaturanga Dandasana, Salambha Shirshasana
3. Contemporary Philosophies Sarvangasana, Paschimottanasana, Urdhva
Eckhart Tolle's Philosophy: Power of Now Dhanurasana, Ardha Matsyendrasana.

Tenets: mind controlling the human being and his Test 2: Directed asanas (20 marks)
addiction to thinking; consciousness beyond the The candidate must perform 4 or 5 asanas of the
mind; presence or the awareness space in which External Examiner's choice. (The examiner will select
thoughts arise; the Pain Body: The energy field of asanas from the Class X syllabus only). The External

4

Examiner may test the pupil's ability to adapt and 11. Paripoorna Navasana
modify asanas.
12. Paschimottanaasana
Test 3: Pupil's preference of asanas (10 marks) 13. Marichyasana III
The candidate will perform two asanas of his/her 14. Ardha Matsyendrasana I
choice.
15. Salambha Shirshasana
Important Notes:
16. Urdhva Dhanurasana
(a) Candidate must choose an asana from the Class X
syllabus only. 17. Salambha Sarvangasana I
18. Halaasana
(b) Candidate must not select an asana that he/she has
already demonstrated in Test 1 and Test 2. 19. Setu Bandha Sarvangasana

The practical work is to be covered under the (B) Breathing\pranayama
following categories:
1. Revision of the Full Yogic Breathing
(A) Asanas
2. Brahmari
1. Ardha Chandrasana
Reference Book:
2. Parivritta Trikonasana
Light on Yoga: Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar - Harper
3. Pashva Uttanasana Collins, India
4. Uttanasana
5. Chaturanga Dandasana
6. Urdhva Mukha Shvanasana
7. Matsyasana
8. Janu Shirshasana
9. Upavista Konasana (holding big toes, head
up)
10. Ardha Navasana

5

INTERNAL ASSESSMENT IN YOGA - GUIDELINES FOR MARKING WITH GRADES
Criteria Knowledge of Asanas Precision Achievements (Ability to Application (Interactive) Presentation
perform the classical pose)
Grade I • Immediately presents • Firmness and • Strength • Can adapt and modify as • Confidence
(4 marks) the required asana alertness • Flexibility required by examiner. • Angle of presentation
• Knows the meaning of • Co-ordination • Endurance (can hold the • Can clearly explain the and stance between
the name of the asana • Attention to details pose) purpose. poses
• Knows to which • Moment-to- • Stability • Co-operation and
general group the asana moment keenness
belongs awareness • Grace and poise
• Knows the benefits
Grade II Fails to respond to any one Any one of the above Any one of the above aspects Very competent at one of the Lack one of the above
(3 marks) of the above aspects. aspects lacking. inadequate. above but only partially manages aspects.
the other.

Grade III Fails to respond to two of Any two aspects Any two aspects inadequate. Attempts both but is unclear Lack two of the above
(2 marks) the above requirements. lacking. aspects.
Grade IV Fails to respond to three of Any three aspects Any three aspects Guesses both the application and Lack three of the above
(1 mark) the above requirements. lacking. inadequate. purpose. aspects.

Grade V Respond incorrectly to all Poor in all four All four aspects inadequate. Unable to apply or explain All four aspects
(0 marks) four aspects. inadequate.

6