Feeling exhausted and discouraged? Is your plate fuller than you would like it to be? You are not alone! To a greater or lesser degree, we are all living in a time of emotional distress, exacerbated by a global pandemic that has been going on longer than anyone expected. The current situation has been particularly challenging for families with school-age kids and, of course, for educators. This session will incorporate mindfulness, deep breathing, and yoga in the classroom to relieve stress and anxiety and to open channels of self-expression in a safe environment.

The good news is that mental health education can be integrated into the curriculum in a way that does not overburden teachers. In fact, mindfulness, deep breathing, and yoga are among the most effective coping strategies to manage stress, build resilience, and improve cognitive brain functions such as concentration, working memory, problem solving, and attention to detail. They are also valuable tools in positive classroom management. 

By focusing on mental and emotional well-being, we can engage our students more fully. We can also boost our own psychological state, which, in turn, may help us be more present, centered, and balanced in the classroom and beyond. 

This session will take you on a journey that interweaves research and practices that will help you unwind and that can be easily adapted to any educational setting.  

This presentation will include three basic parts:

1. The Data: A reminder of the crisis that we and our students are living. We must properly frame the issues, challenges, losses, and stress that we are facing.  There are negative consequences happening in the world, our country, community, and especially to our young people due to not only the pandemic, but other factors as well.  We must understand that we cannot shield our young people from these consequences, so we must teach them how to live well despite the circumstances they are facing.

2. A Way to Cope and Stay Connected: I will share two practical, successful methods that have been tested in the classroom, that will help students grow more resilient and emotionally intelligent.

3. Discussion: Questions and comments within the group.

It's been a year like none other. You have worked hard, learned a lot, and probably made some mistakes along the way. Summer is fast approaching and while you may not have the summer off, it is often a time for reflection and growth. In this webinar, you are going to learn strategies that will help you realize that your year was better than you thought. You will also learn the importance of being vulnerable and learning how and when to ask for help. Participants will leave feeling good about themselves and excited about their future.