Breath work allows us to set an intention and align our body and mind. The practice of mindfulness begins with noticing breath. Once you can sync breathing and movement, our physiology begins to shift. A great breath to use starting out is Yoga Calm‘s Volcano Breath. It is an upward arm movement synced to inhale, […]
Elementary students in the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage District are practicing breathing techniques and yoga-based movements through a new curriculum called Move Mindfully. Edward Neill, Vista View and Sky Oaks elementary schools are implementing the new curriculum after receiving funding through Dakota County Public Health. On Tuesday, Oct. 16, parents are invited to learn more about the program […]
How do we take staff wellness into consideration while also preparing and planning for active shooter drills? In the wake of shootings threatening the safety of our students during the school day, many districts have taken a proactive approach that includes active shooter drills. While the protocol looks different at each site, some districts are […]
What should you do when an agitated child refuses to do any breathwork or movement? We often say, “you are the intervention”. In fact, we dedicated an entire blog post to the idea of practicing these techniques for our own self-regulation before even beginning to teach youth. But, what does that really look like in […]
Our team believes that essential oils have the power to support self care both in adults and children. We know that the best state for learning and navigating life is to be relaxed/alert, strong/at ease, brave/open. When we are able to show up grounded and open for the day we tend to feel stable, balanced […]
Have you wondered, where is the best place to start when teaching mindfulness? Breathing is the best place to begin a mindfulness practice. For children, especially in a school setting, we recommend hand tracing as an excellent option for an introductory breath. Many school settings use “Show Me 5” as an attention signal, so we […]
People working in family services, counseling, foster care, and education are learning mindfulness practices all week at a conference at the Ramkota Inn. School social worker Kathy Flaminio is teaching these professionals how they can overcome trauma. Flaminio used props to illustrate how to clear your mind and control your thoughts, like how the sparkles […]
We believe mindfulness practices meet the needs of every body. Our trauma informed approach is rooted in choice. People sometimes ask: Is mindfulness suited for all children? What about children who have experienced trauma or have mental health needs? Here is how the dictionary defines mindfulness: Mindfulness: a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on […]
When working with youth we always ask, “How many of you have problems with sleep?” It is not surprising to see almost all hands slowly rise. Sleep is such an important component to overall health and well being. Addressing these concerns should be a priority for all youth workers. Sleep is where everything happens for […]
Are you looking for a fun, team building activity to take outside? Block Creek is a social emotional game from the Yoga Calm Curriculum. This game is perfect for an informal setting (after-school class, club, family) or an intentional team building exercise (morning meeting, ice breakers etc.) It is an activity all ages and abilities can […]
Creating healthy schools and therapeutic environments by rooting mindfulness and movement into the heart of our families and communities.