Children need to move. Active Classrooms, The Latest Trend Heath.gov recommends that children move 60 minutes per day. Not only does this recommendation hope to address childhood obesity by increasing caloric output, but there are also implications for learning. Children who move 60 minutes per day report better sleep, stable moods, more time on task […]
School can be tiring sometimes. Maybe in an elementary school it looks like laying on the carpet, instead of sitting criss cross. In a high school, it may be a flat out snore in the middle of lecture. Feeling the warm afternoon sunshine come through the window, even teachers can feel their eyes start to […]
When the weather limits our time outside, stir crazy energy can make children, and parents, feel restless. Are you stuck inside due to inclement weather? How are you meeting your children’s energy? It is wise to be proactive and encourage gross motor movement throughout the day to break up screen time and sedentary activities. However, […]
The Move Mindfully® Chair Routine can prepare the body to experience gratitude. Today we are going to think about gratitude. Gratitude means giving thanks for everything we have in our lives. Today we will move our bodies and breathe in a way that opens up ours hearts and reminds us of all the things that […]
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 […]
Essential oils 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 and at ease. With that intention, we have […]
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 […]
Creating healthy schools and therapeutic environments by rooting mindfulness and movement into the heart of our families and communities.