A Yoga-Based Social Emotional Program for Schools BalancED Learning - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

A Yoga-Based Social Emotional Program for Schools

BalancED Learning

Jennie Young, RYT200 Founder and Curriculum Author Kasey Peyton, RYT200 Co-Founder and BalancED Learning Pro

Social-Emotional Success

Five Core Social-Emotional Skills for Student Success

Self Awareness Self Management Social Awareness Relationship Skills Responsible Decision-Making

Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning

Yoga - Not Just Poses

Yoga Guidelines

Self- Awareness Self- Management Social Awareness Relationship Skills Responsible Decision-Making Kindness ❖ ❖ ❖ Truthfulness ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ Generosity ❖ ❖ ❖ Self-Control ❖ ❖ ❖ Gratitude ❖ ❖ ❖ Self-Esteem ❖ ❖ ❖ Contentment ❖ ❖ ❖ Self-Discipline ❖ ❖ ❖ Self-Awareness ❖ ❖ ❖ Respect ❖ ❖ ❖

Yoga Addresses SEL Skills

Mindfulness Defined

“The quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.”

Mindfulness Defined

“Mindfulness shows us what is happening in

• ur bodies, our emotions, our minds, and in the
• world. Through mindfulness, we avoid

harming ourselves and others.”

• Thich Nhat Hahn

Mindfulness and the Brain

Mindfulness and the Brain by Blissful Kids

Curriculum Components

Emotions SELF-ESTEEM COMMUNITY MOVEMENT MINDFULNESS EMOTIONS BREATH

Benefits of Breath

• Physical - The body responds to emotions and stress. Using controlled

breathing helps to slow the physical responses (heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure, and nervous system).

• Mental – Using your breath to slow down mental chatter helps increase

focus on the task at hand.1

• Emotional – Slowing the physical responses and mental chatter allows the

brain time to respond vs. react which is the key factor in emotional regulation.

Breathing exercises improve physical, mental, and emotional health.

• 10 different breathing techniques are learned throughout the year.
• Each breath has a different purpose.
• Once learned, the teacher can employ them for a variety of situations.
• Teachers report these as very effective.
• Students use them at home with siblings.

Breath in the Classroom

Emotional Elements

Awareness of Emotions

○ Identify the emotions. ○ Body’s responses. ○ Self-acceptance of all emotions.

Self-Regulation

○ Learning to control your emotions so your emotions don’t control you.2 ○ Creating resiliency to handle tough situations. ○ Eliminating emotional outbursts that take away from teaching time2, 3

Reaction vs. Response

○ Utilizing breathwork and mindfulness ○ Moving from reactive state to responsive state

Emotions in the Classroom

Awareness of Emotions

○ Journaling ○ Literature Connections ○ Group Sharing

Self-Regulation

○ Scenario Rehearsal ○ Readers Theater

Reaction vs. Response

○ Role Playing ○ Group Games

Mindfulness Matters

Mindfulness of Self Mindfulness of Others

Increases focus, attention span, and memory7, 8 Decreases worry and anxiety9 Improves executive function2, 10, 13 Self Awareness Self Management Responsible Decision Making Social Awareness Relationship Building Skills Creates empathy Develops gratitude, respect, and kindness Builds community14

Mindfulness of Self

○ Senses Activities ○ Breath Training & Journaling ○ Guided Imagery ○ Literature Connections

Mindfulness in the Classroom

Mindfulness of Others

○ Readers Theatre ○ Interactive Games ○ Gratitude Notes and Journals ○ Random Acts of Kindness

• Students with higher self-esteem have confidence which leads to better

performance.1

Self-Esteem and Community

Go Hand in Hand

The best way to become a better 'helper' is to become a better person. But one necessary aspect of becoming a better person is via helping other people.

• Abraham Maslow
• Higher self-esteem in children will build community in the classroom.5
• Better relationships in the classroom lead to less stress and more learning.6
• Community creates a safe place for children and helps eliminate bullying.4

Self-Esteem and Community in the Classroom

• Identifying Strengths
• Celebrating Differences
• Giving & Receiving Compliments
• Random Acts of Kindness
• Literature Connections
• Team Building Activities
• Partner Poses

• Exercise helps reduce anxiety and stress levels and improves

mood and self-esteem.11

Movement Motives

• Yoga improves mental, social, and physical well-being and daily

behavior.12

• Physical development through yoga improves executive

function.13

• Certain poses and sequences can have calming or energizing

effects.

• Breathing with movement increases oxygen flow to the brain.

Movement in the Classroom

Tree

Find an object or place to stare to help with focus. Lift the left leg and place the heel on the ankle, while the toes remain on the floor. Turn the knee

• ut to the side and bring the arms to heart center.

Once balanced, extend the arms out like branches

• f a tree or extend above the head. You can also

bring the foot up to the inside of the opposite calf but not the knee. Repeat with opposite leg.

Flower

Bring the bottoms of your feet together. Hold onto the bottoms of your feet and lift your feet off the floor, balancing on your bottom. Use your breath and find a focal point to balance.

Rag Doll

Start standing with your feet hip width apart. Fold forward and let your head and arms hang down towards your feet. You can allow your knees to bend as much as you need for the backs of the legs to be

• comfortable. Relax your neck and shoulders
• completely. To come out of the pose, bend your

knees deeply and roll up slowly with your head being the last thing to come up.

Movement in the Classroom

Poses

○ Balance to increase focus ○ Strength to energize ○ Flexibility to calm

Sequences and Games

○ Get the wiggles out ○ Boost concentration ○ Improve left and right brain hemisphere balance

Partner poses and student led activities

○ Build trust ○ Leadership opportunities ○ Foster connection

Teacher Benefits

Positively changes teacher-student interactions.14 Mindfulness improves teacher mood, satisfaction and sleep.15 Improves mental and emotional well-being and reduces stress.16 Reduces test stress and anxiety.17

HAPPY TEACHER happy kids

BalancED Learning Pro

• Regular class visits
• Movement-based
• Ongoing Support and

Education

Professional Development

• Program Objectives
• Research Based
• Demo Curriculum

Components

Program Overview

Classroom Curriculum

• Teacher Directed
• 30 weeks - Sept - April
• Flexible Scheduling
• Newsletters for family

OUR MISSION

BalancED Learning provides curriculum and resources to achieve emotional, mental, and physical balance for both students and teachers. Through yoga and mindfulness techniques and principles, the program combines knowledge of body, mind, and emotions to empower students by building self-esteem, teaching social-emotional skills, and constructing community within the classroom.

Thank You!!

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