YOGA & MINDFULLNESS in the CLASSROOM:

      Tools to Improve Self-Regulation, Learning, and Classroom Climate

A Training of It's About Childhood & Family, Inc. 

  - Square 1 Wellness (Iron Pier - Inner Harbor)

 A Workshop for Educators, Counselors, Social Workers, OTs, PTs

Increasing numbers of students across the country lack the skills of self-regulation, impulse control and focus negatively affecting their behavior, ability to learn and overall well-being. These critical life skills, essential to success at home, in school and throughout life, can be learned when taught in a developmentally appropriate, engaging way. Sharing yoga and mindfulness techniques, specifically designed for the time and space crunched classroom, is a convenient, engaging and effective way to promote these skills while cultivating a positive, peaceful productive classroom climate.??

Through the framework of - Noticing, Mindful Choice, Practice, Reflection, Integration - you will learn how to empower your students and yourselves with increased self-awareness, the foundation for the development of skills of self-regulation and cognitive control. You will recognize signs of imbalance, and will have the confidence and skills to effectively implement 67 yoga and mindfulness-based activities, specially chosen for their suitability for the typical classroom space and schedule. This means all activities can be done standing beside or sitting at desks, while hands and bodies remain off the floor, away from dirt, germs and chemicals. Yoga 4 Classrooms is easy for teachers, students, parents and therapists to use, and helps to create a more harmonious, learning-friendly school day.  

Participants will:

• Understand how stress and trauma affect learning and behavior.  
• Identify the 5 critical steps to integrated self-regulation and its relationship to the science of neuroplasticity.
• Learn over 67 simple, classroom-friendly yoga and mindfulness techniques to support learning readiness and the development of social and emotional learning competencies and resilience.
• Crosswalk MY-SEL (mindfulness, yoga, social and emotional learning) with a variety of school roles and standards as well as school and district wide goals and national educational policy.
• Find and navigate the growing evidence base supporting the integration of yoga, mindfulness and meditation at school.
• Improve classroom management and reduce behavior referrals by recognizing and proactively addressing group and individual student needs. 
• Become a more effective educator, counselor or therapist while supporting your own well being.
• Access and utilize a variety of tools and resources to support buy-in and funding for sustainable, school wide implementation.

Absolutely no yoga experience is required. In fact, participants are encouraged to wear regular, comfortable clothing and flat-soled shoes to the workshop as we'll be simulating a classroom experience. This accessible, fun and informative workshop will relax and inspire you.

8:00 am - REGISTRATION

11:30 am - LUNCH ON YOUR OWN

WORKSHOP TRAINER

Colleen Smith is a 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher and 95 hour Registered Children's Yoga Teacher who specializes in children's yoga. She is a teacher trainer for ChildLight Yoga and Yoga 4 Classrooms. She has been teaching yoga to kids for 17 years and has trained with Radiant Child Yoga, YogaKids, Yoga 4 Classrooms, Creative Relaxation: Yoga for the Special Needs Child Level 1, ChildLight Yoga, ChildLight Yoga for Teens, Yoga for Babies & Toddlers, and Mindful Schools.  Colleen has a M.S and C.A.S. in School Counseling and is the mother of 3 young adults.  She started BeLive Yoga to meet the growing need for ways to support and improve the physical and emotional health of children of all ages.

for more details email mgilbert@iacaf.org  Purchase Orders Accepted (use pay by check option when registering)