Being Alive Together: The Power of Community
Though the first day of summer is still weeks away, most of us have come to think of this weekend as the real kickoff to the season. While many will take time to remember those who have lost their lives while serving in the US military - the original purpose of...
How to Avoid the Summer Slump – & Have Fun Doing It
About a year ago, a Dutch study showed that, even in ideal circumstances, COVID closures meant learning loss. So this past week’s news of COVID-related learning loss among American students was no surprise. The drop was greatest among those who spent the most time in...
The Power of Finding the Strong Voice Inside You
One of the best things about being a counselor is the opportunity to witness another person when they have an aha moment or begin to break through an old pattern. I remember one boy who came from a very difficult family situation. Second grade, third grade, fourth -...
More Screening? Let’s “Inoculate” Kids Against Anxiety Instead!
If you work with kids, you’re well aware that the youth mental health crisis we now face has been growing for many years. Pandemic life only exacerbated it. Now, the US Preventive Services Task Force is recommending that all children 8 and up should be screened for...
When Emotions Explode (A Counselor’s Thoughts on the Oscars Slap Incident)
“Joel” was a well-liked 6th-grader in the rural school where I worked for years as a counselor. He never caused trouble. Ever. But one day, some students ran in to tell me Joel had hit another boy. Very upset, they asked for my help. Naturally, I went to get Joel. His...
To Be “Really Human” = To Honor Our Diversity & Interconnectedness
It’s amazing to think that most of the cells in your body aren’t even human ones but a collective of microorganisms that work (mostly) synergistically to help us in a vast array of essential tasks, from digesting food to protecting our skin, even generating some...
10 Tips for Creating a Yoga Calm Earth Warriors Summer Camp – & Resources to Get You Started
If you’re a parent of school-aged children, you’re probably already looking ahead to booking summer camps. With COVID receding, it’s more important than ever to keep our kids moving, engaging them outdoors and with each other. If you’re a Yoga Calm instructor, you may...
Some Thoughts on the Sudden Criticism of Social/Emotional Learning
When we first started hearing news of opposition to social/emotional learning (SEL), we wondered how on Earth anyone could object to helping children develop the emotional literacy they need to thrive personally, excel academically, and succeed professionally. It...
Facing – & Transforming – the Fear of Feelings
Last fall, Gallup and UNICEF teamed up to ask teens and young adults in nearly two dozen countries on what it’s like to grow up in today’s world. The vast majority - 86% - said they sometimes or often feel anxious or worried. Nearly the same number also said that when...
From the Archives: Cultivating More Positive Emotions in These Ongoing COVID Times
This week, we thought we’d re-share this post from the early days of the pandemic, for after nearly two years, we can all use reminders of the importance of recognizing positives to balance the effects of negative feelings. One positive? Signs that Omicron may be...
Tips for Talking with Kids About Climate Change & the Environment
With so much buzz about the new Netflix movie Don’t Look Up, you’d hope that at least some of it would transition to talk about the issue it allegorizes - and, most importantly, what we can do about it. But talking about climate change is difficult. And it’s even...
The Yoga Calm Blog Year in Review, 2021
It’s natural to find yourself feeling a little more introspective and reflective at this time of year. Like all living things, we pull inward through the quiet, dark days of winter, preparing for new growth in the year to come. When we look back on our blog each year,...