Some things about teaching never really change, especially the importance of the teacher/student relationship. Where there is communication and mutual trust, care, and respect, real learning can happen.
But much is changing in education today. More schools are recognizing the importance of social-emotional learning. More schools are acknowledging the impact of trauma and chronic stress, and adopting practices to address them. More are evaluating how things have “always” been done and recalibrating to the needs of the whole child.
We still have a long way to go, of course, and there are certainly obstacles along the way and challenges yet to be faced, such as teachers’ need for greater autonomy and support. But the very fact that we are facing them is testament to the reality that the field is in an era of change.
And this is reflected in the types of content we see users flocking to on our blog, now entering its 12th year. The top ten new posts of 2019 highlight some of the main dimensions in which change is happening:
- Mindfulness Principles: Tips for Teaching Stillness
- Toward a Trauma-Informed Mindfulness Practice
- The Need for a More Holistic Approach to PE
- Mindfulness & Movement Can Translate into Any Culture (Guest Post)
- How the Body Holds Trauma & Stress – & How to Release It
- The Importance of Voice in Releasing Trauma
- Move to Learn, Heal, & Thrive
- Plan Some You-Time This Summer with Yoga Calm
- Using Brain Breaks to Direct Energy Toward Learning
- 5 Tips for Creating Empowering Structure & Routine in Your Classroom
At the same time, teachers – and counselors and therapists and parents and others who use Yoga Calm – are also looking for practical advice they can put to work right now. This is something we see clearly in the most viewed posts of the year, some of which date back as far as 2009. Every single one of these is essentially a “how to”:
- Teaching Yoga to Preschoolers: What Works Best?
- 5 Tips to Teach Kids with ADHD Better Focus & Self-Control
- Breath Work with a Breathing Sphere
- A Different Kind of Test Prep: Yoga Calm Before Standardized Testing
- Adaptations & Applications: Volcano Breath en Masse!
- Yoga Hits the Super Bowl: 5 Tips for Teaching Boys
- How to Bring Yoga & Mindfulness to Your Classroom
- Teaching Yoga Calm to Preschoolers? Some Tips (Guest Post)
- Lean on Me: Tips for Teaching Friendship Skills to Kids
- Mindfulness Principles: Tips for Teaching Stillness
But the Yoga Calm Blog isn’t the only go-to for folks looking to provide opportunities for mindful movement right away. We also have our Empower program – a ready-made, science-based curriculum that you can implement in your classroom, clinic, or home right now. All you need to do is press “play” and go.
Empower launched just about a year ago, and the early reviews have been fantastic. It’s already being used in more than 200 classrooms across the US. And right now, you can try a month of it for free! Head over to the Empower site to get started.
Our Certified Instructors – over 500 and counting, with options for in-person and online training – have even more resources for enriching their use of mindful movement in their work with children. They have access to our ever-growing library of teacher-tested class plans, free online courses and access to more than 70 training videos, and free retakes of courses – not to mention business development support and discounts on clothing, products, and international retreats and trainings.
Just as we want kids to have the tools and skills they need to create a positive future, we want you to have the tools you need to excel.
For Yoga Calm isn’t just a program or brand. It’s a community of people committed to nurturing healthy, happy kids. We’re grateful to have you be part of that community.
Training image by 1000 Petals
