Foundations: Personal Growth

You deserve the same love and attention that you want to give your students. That’s why showing up for yourself is a necessary step for building more calm and connection in your classroom. If you want to begin showing up for yourself in a bigger way, we recommend developing a daily practice.

Having a daily practice helps wire your brain to support your well-being, leading to increased patience and more thoughtful responses when faced with challenging situations, especially in the classroom.

Regular practice enables you to remain calm even in stressful circumstances, which is crucial when teaching students to self-regulate. Teachers who have taken on the invitation to develop a daily practice have reported feeling more equipped to manage their emotions and be present for their students.

Breathing Practice Instruction

1. Close your eyes or gaze down at the floor below you. (Note: Closing the eyes can feel scary, especially for those who have experienced trauma. Never force a child or yourself to do anything that does not feel good)
   
2. Focus your attention on your breath. Observe its natural state without making any adjustments or trying to change it. Focus on the rise and fall of your chest or belly, the air in your nostrils, and the sound your breath may make.
   
3. If it feels good, nudge your breathing into a slower, more rhythmic state. Breathe in for four counts and breath out for four counts. Matching the in-breath and the out-breath is called a balancing breath. Do this breath five times. Notice how it feels without any judgment.
   
4. Now, return to the space in the room slowly, giving yourself time to reemerge into your day. How did this feel? This simple practice is an excellent start to building a daily practice.

Remember that deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress in the body. It allows your nervous system and body to reset and regulate.