Tools for Teachers. Yoga creates S P A C E between your FEELINGS and BEHAVIOR to make healthy choices. Robin Appell.

Tools for Teachers

“Yoga creates S P A C E between your FEELINGS and BEHAVIOR to make healthy

choices.” Robin Appell

Benefits of Yoga• Yoga is non-

competitive• Yoga requires staying

present, developing focus and concentration.

• Yoga is practical, low-cost preventative medicine.

• Yoga creates balance, integration, flexibility and quiet.

• Yoga expands and enriches awareness and the experience of our inner life.

• Yoga is not an intellectual process; it is experiential and social.

• Medical science identifies self-awareness and the ability to self-care as two key factors in maintaining a lifetime of health and wellness.

Yoga Tools for Teachers• The intention of Yoga Tools for Teachers is to

nourish, balance and support the TEACHER and STUDENT. Although it seems to be taking time away from “getting things done,” it actually supports achieving one’s desired goals by releasing tension and stress that obstruct optimal learning.

• Yoga tools help transform the teacher’s inner state from: chaos to calm, frustration to finesse, tired to energized, tense to relaxed, or distracted to focused in just a few minutes.

• If the teacher is “being” calm, alert and focused, this elicits the same states in their students (“Positive Behavior Modeling”).

Yoga Tools for Teachers• All Yoga Tools are

designed for the classroom, requires no extra equipment and take 5-15 minutes.

• Yoga Tools are proven behavior-and classroom-management techniques that enable the students to focus, concentrate and fully participate in the learning process.

• Yoga Tools work best as a continuing practice, and part of the daily routine.

Yoga Ed. Tools for Teachers Addresses the Challenges Teachers Face

• Obesity rates at are at an all time high.

• ADD/ADHD diagnosis rates are increasing among youth.

• Increased rates of stress, decreasing attention spans, levels of concentration and social skills are becoming more problematic.

• Academic achievement in public schools is at new lows.

• Incidences of bullying and violence in schools are increasing.

Yoga Ed. Tools for Teachers Address the Challenges Children Face

• Children are emotionally and physiologically stressed, over-stimulated and adversely affected by toxins in food, the environment and the media.

• Stress=Disease; it threatens our health, damages our bodies, and inhibits our ability to learn and grow. Body movement and breath are the best antidotes.

• If interested in research supporting yoga’s impact on children and children with ADD/ADHD, please see me.

The Science of Yoga• Scientific research on the

neuro-physiology of yoga demonstrates that it is truly the “world’s oldest and most perfect form of exercise.” (Gessner Geyer)

• Yoga has demonstrable efficacy in reducing stress, achieving emotional balance, developing focus and enhancing cognition.

• Yoga improves cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, endocrine and nervous system health.

The Science of Yoga

• When the fight-or-flight response is activated the body produces adrenalin and cortisol which cause the heart rate to speed up, the breath to become shallow, the eye muscles to expand, a tightening of lower back and neck, etc.

• Yoga Tools de-stress and bring the body-mind back to a safe, and open state where learning is possible.

• Yoga breathing and moving dissipates the physiological consequences of the stress response in the body.

The Science of Yoga

• Yoga and play stimulate the secretion of dopamine and DHEA igniting joy (feel good hormones that improve mood).

• Visualization slows brain waves, allowing the nervous system to recharge and integrate the activity between both brain hemispheres of the brain When done on a regular basis, Yoga Tools bring greater harmony and ease to the learning environment and process for teachers and students, by giving the mind-body system what it needs to perform more optimally.

Four Yoga Tools for Teachers

• Breathing• Yoga• Time-In• Games

Breathing-”Yoga and Breath are One.”

• The ability to breathe fully and deeply builds strength, healthy, presence, calm and focus. The more you fuel the brain and body with oxygen, the better it functions.

• Knowing how to use one’s breath to shift one’s mental and physical state is a valuable life skill that lays the foundation for personal health and responsibility.

• Conscious breathing brings us into balance and an awareness of ourselves, giving us the opportunity to slow down, center and make behavioral choices from a non-reactive, reflective, integrated place.

Yoga-”Unity of Mind, Body and Breath.”

• Yoga postures activate full body-mind coordination, waking up the whole brain and stimulating every system in the body.

• Yoga postures help develop: awareness, strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, and focus.

• Yoga postures are fun and non-competitive.

• Yoga can be done almost anywhere, with no equipment, and even in your chair!

Time-In• Time-In refers to the time spent with an internal rather than an

external focus.• Time-In is the first step to awareness and conscious action.• Time-In can be done sitting up, or lying down, in silence, listening

to a visualization, or soothing music, or while just breathing.• Time-In relaxes the body; restores and balances the nervous

system; connects one’s to one’s thoughts and feelings; develops awareness and non-reactivity; cultivates creativity and the use of inner resources; promotes harmony and communication.

• Brain waves automatically slow down.• Time-Out can be replaced with Time-In as a way to support self-

discipline and personal responsibility.• Time-In encourages kids to practice personal responsibility by

giving them a chance to breathe, feel and release whatever feelings are bothering them. Then, they can re-center, make an inner attitude adjustment and return to the class ready to participate.

Games

• Play-”Nature’s biological plan for learning.”

• Games can be used as warm-ups, rewards, energizers, organizers or just plain fun.

Yoga Ed. Manual

Time Breath Game Yoga Time-In

1.Morning Balloon

Sighing

Appreciation

NatureWake-Up I’m a Rainbow

Special Place

2.Transitions Bear

Humming

Energy Balls

Eagle Wisdom

Yogi Benders

Transition Inner Mountain

Animal Friend

Inner Advisor

3.Testing Sounding

Alternate Nostril

M-B Restore

Fly Like a Butterfly

Stop the Rock

Chair Create Affirmation

Watch Self on Television

4.Completion Bunny

Elephant

Wash-Tap

Jam Session

Pass the Squeeze

Circle of Friends

End of Day

Music Imagery

Gratitude

Guiding Star

Good MorningCome Together, Be Alert, Energized, Grounded and Peaceful

• Breathing– Balloon Breath– Hissing (Snake Breath)

• Time In– I’m a Rainbow– Special Place

• Games/Exercise– All Good

Things(Positive intentions)

– Receiving Love and Light

– Nature Game

• Wake Up Yoga– Mountain– Blown Palm– Waterfall– Half Sun Salute– Rag Doll– Tree– Warrior Series– Triangle– Downward Facing Dog– Dragon– Frog– Star– Twisting Star/Windmill– Folding Star

TransitionsHelps to maximize the benefits of break times between subjects and

minimize time spent settling back into learning.

• Breathing– Bear Breath– Humming Breath

• Time-In– Inner Mountain– Animal Friend– Inner Advisor

• Games– Energy Balls– Eagle Wisdom Pose– Back to Mountain– Yogi Benders

• Yoga– Rock– Cat– Down Dog– Dragon– Ragdoll– Mountain– Half Sun Salute– Warrior I and II– Extended Angle– Tree

Testing“To feel centered is to experience one’s psychological center of gravity-a

solid integration of mind and body. Knowing how to feel centered is as important to young people as knowing how to read, write and brush the

teeth.” Dr. Gay Hendricks• Breathing

– Sounding Breath– Alternate Nostril Breath

• Time In– Create Your Own

Affirmation– Watching Yourself On TV– Muscle Test Experiment

for Positive and Negative Thinking

• Games– Eye Stretches– Brain Massage– Fly Like a Butterfly– Drink Water– Stop the Rock Game

• Yoga in Your Chair– Head and Neck

Stretches– Chair Twist– Forward Bend– Arching Back– Camel– Blown Palm– Puppy Dog holding

back of Chair– Crescent holding back

of chair– Standing River– Standing Pigeon

CompletionYoga Tools to seal in your learning and leave in a

balanced, healthy state.

• Breathing– Bunny Breath– Elephant Breath

• Time-In– Listening to Music– Awakening Gratitude

to Hashem– Guiding Star

• Games – Washing Out-Tapping

In– Jazzy Jam– Pass the Squeeze– Circle of Friends

• Yoga to End the Day– Sitting Twist– River– Rocking Horse– Bridge– Hug Knees into Chest– Lying Twist– Constructive Rest

• Yoga at Your Desk– Rag Doll– Twisting Star– Frog– Mountain– Standing Shark– Warrior– Yoga Hops– Down Dog– Twisting Dragon– Candle– Rocking Horse