Visualization is a powerful strategy! Last weekend in B4C training, we were instructed to take a comfortable seat or to lie down on our mats. The instructor led us in a visualization activity while we were encouraged to pay close attention to our breathing. I really enjoyed this experience. I felt all my worries drift away with the breeze as I was relaxing in the hot sun on a tropical island all alone in tranquility. In fact, after a 10 hour training and 2 hour drive home, my husband was shocked to see that I wasn't tired because I am normally dragging my heels around 7 and in bed by 8pm. LOL...It had to do with all the meditation and breathing exercises I was forced to do! It made a huge difference in how I felt! So naturally I wanted to implement this in my classroom right away! Anytime I have great news or a fun idea, I just can't wait to share it with my kiddos!
So, the next day, I went into the classroom and I decided to implement the visualization and breathing exercise before starting a task. The first day, I felt great! I know the kids were a little weirded out. LOL...there was giggling and awkwardness, but they were good sports. The second day, went much better! I set it up a little different. I told them to close their eyes and just envision their day. I asked them to think about all the things they had to do today: How do you see your day going? Only you are in control of your responses and actions so how will your day go today when you are in math class? at break with your friends? What will you eat today? Are you going to make healthy decisions with your eating habits today? How can you brighten someone's day? What will you do if you see someone alone? ...basically, I asked them questions to visualize their day overall. I ended the visualization with reminding them that their day starts with the first task I was about to assign. Afterwards, I had them take some deep breaths in and out. When they opened their eyes, it was like a huge transformation right in front of me!!!!! It was crazy! The kids just looked so peaceful and serene. We went right into the lesson and I cannot even express enough what a positive experience it was for me and them.
Later during lunch, a student came up to me and told me she complemented someone and she felt good about doing that.
I am super stoked! Even though I knew the benefits of visualization and breathing exercises, taking time to go through a program that provides the reminder, insights, and tools was so needed!! With the standards, to do lists, and accommodations, testing, schedules, and everything else we, teachers, have to remember to cram into 52 minute periods, it is so easy to overlook things like meditation, but when we take time to speak to our students' souls and care for their well being first, everything else falls into place.
Some helpful links I found:
1. 7 Visualization Techniques to Calm Your Anxious Mind
2. Guided Meditation
3. 10 Calming Breathing Techniques for Kids