Breath & mindfulness training for schools.
Teaching evidence-based techniques to help children handle stress, self-regulate emotions and reduce anxiety.¹
Gym class for the mind
Good health and wellbeing practices are vital for learning (and living). Research shows mindful breathing can improve prosocial behaviour, develop emotional regulation, increase resilience and academic performance. This can then positively impact physical and mental wellbeing, personal relationships and education. 1(Gouda, Luong, Schmidt and Bauer, 2016) Gouda, S., Luong, M. T., Schmidt, S., & Bauer, J. (2016). Students and teachers benefit from Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in a school-embedded pilot study. Frontiers in psychology, 7. // (Fox et al., 2014) Fox, K. C., Nijeboer, S., Dixon, M. L., Floman, J. L., Ellamil, M., Rumak, S. P., … & Christoff, K. (2014). Is meditation associated with altered brain structure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of morphometric neuroimaging in meditation practitioners. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 43, 48-73.
Good for the grey matter.
Mindful breathing functions as a circuit breaker. It helps our nervous system shift from the sympathetic ‘fight or flight’ response to the parasympathetic ‘rest and digest’ response. Evidence suggests that regular breathwork strengthens brain areas related to attention and ‘executive function’. 2 (Keng, Smoski and Robins, 2011) Keng, S. L., Smoski, M. J., & Robins, C. J. (2011). Effects of mindfulness on psychological health: A review of empirical studies. Clinical psychology review, 31(6), 1041-1056. // (Klingbeil et al., 2017) Klingbeil, D. A., Renshaw, T. L., Willenbrink, J. B., Copek, R. A., Chan, K. T., Haddock, A., … & Clifton, J. (2017). Mindfulness-based interventions with youth: A comprehensive meta-analysis of group-design studies. Journal of school psychology, 63, 77-103.
Tools for the classroom & life.
Mindful breathing teaches kids how to shift emotional states. This is a practice that can be used to settle a classroom and foster calm, focussed attention. It’s also an empowering tool to take into everyday life as this kind of breathwork can lessen anxiety and relieve stress. 3 (Fox et al., 2014) Fox, K. C., Nijeboer, S., Dixon, M. L., Floman, J. L., Ellamil, M., Rumak, S. P., … & Christoff, K. (2014). Is meditation associated with altered brain structure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of morphometric neuroimaging in meditation practitioners. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 43, 48-73.
Watch the film
Breathing is simple, but the outcomes are huge.
Mindfulness is a growing field of study resulting in clearer minds, increased emotional awareness and improved focus.
Investing only 6% of the school day in mindful breathing programs is associated with an increase of approximately 16% relative to peers in mental health and academic performance. 4(Gouda, Luong, Schmidt and Bauer, 2016) Gouda, S., Luong, M. T., Schmidt, S., & Bauer, J. (2016). Students and teachers benefit from Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in a school-embedded pilot study. Frontiers in psychology, 7.
What we do.
School Program (6 Weeks)
Our Mindful Breath and Movement program is designed to reduce anxiety and stress, and build resilience in children from Prep to Year 12.
The program gives children the tools to self-regulate emotions, develop greater self-awareness and boost positive mental health and wellbeing.
Program Structure:
Six weeks. 15-20 school children. 1 x trained Breath Circle facilitator.
Weekly sessions run for approximately 45 minutes. In these sessions, we cover a range of mindful breathing techniques, movement practices, sound meditations, self-reflection and positive psychology / gratitude exercises.
Children learn a new mindful breathing technique each week and complete a daily practice with teachers in the classroom and with parents at home.
Our parent meeting includes:
A guided mindful breathing and relaxation practice.
Breath Circle film screening.
Breath Awareness – introduction to mindful breathing techniques.
Integration support for home practice with children.
Mindful Parenting 101 – introduction to relationship building with children.
Tips for creating a peaceful home environment.
Program Aims:
To maximise the feelings of safety and wellbeing.
To minimise the symptoms of anxiety, stress and overwhelm now and in the future.
To teach early intervention strategies.
To build emotional awareness and resilience.
To empower children to self-regulate their emotions.
To teach children Mindful Breathing exercises they can use for life.
To build an inner strength and resilience to enable children to cope with life challenges.
For children to use a range of accessible tools to support positive mental health.
To empower children by teaching them how to self-calm.
To develop emotional intelligence skills and grow self-awareness.
Children Learn:
Basic science behind Mindful Breathing, how it supports the brain and nervous system to decrease stress and anxiety.
A variety of accessible Mindful Breath and Movement tools and practices to integrate into daily life.
Basic understanding of poly-vagal theory and the stress response.
Emotional-awareness, understanding triggers for stress and how to calm down when feeling stressed.
To recognise the physical symptoms of stress and anxiety and how to self regulate utilising somatic tools and practices.
Understanding the worrying monkey mind and how it affects our contentment and happiness.
Creating a balanced, enjoyable lifestyle including lots of restoration time and space to be creative and spontaneous.
Teacher Training
Our Teacher Training offers professional development to staff increasing mental-health and wellbeing by fostering connection, resilience and self-regulation.
We aim to build confidence in teaching mindful breathing in the classroom, resulting in support for children with stress and anxiety.
Includes:
Facilitation skills – Authentic Teaching & Mindful Leadership.
Breath Awareness – Mindful Breathing Techniques.
Anatomy and Physiology of Breathing.
Youth Mental Health – how to build resilience.
Trauma-informed, Strength-Based Approach.
Structure and Format – Teaching Mindful Breathing.
Integration of Resources.
Parent participation – engaging caregivers for successful integration.
Teaching Toolkit – Brain Breaks and Circuit Breakers.
Resources – lesson plan, teaching and learning model, worksheets, universal script, agreements, audio, video, electronic resources.
Words from the schools...
Beata Heymann
Founder
Beata is a youth-mindfulness specialist. Her programs are built from an intimate understanding of the challenges, trauma, stress and anxiety faced by young people and their families.
She has over ten years experience working in the community and not-for profit sector in Melbourne with at-risk youth for Save The Children at Cubbies (Fitzroy Adventure Playground). Beata lectures for the Australian Yoga Academy, teaches kids yoga training and is qualified in various trauma-informed practices.
Breath Circle is a culmination of her expert skills and passions, and has been successfully implemented in schools across regional Victoria.
What I Do
- Lecturer for Australian Yoga Academy’s Advanced Yoga Teacher Training.
- Yin and Sound healing workshops.
- Yoga for Anxiety courses.
- 950 hours of training in Yoga, Trauma-Informed practices, Breath-work and Sound.
Resources & references
Recommended reading to see how breathwork and mindfulness is being utilised throughout the world.
Dr Nadine Burke Harris
“Giving children the tools to understand how to recognize what’s going on with them, then how to respond—especially to be able to calm their bodies down—truly is healing.”
Dr Stephen Porges
Also known as the social engagement system, the ventral vagal network runs upward from the diaphragm area to the brain stem, crossing over nerves in the lungs, neck, throat, and eyes. Actions involving these parts of the body — including deep breaths, gargling, humming, or even social cues like smiling or making eye contact with someone — send messages to the brain that it’s okay to relax.
Mick Fanning
“Breathwork is critical. You can change your moods, your thought patterns, just by concentrating on breath … and the better you breathe, the better you perform.”
References…
¹Gouda, S., Luong, M. T., Schmidt, S., & Bauer, J. (2016). Students and teachers benefit from Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in a school-embedded pilot study. Frontiers in psychology, 7.
²Fox, K. C., Nijeboer, S., Dixon, M. L., Floman, J. L., Ellamil, M., Rumak, S. P., … & Christoff, K. (2014). Is meditation associated with altered brain structure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of morphometric neuroimaging in meditation practitioners. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 43, 48-73.
³Keng, S. L., Smoski, M. J., & Robins, C. J. (2011). Effects of mindfulness on psychological health: A review of empirical studies. Clinical psychology review, 31(6), 1041-1056.
4Klingbeil, D. A., Renshaw, T. L., Willenbrink, J. B., Copek, R. A., Chan, K. T., Haddock, A., … & Clifton, J. (2017). Mindfulness-based interventions with youth: A comprehensive meta-analysis of group-design studies. Journal of school psychology, 63, 77-103.