As part of Head Start’s ongoing efforts to empower our students with many tools to improve their emotional health, we will be introducing Bee Mindful: Yoga and Mindfulness techniques for the classroom. Offered weekly, we will help students learn to use their breath and bodies to invite calm when feeling stressed. Children will be taught to “Use your mind to listen to your body and chose how you want to respond to the things going on around you.”

In addition to the physical health benefits of Yoga, mindfulness can also help children slow their heart rate and trigger a relaxation response when experiencing overwhelming emotions. This response allows for self-regulation and clearer thinking. Practicing these techniques during non-stressful times is essential to each student’s ability to use mindfulness techniques to reduce stress responses effectively. Your integration of these techniques into everyday classroom activities is much appreciated and will undoubtedly benefit your students.