Loudonville Elementary School - Teachers 3-26-10

Conducted an introductory seminar of one hour for 24 staff of Loudonville Elementary School including the principal in March 2010. 

This followed the request of the principal Kerry Flynn who got positive comments from the students, teachers and parents of the sixth graders who were given a 15 minute exposure to ‘Focusing on breathing’ at the Albany Hindu Temple a few months before. 

The seminar participants were practically introduced to three modes of ‘Focusing on breathing’ and asked to lie down on the floor and practice any of the modes for about 20 minutes.

Feedback from all the 24 participants was collected in writing on the following issues. The summary of their responses is presented below.

The seminar was

Excellent (x15)

Very Good (x5)

Good (x4)

I will use this technique to relieve my ….

Anxiety

Anxiety-Stress both on the job and personal

Busy mind at bed time

Daily stress

Job stress – I will use this in my class when my students are doing state testing

Motion sickness and vertigo

Migraines

Stress with my family

Stress and student anxiety

Stress

Stress/Sleepiness

Stress and Headaches

Stress/ Hard times in life

Stress of daughter teething

Stress/ Obesity

To relax

Tension headaches & Hot flashes

Comments and suggestions about the seminar

It was great

Great ideas

Good suggestions for starting focus on breathing as relaxation

Wonderful opportunity to relax

Wonderful class!

Very calming

Interesting! Logical! helpful!

Very relaxing

It was difficult for me to relax but eventually I became relaxed

I liked the simplicity of the relaxation methods

Offered very practical techniques for relaxing that I am eager to incorporate into my life

I loved this class! Instructor was very relaxing. I will use his voice when doing the relaxation techniques.

Excellent. I want to share this with my family. Especially with my children. What a gift this is to teach young children how to manage stress early.

I am excited to share these techniques with my loved ones. Really enjoyed the experience.

I suggest to play some quiet music during the floor exercises (when lying down on the   floor and practicing the relaxation) and use some incense as well.

I suggest to include more examples of teachers using these techniques

Relevant pages

Meditation workshops at schools and colleges