Challenging times call for caring and partnership – a powerful combination, according to Healthy Active Learning Advisor Hannah Beatson.
 
Based within the team at Sport Canterbury, Beatson’s role involves support and professional development for primary and intermediate school teachers across the region.
 
Although much of the support relates to activity, movement and physical literacy – resources to support quality health education and promote hauora for teachers and students  – the crisis has given Beatson and her teammates reason to pause.
 
“We have been committed to connecting with schools, keeping pace with changing alert levels and the constantly evolving needs of teachers,” says Beatson.
 
“However we also take responsibility to pause, reflect and think about – what will help to prepare teachers most effectively, for these challenging times?”
 
Beatson’s Healthy Active Learning team approached Mindful Mover, who understand that teachers can be empowered by the chance to pause and think about their own wellbeing and how they’re enhancing this.
 
“Johanna and Erica are the brainpower – and breath – behind Mindful Mover,” Beatson explains. “Their sessions consist of a range of mindfulness techniques and strategies, including movement through stretching, and relaxation through breathing exercises.”
 
Teachers who commit to a four-week programme have access to a weekly 30-minute Zoom session to support their well-being and practice of mindfulness. During these sessions the content of weekly mindfulness for the students will also be discussed. To make implementation as easy as possible, teachers will receive a worksheet for their students that walks them through daily mindfulness exercises including links to a daily video. 

The course was designed in response to the current Covid-19 circumstances with an aim to specifically support teacher wellbeing, with additional resources to keep practising mindfulness throughout their own time. Mindful Mover are also providing short mindfulness videos and worksheets for primary and intermediate school students.

Mindfulness benefits:

• Self-Regulation
• Relaxation and anxiety reduction
• Communication and collaboration
• Confidence and self-esteem
• Body awareness
• Increased ability to cope with set-backs

 “They believe that these mindfulness techniques and strategies will help the teachers with their own wellbeing and will lead to positive connection with their students. It’s about increasing teacher confidence, and taking mindfulness back into the classroom. After all, students learn most positively when we think holistically and teach the whole child."

There are currently fourty primary and intermediate teachers from Canterbury schools involved in the four week Mindfulness course with Mindful Mover.

The Healthy Active Learning team aim to enhance teachers wellbeing through mindfulness each week, with teachers experiencing this to then connect with students and what their students experience when they practice mindfulness. An overall aim to increase teacher confidence and competence to include aspects of mindfulness in their teaching, to enhance wellbeing.

 
For more information about Mindful Mover please visit - Mindful Mover
 
Healthy Active Learning is based on evidence showing children’s nutrition and physical activity are linked to both academic achievement and improved physical and mental health.

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Article updated: Wednesday 29th April