Sun SalutationYoga is a great way to start the week. It helps to stretch and wake up your body – and also your mind! When you do yoga, you pay attention to your breath and your body. You notice how your breath and body feel right now. Whatever you notice is OK.
People have been exercising their bodies and minds with yoga for thousands of years. Yoga can help people feel less stressed out, sad, or worried. And yoga can also help make your body stronger and healthy. It can make you more flexible, make your balance better, give you a straighter posture, and stronger muscles – and it can even help your body fight germs better so that you don’t get sick as often. The best part about yoga is that most anyone can do the basic poses! |
Deep BreathingPracticing deep breathing trains concentration and awareness, and it can help us calm down and settle. The breath is always with us, and it can be an anchor to the present moment. Once you learn to pay attention to the breath, it is something you can practice almost anywhere and anytime.
Practice deep breathing by following along with this helpful GIF -> |
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Tree PoseTree pose is a yoga pose where you stand like a tall strong tree. Tree pose teaches us about balance and concentrating. It also teaches us to stay grounded in the earth while we also reach for the sky at the same time.
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Setting Healthy IntentionsMonday morning is a fresh start. It’s a great time to decide how you would like to feel and be this week, this day, and even during class time. That’s called setting an intention. Maybe you would like to feel relaxed and deal with stressful things in a calm way. Maybe you would like to be curious and try new things. Maybe you would like to be friendly and spend time with new friends. When we think about how we want to be, it sometimes helps us to be that way. This brief recording can help you practice setting an intention.
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Listening To The RainSometimes just paying close attention to the world around us gives a chance to settle ourselves and may even help us think more positively. For example, when it’s raining, we might feel disappointed because we’ll get wet if we go outside or maybe we’re not allowed to go outside. But, if you start to pay attention to the rain itself, it can become very interesting and even relaxing. Here is a guided practice that lets you practice paying attention to rain:
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Single-Pointed ConcentrationIf you find yourself in need of a quiet, slow moment amidst a storm of chaos and noise, single-pointed concentration might be a great solution.
This Monday, take a moment to slow down, focus on a single point, and reduce your stress while training your brain. |
Unwind This Monday With The 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding TechniqueStress and anxiety are often the biggest obstacles when it comes to important moments in our lives. While situations such as taking a big test or performing in a sports competition can be exciting and positive experiences, without proper stress management, the fear of failure and need for success can have a negative impact on not only the results, but our long-term health.
That’s where the 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique comes in, as it is designed to ease your state of mind so that you can get through stressful moments. The goal with this exercise is to use the five senses to focus on the moment and avoid multiple anxious thoughts that can get in the way of your progress. |
Habit-Stack Your Way To A More Relaxed MondayWhat is habit-stacking?
The idea behind habit stacking is simple: add a new behavior to your daily schedule by “stacking it” on top of an existing habit. Pairing the concept of habit stacking with a cup of hot cocoa this Monday will make you proactive in adding more calming and meditative behaviors to your daily schedule. For example, while you make your hot cocoa in the morning, with habit stacking, the time you wait for your cocoa to finish can also be the time you spend practicing a mindful meditation or deep breathing exercises. |
Square BreathingThis Monday, try square breathing when you need to take a moment to settle down.
Square breathing is a great way to refocus your mind if you’ve been having a hectic day. Multitasking and busy schedules can be demanding on your brain and leave you in a fog. It’s important to take a brief break and clear your head before diving back into business as usual. |
Boost Your Energy With A Dance BreakNot only is dancing good for your body, it’s also been proven to be a great mood booster and stress-reliever. Dancing can also improve your balance, muscle strength, and endurance, as well as boost your self-esteem, energy levels, and overall well-being. Plus, dancing just makes you happy to be alive and can be more fun than other forms of exercise like running because you can either choose to do it with other people or all alone in front of your mirror! So what are you waiting for? Get moving!
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