ATTENTION educators
Help Your Students’ Education Thrive
Mindfulness & Movement Curriculum
Conscious Classroom® is an evidence-based 7th through 12th-grade Social-Emotional Wellness program that provides students–in partnership with their educators and parents–with the tools they need to move away from anxiety and stress towards emotion regulation, self-control, increased concentration, and agency over their education. With just one click, the universal tier-one instruction is educator-ready.
GET MODULE 1: BREATHWORK FOR FREE
Breathwork
Breathing is involuntary. We don’t need to think about it, so most of the time we don’t. In yoga when we use specific exercises to control breathing, it’s called breathwork, or in Sanskrit, pranayama. Prana translates to life force and Ayama translates to our co-participation. The way it works is simple.
History
At some point in history, human beings asked themselves this question. When our ancestors transitioned from living as nomadic hunter-gatherers to settling down in villages, they began making major advances such as farming, irrigation, and what would later become writing.
Philosophy
Yoga is a series of physical, mental, and spiritual practices that originated in ancient India, aimed at quieting the mind. The poses and postures denoted by the word “yoga” were originally developed to stretch one’s muscles in order to sit in meditation longer. The goal was never—and still isn’t—competition or body sculpting. The goal is simply mindfulness and mind-body awareness, which helps us take charge and design our lives exactly the way we want them!
The eight-limbed path of yoga
About 1,800 years ago in ancient India, a sage by the name of Pata jali wrote the Yoga Sutras, the essential text on yoga philosophy. It’s wisdom has proved timeless, especially in a world filled with distractions and social pressures. The text is a clear guide on the path out of pain and suffering, as well as a tool for mastering the mind. Pata jali outlined the Eight Limbs of Yoga as guidelines for living a meaningful and purposeful life.
Mindfulness and Meditation
Our minds love to think. They take their job very seriously, a little too seriously sometimes. Overthinking is human nature, but it can be problematic, especially when we’re trying to concentrate or be present in the moment. Elevated stress levels, reduced creativity, clouded judgment, and decreased ability to make decisions are all the result of thinking too much. Since we’ve evolved to evaluate everything in our environment in order to stay safe, it’s normal to follow our thoughts as our minds go chattering merrily on their way.
Me and My Brain
The most valuable organ in our bodies weighs about three pounds. It is responsible for communication between our systems, organs, muscles, and bones.
Neurotransmitters
As you are reading this, minding your own business, innumerable chemical reactions are occurring inside your brain. These reactions transport very important messages! The nerve cells inside your brain called neurons are responsible for sending these messages. Your growth and development and your feelings of joy, sleep, and even love are dependent on the messages being delivered.
The systems of the body
The most valuable organ in our bodies weighs about three pounds. It is responsible for communication between our systems, organs, muscles, and bones. At the same time as being in constant communication with our bodies, it’s also interpreting information from the outside world.
Energy and the Body
Your energy is precious. It’s a valuable commodity. Especially when you’re sick or over-tired — it’s the thing you want more than anything — so you can get back to doing the things you love to do. The study of yoga is the study of energy in your body. Your yoga practice can bring more awareness to your energy centers, help you harness energy, and strengthen it. Become a master of your own energy today!
Senses and Elements
Can you remember an important moment in your life in crystal clear detail? Do you remember the sound of someone’s voice, the outfit you were wearing, the color of your surroundings, or even the smell of a specific detergent or perfume? Our brains hold onto sensory data — this is how we remember things. Our sensory connection to the world — be it aural, visual, textural, and so on — can be a powerful tool to bring us into the present moment, building upon our conscious awareness and keeping us mindful.
Poses
You’re learning to manage your energy at the same time as learning to discipline your mind and body. You will experience some aspect of mindfulness every time you practice a pose (or asana). Even if you hold the pose for just a few moments, you will go through the full range of balance and strength, concentration and breathwork. It’s up to you how much effort you put into your practice. Circle poses that look right for you. Pick any pose from our Conscious Classroom pose card deck to experience mindful movement in your body and have fun!
The Journal
We hope you’ve explored the previous modules and are starting to gain a stronger understanding of yourself, your potential, and your own worth. You have so much to offer the world! Our desire is that you can settle into yourself enough to begin asking deeper questions: “Why am I here? What is my purpose? What is the point of it all?”
