A Video Collection of Short Mind-Body Practices for Our Classrooms, Students, Teachers and Families
By The Mamaroneck Mindful Teaching Group
Refer to these videos as guided practices to play for your students or as examples to spark your own ideas. Some students may wish to listen to these at home.
We would like to thank Chris Willard, Little Flower Yoga, Daniel Rechtschaffen and Mindful Schools, whose work inspired these practices. This collection grew out of collaborative work amongst the Deepening Our Mindful Teaching Study Group: Alexa Kauffman, Dana Forman, Danielle Malizia, Ellen Wollner, Erin Byron, Grayson O'Reilly, Liz Slade, MaryAnn Walkin and Tara Graham Turner. Jesse Dancy provided the technological wizardry that has allowed us to gather these materials.
Imagination Breaths with Ms. Slade's First Graders: Set 1 (3 min)
Mindful movement invented by some wonderful first graders in June of 2018.
Imagination Breaths with Ms. Slade's First Graders: Set 2 (3 min)
Mindful movement invented by some wonderful first graders in June of 2018.
Belly Breathing (3 min)
A simple belly breathing practice for adults or kids of any age.
Heart and Belly Breathing (2 min)
A simple but powerful way to connect with the nourishment of the breath: for all ages.
Super Quick Owl Listening (2 min)
Invite students to be as silent as an owl in the forest: for elementary students.
Owl Mindful Listening (4 min)
Invite students to be as silent as an owl in the forest: for elementary students.
Mindful Listening - Upper Grades (3:30 min)
A calming and steadying practice in focused awareness: for upper grades.
SLOW Breath (1 min)
A quick and wonderful way to find a moment of softening and relaxation: for all ages.
Finger Tapping and Affirmations - Upper Grades (2:30 min)
A practice to reinforce qualities or intentions that are important to us: for upper grades.
Finger Tapping and Affirmations - Younger Grades (2 min)
A practice to reinforce qualities or intentions that are important to us: for younger grades.
Crazy Eights (1 min)
A wonderful way to connect with the body, energize, and have fun: all ages!
Hot Chocolate Breath (1:30 min)
Use visualization and imagination to connect with the power of the breath: younger grades.
Grounding with Gravity: a Body Scan (5 min)
Bring relaxation, ease and awareness to the body: for upper elementary through high school.
SCAN Your Body (1 min)
The Hoberman Sphere can be a useful prop to support a connection with the breath: for elementary grades.
3,2,1 Contact (2:30 min)
A short practice for checking in with your body: all ages.
Seated Body Scan (5 min)
A five-minute body scan: for upper elementary through adult.
7-11 Breath (1 min)
Combine counting with a controlled breathing practice: upper elementary through high school.
SCAN Your Body (2 min)
Short relaxation and body awareness practice: for all ages.
Extended Mindfulness Meditation (20 min)
An extended meditation and visualization: for upper grades and adults.