Trauma-Informed Yoga and Mindfulness Practices

to Promote Student Resiliency 

Today, approximately 72% of youth in the United States have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lives (National Association of School Psychologists). This means that educators every day have students coming into their classrooms carrying heavy burdens. In order for educators to help students meet the expectations of Iowa Core, it is important for them to understand the significant effects that trauma has on a child and how this manifests in the classroom.

This course also aims to support teachers and educators in providing tools and strategies to supporting students in their classrooms who may have experienced trauma.

This course is designed to help teachers and educational staff create classrooms and school environments that encourage and promote student resiliency, as well as physical movement, through the practice of yoga and mindfulness.

• Participants will develop an understanding of the effects of trauma on a student’s body, brain and overall well-being. 

• They will also learn how yoga/movement and mindfulness activities, as well as other strategies, can be used with students in a way that helps promote the building of resilience to mitigate the effects of traumatic experiences. 

• This will be achieved through a series of discussions, physical movement, breathing exercises, games/activities, and reflections.

• Educators will reflect on their own past experiences and how that impacts the educational environment they create for students. 

• Lastly, educators will expand their understanding of how to avoid re-traumatizing through a mindful approach of being aware of their language, environment, and their own teacher qualities.

Outcomes & Objectives

1. Participants will demonstrate their understanding of the 3 R's of Trauma-Informed practices (Realize, Resilience, Respond) through active participation in the course.

2. Participants will reflect on trauma-informed yoga/mindfulness practices that can be implemented  with their students demonstrated through the implementation of a lesson plan.

3. Participants will be able to utilize strategies of yoga and mindfulness to promote student resilience through the practices of the Modalities of Mindfulness (movement, breathing techniques, meditations, and self-exploration activities); demonstrated through the creation of a Modality of Mindfulness classroom action plan.

4. Participants will demonstrate an understanding of the effects of trauma, avoiding re-traumatization and promoting resiliency in their students through active participation and a final reflection assignment.

Required Materials:

This course requires the use of course manual containing information needed throughout the course. The course manual can be purchased through the use of the following link: Manual https://www.challengetochangeinc.com/product-page/required-trauma-course-manual

Optional Materials:

In addition, participants may want the use of optional materials references throughout the course. These materials can be purchased using the following link:

Optional Materials Bundle Pack https://www.challengetochangeinc.com/product-page/required-trauma-continuing-education-course-manual-optional-materials