Macon Magazine

learning," said Haberlin, whose role at Wesleyan is to help prepare future teachers for coping with life inside and outside of the classroom. "I examine ways to embed contemplative practices, such as mindfulness and meditation, into this preparation, through classroom activities, assignments and projects. is provides education majors with practical self-care, awareness-based techniques but also helps them see how they might share these practices with their students," Haberlin said. Haberlin's continued research and practical application echoes Andrade's efforts. "With the recent pandemic and massive shifts in the education system model, I believe practices like mindfulness, yoga and breath work are more important and relevant than ever. Teachers and students need ways to ground themselves and manage stress and negative emotions," Haberlin said. Middle Georgia Regional Educational Services Agency (RESA) began working with Andrade by incorporating mindful breathing into its social and emotional learning series, just as COVID-19 hit in early March. As stated on its website, RESA serves stakeholders in developing knowledge, skills and best practices in order to build capacity for district effectiveness and school improvement to support student achievement. "Anxiety, fear and worry was incredibly prevalent in our teachers with the onset of COVID-19. ere was such an abrupt shift in instruction and everything being dealt with in the classroom setting was both foreign and uncharted," said Lara Sims, president, Georgia Association for Positive Behavior Support School Climate Specialist for RESA. "We provided ABCBreathe's resources online for the teachers in our districts and it was incredibly well received. It was a powerful to witness educators experience the importance of these practices first hand, truly embracing this form of self-management and then actively implementing it for their students. It was such an act of first responder's mentality, care for yourself first and then aid those in need around you." Sims, who has hired Andrade to teach mindful breathing in 10 schools in Middle Georgia, explained how serendipitous the timing was to introduce mindful breathing and the significant impact it has had for RESA staff, teachers and students alike. "You can't have self-management without self-awareness and that kind of emotional maturity is difficult for adults, let alone young students who already struggle with being able to articulate how they feel. Teachers have expressed that this drives them to be intentional with their own positive thought and positive self-talk, and therefore they are able to build an environment of social awareness in the classroom, whether that be virtual or in-person," said Sims. A national movement Cities all across the country, both urban and rural, have begun to hone in on mindful breathing. Misbehaving students at Warner Arts Magnet Elementary School in Nashville, Tenn., are sent to a "BeWell" room in lieu of a typical reprimand. It's in this room that a yoga-certified teacher assists students in deep breathing exercises in order to check in with themselves and their emotions. In Grand Blanc, Mich., the school district has incorporated mindful breathing into its curriculum and even gone so far as to have it as a part of the Grand Blanc Schools Strategic Plan for 2018-2023. Based on the book "My Magic Breath" by Nick Ortner, the Chicago Public Library recently debuted a mindful breathing video online for children ages 4-8. e video is a collaboration between the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Children's eatre and narrated by Chicago's LOTUS BREATH Bring your palms together in front of your heart. Press your pinky sides together, your thumb sides together. Expand the rest of your fingers away from each other to resemble a lotus flower. Inhale, raise your lotus flower up as you straighten your arms. Exhale, release your hands out to the sides, keeping your arms straight, then returning your hands back to a lotus flower in front of your heart. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020 | maconmagazine.com 53

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