After World Mental Health Day, OLA students began participating in Mindful Mondays once a month in their classrooms. They began with guided meditations and body scans. The goal of both methods of relaxation is to relieve stress and anxiety and to achieve mental, emotional and physical well-being. Deep breathing is most important when working on any mindfulness activity. It can be done anywhere and anytime, and anyone can do it. It’s also free! More importantly, deep breathing can quickly change a stress response into a relaxation response.
York Region Public Health recommends doing the Take Five Breathing Exercise with your child.
Step 1: Start with one hand. Stretch your fingers out like a star.
Step 2: With your other hand, use your pointer finger to trace the hand that is stretched out.
Step 3: Trace your hand. Slowly slide up one side and down the other side of each finger.
Step 4: Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.
Step 5: Now put the last two steps together. Breathe in through your nose as you trace up one finger and breathe out through your mouth as you trace down. Keep going until you have finished tracing your hand.
As well, check out this YouTube video: How to Meditate in a Moment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6eFFCi12v8
Mindful Monday was January 13th. Students participated in Mindful Colouring to help relieve stress.
A special thank you to Mrs. Galloro, our Healthy Schools Champion for preparing Mental Health activities for staff and students.
For more information on mental health, please visit york.ca/healthyschools