M is for Move (Primary)
The brainy bit!
Our bodies are amazing - they take us through our days, our lives, helping us bend, walk, run, dance! Yet, did you know that our bodies & our minds are connected in so many ways, more than we even realise!
Moving Moving Moving
Get this, when we pay attention to our bodies, we can learn a LOT about how we’re feeling! When we focus on BIG sensations & movements it can help us move away from BIG thoughts & feelings! When we focus on LITTLE sensations & gentle movements, it can help us settle & quieten our minds!
Fun things to practice
1. Check out your pulse - 3-ways!
First- find your pulse in your neck or your hand & count how many beats you have in 30seconds! Write this number down. Multiply the number by 2 and you’ve found your resting heartbeat
Second - for 1-minute run on the spot, keep going & don’t stop. Then feel your pulse for 30seconds again! Multiply by two and write this down next to your other score!
Third - now take 1-minute to just sit and breathe, nothing but breathing in, breathing out! Then feel your pulse for 30seconds again, multiply by two & compare this against your other scores, see what you notice!
2. Move like a Helicopter, Sway like a Squid!
Stand tall & strong, with your feet wide. Make sure you have room all around you. Swing your arms like a helicopter from side to side, gently twisting your back with each swing. Pick up the pace & twist away, getting quicker & quicker!
Then gently pause. Breathe in, breathe out. Start to sway from side to side as if you’re a squid in the waves of the sea. Imagine your arms and your legs are the tentacles of the squid and sway gently, smoothly, slowly. Slow down, slow right down until you come to a stop.
3. What’s your favourite way of moving your body? Do you really love cycling? Are you a gymnast? Perhaps you’re good at football or love trampolining? See how many times you can move your body today, perhaps with your family, your friends or by yourself? Make a drawing of all the ways you’ve moved your body this week!
The not-so-small small print
There is none! Simply return to this part of the website daily to get the next part of the practice.. No payment or subscription required. This is a resource we are sharing with all of you through the website and aiming to help our youngsters, in the various stages of their lives. This program contains information and practices that are aimed for two different age groups and we intend to mostly post the primary level information in the morning and the secondary level in the afternoon. Please leave us a comment and let us know how you are getting on or get in touch if you require additional support.
Z is for Zebra, Summer Resilience Program Final Entry (Primary) with thanks to Brene Brown & Greater Good Science Centre at UCLA Berkeley Youth for their ‘zebra’ advice & to Education Scotland for their inspiration for this programme x