This fortnight the Headstart team would like to remind staff in schools the power of taking a deep breath!
In a busy school day it can be really difficult to find moments of self-care for yourself and keep yourself more grounded and less overwhelmed. Our own breath is a powerful tool in transforming our physical and mental wellbeing. By taking a slow, deep breath it tells our nervous system that we are safe and enables us to feel calmer and more relaxed. This supports us in managing the demands on us.
When we feel stressed and overwhelmed this is reflected in our breath which is likely to be short and shallow. This means we are in the sympathetic part of our nervous systems driving the fight and flight response. If we can take a moment to check in with ourselves and take a few longer, slower, deep breaths this triggers the parasympathetic nervous system promoting the calmer feelings of rest.
Take a few moments for yourself now to try this breathing exercise, you are worth the deep breath!
take a deep breath (youtube.com)
Using the breath as a calming/soothing tool for yourself is available to you all of the time and is a useful self-regulation tool. It also helps us to role model health coping strategies to the children and young people around us.
Published: February 9