Practice It First: Counting the Breath With Children
When my dad was dying, I had a traumatic experience: I got a flat tire on a busy highway in Ohio.
Ever since that day, I’ve made sure to have roadside assistance when I travel. Simply knowing I have the resources to handle a problem helps me feel safer and less stressed—even if I never need to use them.
Recent research suggests that yoga can support us in a similar way. Through yoga, we develop inner resources—breathing techniques, mindful awareness, and strategies for calming our nervous systems.
That’s one of the many reasons I practice yoga. It gives me tools to manage life’s inevitable curveballs. And sometimes, simply knowing those tools are there is enough to help me breathe more deeply, soften my shoulders, and trust that I can handle what comes next. Children are the same.
PRACTICE IT FIRST
This week’s inner tool: Counting the Breath
Practice it yourself. Notice what happens. Then share it with a child.
🌈 BREATHE • STRETCH • SEL
This simple rhythm is a powerful way to structure your day and your lessons:
1. Breathe – Use breathwork to regulate and ground
2. Stretch – Bring awareness into the body
3. SEL – Teach the life skill through story and connection
You can pair this breathwork with: