Self-Regulation, Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, and Self-Management
Breathe and Stretch on the Beach
Sharing Breathe and Stretch with Corkscrew 5th grade students. Sorry for the loud recess happening in beginning.
Breathe & Stretch demonstration with daughter, Erica.
Dear Powerful You Educators,
I was fortunate to work with my husband, Eric Frizzi, during my teaching years. The children loved physical education days guided by this inspiring teacher. I wasn’t sure what games he played or skills he taught, but children returned to my class happy and ready to learn. It proved to be the optimal time to teach a difficult lesson.
Classroom Sign to be used with the book Breathe and Stretch on the Beach.
When I became a school counselor, I found myself observing his physical education class and discovering why his instruction had a positive effect on children. I took his ideas and added what I learned from my yoga teacher training to write the book Breathe and Stretch on the Beach.
Physical education teachers keeping everyone engaged.
Breathe and Stretch on the Beach is a non-competitive listening game that encourages movement, listening, and relaxation. Children use the positive self-talk (talking in the head) during each pose. Florida wildlife is entwined throughout the book to encourage the respect of Florida’s natural beauty. This powerful “brain break” book can bring a little sunshine into a classroom at any time of the year – rain, snow, or shine. Here are three ways you can use this simple book:
Starfish Stretch from the box Breathe and Stretch on the Beach - Be still and let your body relax.
School News - Lead your whole school in one breathe and stretch lesson.
Individual, Group, or Classroom Guidance Lesson - Use this book to get the wiggles out and create a calm setting before your social emotional lesson. With this book, you promote self-awareness, self-regulation, problem-solving skills, and self-management.
Yoga Club Try something new with these handy tips.
Determine location– Any quiet area
Set time – Start simple – 1 morning a week for 15 minutes.
Choose catchy name- Emotion Regulation Room, Breathe & Stretch Club, Emotion Literacy Lab
Decorate area– low/twinkle lights, flameless candles
Collect permission slips/inform parents – Choosing students requires a permission slip. Offering to whole school allows a letter of information sent to all students.
Purchase mats & mat cleaner
Locate sound system/portable speaker
Choose free music- Powerful You/Spotify
Purchase transition chime - Signals silence
Share aroma therapy- Be aware of allergies
Review Breathe & Stretch Etiquette
Study & Practice Breathe & Stretch on the Beach Book
Create Patterns - Combine poses while teaching kids to flow with their breath
Add modification tools- Scarves, tennis balls, hula hoops, parachutes, and beach balls add fun and movement
Reach Out - E-mail me at juliefrizzi17@gmail.com. for questions.
Practice self-care– Practice yoga, eat healthy, get plenty of rest, and drink water
Much gratitude and appreciation,
Julie Frizzi
Breathe and Stretch on the Beach is an interactive listening and movement game that helps children build focus, confidence, calmness, and self-awareness through playful stretching and positive self-talk. Designed for ages 3 and up, this engaging resource can be used in the classroom, counseling groups, therapy settings, or at home by teachers, counselors, parents, and caregivers.
After learning the beach-themed poses, a leader calls out poses in any order, encouraging participants to listen carefully, move mindfully, and practice deep breathing, stretching, and relaxation. Children stay engaged while developing important social-emotional and self-regulation skills in a fun, active way.
Participants will:
Understand and practice controlled breathing
Respect personal space by moving safely without touching others
Strengthen self-control using nonverbal communication
Improve focus and attention
Increase self-awareness
Replace negative self-talk with positive self-talk
Build joy, strength, gratitude, and confidence
Each pose is paired with empowering affirmations so children can embody positive mindsets as they move. Examples include:
Coconut Tree, Eagle, Airplane – I am focused
Sports Boat, Charge Your Battery, Flying Fish – I am full of energy
Hurricane – I step aside for others
Crab – I let my light shine
Paddleboard – I am responsible for what I say, think, and do
Breathe and Stretch on the Beach is a joyful way to help children move their bodies, calm their minds, and grow strong from the inside out.
Deep, controlled breathing stimulates the brain and sends a message to your body to calm down. You can add specialized stretches and your classroom will burst with creativity, focus, and a “ready to learn” energy.
“Breathing - The most valuable tool you can teach a child to use during stressful situations!”
BREATHE
You take about 17,000 unconscious breaths per day. Research has found that mindful breath work is an effective tool to combat anxiety, depression, and stress. Your breathing patterns can influence the emotions you experience each day.
STRETCH
How does it feel to sit all day without an opportunity to move? Is your brain “ready to learn?” How is your posture? Can you feel pains in your shoulders and neck from too much time on your computer?
SELF-TALK
Did you know that you have over 75,000 thoughts a day? 60,000 of those are automatic, and of those automatic thoughts 50,000 are negative. Is it possible to change your negative thoughts to positive?
You Can Learn How to Breathe & Stretch in the Classroom
Explore the Powerful You Educator Resources:
The Powerful You Elementary Counselor Kit was created to keep your favorite Powerful You tools together in one easy-to-carry bag so you are always ready to support students.
Perfect for School counselors, educators, interventionists, and student support teams.
What’s Included
Intermediate Bundle (Grades 2+)
Powerful You Book
26 8.5×11 Laminated Role-Playing Cards
26 Classroom Skill Signs
Primary Bundle (Grades K–1)
26 8.5×11 Laminated Role-Playing Cards
26 Classroom Skill Signs
Digital Resources
26 Primary Brag Tags
26 Social & Emotional Thinking Maps for writing
Free online Breathe & Stretch videos
26 Primary videos
26 Intermediate videos
Mindfulness & Regulation Tools
Breathe and Stretch on the Beach Yoga activities (Grades K+)
Laminated Breathe and Stretch Sign
Tennessee Transition Chime
Feelings Chart
Powerful You Feelings Bag
Counseling & Life Change Support
Self-Talk Power When You’re in a Pickle
5-Step problem-solving guide for individual counseling (Grades 3+)Powerful You In the Middle Cookie Game
Supports changing family groups/divorce transitions (Grades K+)
Bonus Items
50 “I Am” stickers
Why Counselors Love It
Grab-and-go support kit
Ready for classroom lessons or counseling groups
Helps students regulate emotions
Builds confidence and self-talk
Supports divorce, transitions, and problem solving
Saves prep time for busy counselors
Perfect For
Elementary school counselors
MTSS / SEL support teams
Teachers
Small groups
Individual counseling
Calm corners
One Kit. Many Needs. Real Impact.
The Powerful You Elementary Counselor Kit helps children build coping skills, confidence, emotional vocabulary, and resilience in fun, meaningful ways.
Powerful You is a grab-and-go counseling resource designed to make group and classroom counseling simple, meaningful, and effective. Packed with 26 short, easy-to-use themed lessons, this book helps counselors, educators, and support staff guide students through important life topics with confidence and care.
Each lesson begins with a true story that reflects real challenges children face, followed by engaging turn-and-talk prompts that encourage student reflection, discussion, and connection. Inspiring quotes, hands-on activities, and practical tips are also included for optional lesson extensions.
Created by a school counselor with more than 35 years of experience listening to and supporting children, these lessons align with ASCA National Standards and explore sensitive school and home issues through a child’s perspective. Powerful You gives adults ready-to-use tools to build emotional awareness, resilience, communication skills, and confidence in students.
To bring each lesson to life, companion Powerful You laminated role-playing cards and colorful classroom signs are also available separately. These engaging tools correspond with every lesson and provide an interactive way for students to practice skills, deepen understanding, and reinforce key concepts.
Powerful You Primary (Kindergarten–Grade 1) is a colorful, hand-illustrated social-emotional learning resource designed to help young children find guidance, encouragement, and support for challenges they may experience at school or at home. Created from more than 30 years of educational experience, this engaging tool brings comfort, confidence, and joy to early learners.
Available as a book or laminated role-play card set, Powerful You Primary gives educators, counselors, and families flexible ways to teach essential life skills in fun and meaningful ways. Each lesson uses storytelling to capture attention and strengthen learning through role-playing, movement, thinking maps, games, and positive self-talk.
Children meet the 26 A–Z Powerful You Kids, memorable characters who model positive behaviors and healthy choices. For example, G – Goodsport Grady teaches teamwork and pitching in. Other lessons focus on honesty, independence, self-esteem, responsibility, taking turns, waiting to speak, ignoring distractions, and more.
Lessons align with ASCA National Standards developed by American School Counselor Association, making this a valuable resource for classroom guidance, school counseling lessons, small groups, and home support. Powerful You Primary helps transform classrooms and home environments by teaching social skills proactively and addressing concerns such as bullying at the core.
Companion Classroom Social Skill Signs that match every A–Z lesson are also available separately to reinforce learning visually throughout the day.
Created by an educator who has supported children for over 30 years, Powerful You Primary helps children build skills in:
Problem-solving
Teamwork
Listening
Self-confidence
Friendship skills
Emotional awareness
Respect
Responsibility
Breathe and Stretch on the Beach is an interactive listening and movement game that helps children build focus, confidence, calmness, and self-awareness through playful stretching and positive self-talk. Designed for ages 3 and up, this engaging resource can be used in the classroom, counseling groups, therapy settings, or at home by teachers, counselors, parents, and caregivers.
After learning the beach-themed poses, a leader calls out poses in any order, encouraging participants to listen carefully, move mindfully, and practice deep breathing, stretching, and relaxation. Children stay engaged while developing important social-emotional and self-regulation skills in a fun, active way.
Participants will:
Understand and practice controlled breathing
Respect personal space by moving safely without touching others
Strengthen self-control using nonverbal communication
Improve focus and attention
Increase self-awareness
Replace negative self-talk with positive self-talk
Build joy, strength, gratitude, and confidence
Each pose is paired with empowering affirmations so children can embody positive mindsets as they move. Examples include:
Coconut Tree, Eagle, Airplane – I am focused
Sports Boat, Charge Your Battery, Flying Fish – I am full of energy
Hurricane – I step aside for others
Crab – I let my light shine
Paddleboard – I am responsible for what I say, think, and do
Breathe and Stretch on the Beach is a joyful way to help children move their bodies, calm their minds, and grow strong from the inside out.
NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT? WE ALSO PROVIDE TRAININGS FOR EDUCATORS, WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS