THEME: “CONNECTION AND COURAGE”

WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER.

Welcome to your wellbeing programme. This month is focusing on building up connection and courage in times of challenge just like we are experiencing right now.

We have been unexpectedly launched into sudden changes and shifts in many areas of our lives, and have been expected to just get on with it. This has been testing us even at the best of times, and has been made especially harder not being able to see friends or relatives to help calm our nerves.

So this month, we want to focus on supporting you through the challenging times you might be facing together with your family around you. Now is a time to encourage connection and working as team to support each other whether that be your friends, family, or community, and to provide that all important reassurance we need at this time.

Children are also going through a lot at this time, with missing friends, not having their normal school routine, and maybe not fully understanding what has happened to their everyday. We weren’t really supported with the sudden transition out of school and work, so we want to help support children and parents alike as we slowly transition back into it.

Join our private facebook group for additional support

Join Here

GUIDED MEDITATION

Watch the short explainer video by Jen, that describes how to settle in with a meditation.

family “WORRY BALLOON” meditation

Time: 6.5 minutes

When to practice: As often as you need

For the next few minutes you will be led through a guided meditation. All you have to do is to listen to the words. Try to stay still and relaxed in the body and mind if you can, but don’t worry if you wiggle or your mind gets a little busy at times. Know you can come back to the words, to the body, and to the breath.

Find a nice comfortable laying down position. Take any pillows or blankets that might make you feel more comfortable (Maybe turn down the lights too!) Make sure you are warm and cosy, and once you’ve made final wriggles and shuffles, then begin to close the eyes. If it helps maybe place a jumper or scarf over your eyes so less light comes through.

So are you ready? Is your body floppy? Let’s begin!

Simply click on the video and settle in. We are here for you, for them.

BREATHING EXERCISE: BRAVE LION’S BREATH

Release your worries and hot bubbly feelings!

yoga poses and movement

SNUGGLE POSE

Have a moment of stillness together. Remind yourself that everything is going to be ok. You can give each other a hug around their back and maybe a little back rub! You can also share a kind word about each other too.

WARRIOR TWO POSE

Shall we take a moment to feel strong and brave in our warrior pose? Stand tall with both feet together, then take a big step back with one leg.. front leg is bent and foot facing forward. Back leg is straight and foot is facing out to the side. Take your arms out nice and wide. Let’s take two breaths here! And then do the same on the other leg. We are standing strong and still here. We are warriors! What kind of warrior are you?

DOUBLE WATERFALL POSE

Let’s support each other by having each others backs. Sit down back to back with your partner or child, making sure the whole of your spines are connected to each other. Your legs are out long in front of you. At the same time breathe in and reach up with your arms, imagine filling a bucket of love in your hands (you can even hold hands here for a moment!) then ‘whoosh!’ Breathe out, forward fold and imagine covering yourself in all that love, then slowly come back up to connected straight spines. Let’s do this two more times!

MONKEY POSE

Let’s let out our inner sillies! Take your feet nice and wide, and bend a little in the knees. Let’s bring our fists to our chest and start to beat them just like a monkey! Can you make the sound of a monkey too? Now swing your arms low and start to sway them from side to side relaxing the whole of the upper body, arms, and neck. Feel silly like a monkey by making funny sounds and pretending you are swinging from tree to tree! Come to stillness, breathe in and slowly bring yourself back up to standing.

MANTRA FOR BRAVERY

“I am brave, I am courageous, I am safe.” Follow along with Jen for this mantra that will help build courage and resilience. Return to it whenever you need to and you can even do it as a mantra before bedtime.

HOLLY HEDGEHOG THINKS ABOUT THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES

CALMING music

We have offered these music selections, to use during any of your poses, mantras, meditations and/or quiet time. It’s even lovely music to have in the background while you’re doing homework with the little ones, reading, before falling asleep and any time you just need to take a moment and unwind.