Spring is a time when nature gears up, buds are sprouting, birds are engaging in animated chatter, and we often also feel like it's time to clear out the old and make room for new activity.
At the same time, often at this time of year, teachers feel the pressure of upcoming standardized tests, district measures, and students with a variety of needs.
This month, I'll share some inspiring writing I've done about the program, in two interviews below, and tell you more about our new Self Care Program for Teachers. I encourage you to take advantage of our free offerings - the educators' monthly webinar series and morning virtual practice circle to support yourself, connect you with community, and help you feel the updraft of conscious and intentional well being practices.
I'm looking forward to a great second half of Inner Strength school programs and invite you to share your best tips and tools withInner Strength here.
Be well, remember to take even little moments to breathe and appreciate the wonder of life.
As I used to remind a close friend when she bemoaned how little time she had to contemplate, "Even a little glimpse of infinity is still infinite."
Warm regards, Amy
Reducing Secondary Toxic Stress for Teachers
In the new Inner Strength Self Care Program for educators, we go into school and non-profit settings to work with staff reducing the effects of secondary traumatic stress.
The program works with the tools of mindful awareness, deconstructs beliefs that prevent us from recharging and rejuvenating ourselves, and helps each individual build a self-care plan that is actually do-able (without adding stress to the day!)
"Our Secondary Trauma & Self-Care training was excellent. ISF took the time and care to craft a workshop that met the unique needs of our organization. Everyone left the training empowered to weave simple, yet effective strategies into daily life."
C. Witkowski, Program Officer, ArtistYear
To find out more about bringing this program to your staff, email us!
Printfresh Community Partner
Printfresh, a unique gift & textiles company,
chose Inner Strength this year
Thank you Printfresh for choosing Inner Strength as your community partner. Printfresh will donate 5% of this quarters' profits to Teen Mindfulness Programs, supporting the youth of Philadelphia to cultivate calm, curiosity, and care.
If you have never visited the Gratefulness.org site, and felt uplifted by the beautiful work of Br. David Steindle-Rast and the site caretakers, prepare for a welcome surprise. This past month, they chose to highlight Amy Edelstein as a Changemaker. Read more here, and do spend time contemplating gratefulness and Love.
"We are training our children for life. That is more than learning facts and figures — it has to do with building character, aspiration, and a love of self, others, and life as a whole."
~ Amy Edelstein
Are you looking for a time and place to deepen your mindfulness practice? Join Amy, March 23 for a half day virtual retreat. This retreat, conducted live by webcast, will provide instruction, practice, and answers to your questions.
Registration is Pay As You Can to make access easy and equitable. All proceeds will benefit Teen Mindfulness Programs.
Love of learning is essential for youth to truly internalize information. Contemplative exercises, contextual seeing, and the practice of re-framing our customary perspectives all cultivate a student’s curiosity. In this webinar, Amy Edelstein will talk about how to infuse your classroom with these practices, how to shift a student’s experience from overwhelm to interest, and how to work with the art and science of observation and reflection. We will work with several exercises you can use in your own classroom. As always, the webinar will include information and experimentation. Sign up here, registration is free of charge.
