Stretch & Play Tools for Teachers
Professional Development Workshop for School Teachers
Learn to use simple, effective Pilates, Yoga and Mindfulness exercises in your classroom.
Stretch & Play presents Pilates and Yoga as ideal disciplines for mind/body fitness in schools. Because they focus on the integration of breath, movement and concentration, it makes us aware of our mind/body state and gives us tools to be responsible for the condition of that state.
Our education is knowing you have the ability to choose the positive path of health by shifting yourself from imbalance to balance, stressed to centred, angry to calm, anytime you choose.
Stretch & Play provides movement and mindfulness programmes for schools that are both affordable and easy to implement. Proven effective in University Studies, this workshop has been taught in the USA as well as Europe and now is available in the UK!
It is a programme that empowers Foundation Stage or Key Stage 1, 2 or 3 teachers, even those new to Pilates, Yoga or Mindfulness, to instruct simple movement and mindfulness exercises to their students. These techniques are designed for the classroom, require no extra space or equipment, and can help enhance focus, concentration, creativity, communication and discipline.
This training takes place in your own environment (school, community group, etc.) so each course is priced differently according to travel expenses and time required. Please contact me for a quote about this highly desirable in-person training.
Previous Projects
In the autumn term of 2007 Stretch & Play delivered an innovative programme which was funded by the EU Programme for Peace & Reconciliation and piloted in 8 post-primary schools in the Southern Education & Library Area of Northern Ireland. The sessions involved yoga-type stretches, brain gym activities, drama games and exercises designed to encourage approximately 500 pupils to improve their personal health, both physically and emotionally, and to explore the concepts of self-confidence and self-esteem in a safe and supportive environment.
In 2008 Stretch & Play were thrilled to be involved with the Ulster Cancer Foundation/ Lidl ‘Fit Factor’ challenge where we created the ‘self-expression’ module of the programme. After a successful pilot, the Fit Factor was rolled out to over 250 Key Stage One classes and more than 10,000 pupils from across Northern Ireland each year until 2015.
Here are some of the teachers’ comments about the programme:
“Our involvement in this programme improved the self-esteem, made positive behaviour changes, reduced stress, provided opportunities for self-expression and was FUN for the children and me. What more could a PE lesson ask for? There have been so many positive experiences by being involved in this programme. As a class, we were amazed how effective simple balancing and stretching exercises could be as a way of improving our overall wellbeing. The children enjoyed learning new information about each other through the stillness and affirmation aspects of the challenge and in combining their ideas for the creative project. The benefits of living a healthy and active lifestyle became paramount to every child in the class and the enthusiasm this generated was awe-inspiring to me as a teacher. I am so proud of how the children have developed as individuals during the progression of the Lidl Fit Factor, and am confident that the learning that has taken place will be a lifelong enjoyable memory and positive learning experience.” Kyra Watson, Class Teacher, Ballinamallard Primary School – Co. Fermanagh
“When I first embarked on the Lidl Fit Factor challenge, I viewed it as a fun way of introducing the children in my class to the idea of healthy eating and the importance of physical activity. It provided me with a set of good ideas and resources that had already been tried and tested and proven to be useful in educating children about keeping fit and healthy. Throughout the project, I enjoyed each session as much as the children did and it gave me a wider view on how much, as a teacher, I can help children to make the right decisions concerning their health. The children absolutely loved the Lidl Fit Factor challenge and still encourage me to keep up self-expression lessons.” Ciara Heffron, Class Teacher, Round Tower Integrated Primary School – Co. Antrim
“The class’s favourite element was the daily self-expression exercises which they are eager to continue even after the challenge!” Ursula Quinn, Class Teacher, St. Brigid’s Primary School, Magherafelt – Co. Derry