Stafford Student Support Newsletter
Relaxation Techniques
Why Relax?
Relaxation reduces stress and the symptoms of mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. Relaxation also has other related health benefits, including: lowering your heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate. reducing muscle tension and chronic pain.
Goals of Relaxation
2. Learn to breathe in ways that will promote calm and relaxation.
3. Slow down activity in the mind to avoid or learn to better tolerate “racing thoughts.”
4. Increase awareness of tension in the body and improve awareness of the difference between tension and relaxation.
5. Lower general levels of tension and restlessness in the body.
6. Learn to incorporate activities into our lives that are fun and/or make us feel competent.
7. Be calmer in our daily lives by learning to “slow down” and set realistic goals for our time.
It Takes Practice!
Relaxation skills are developed just like exercise: in order to see significant results, we must use them regularly over long periods of time. This is not a one shot deal! Practice them everyday!
Lunch Update
6 breakfast meals, 6 lunch meals.
Locations:
Garendale
Henry B. Gonzalez
Las Palmas
L.B. Johnson
Loma Park
Perales
Roosevelet
Winston
Fine Arts STEAM
Memorial
Gus Garcia
E.T. Wrenn
Mindfulness Activities
The Five Senses
5. Name five things that you see.
4. Name four things you can touch.
3. Name three things you can hear.
2. Name two things you can smell.
1. Name one thing you can taste.
The Leaf Activity
Pick up a leaf, hold it in your hand, and give it your full attention for a few minutes.
Notice the colors....notice the shape....notice the way it feels...notice the patterns.
After you have focused on your leaf, I want you to either draw or write about what you noticed.
A Mindful Snack
You are going to take a few minutes to observe the item you chose by focusing on one of your five senses (hearing, smelling, tasting, seeing, or touch).
Example: I chose a chip and focused on my sense of hearing. I would take a few minutes and break the chip and focus on the sound it makes, and eat it to see how it sounds when I chew.
Helpful Links for You and Your Student
Click Below
Butterfly Body Scan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56_8aK3cLEA
Mindful Minute
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZME0JKiweL4
Progressive Muscle Relaxation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDKyRpW-Yuc
Breathing Exercises
Older Kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYQsRBNYdPk
Younger Kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mZbzDOpylA
At Your Service
nortiz@eisd.net
Anthony Romero, LMSW- Social Worker
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, need additional information, or are in need of assistance.
Website: https://stafford.eisd.net/
Location: 415 SW 36th St, San Antonio, TX 78237, USA
Phone: (210) 444-8400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StaffordElementarySchool/