RESET: Wellness Retreat for Educators

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence; it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

- Audre Lorde

Burn-out and chronic fatigue, stress, anxiety, overwhelm, increased mental health issues among students, staff, and administration– these are some of the challenges most educators faced pre-pandemic. On top of that, pandemic brought a new set of challenges: uncertainty and constant change (which contributed to the increase of mental health issues on a global scale), lack of movement and physical contact, virtual classrooms, masks and shields, pathological disinfection, and limited connection to our communities.

This 3-hour holistic, experiential, and integrative virtual retreat aims to create time and space for educators to reflect, rest, restore, and re-connect. To be present for and in service of others, we need to be present for and in service of ourselves first. The retreat offers the time to reset and regenerate and includes somatic and embodied practices for self and co-regulation, relaxation, grounding, and centering – all of which can be incorporated into daily routine and lessons (both virtual and in-person). These practices also provide mental, physical, and emotional benefits for educators and their students.

Included in the retreat:

- Two somatic movement practices (one active; one restorative)

- Embodied inquiry, self-reflection/creative expression

- Short lecture on Five Elements/Three Doshas Theory and explanation of how the elements connect to the well-being of educators and students

- Exploration of the body in education and suggestions on how to incorporate somatic practices into lessons

- Sensory care practices

- Somatic/ movement sequence for classroom use

- Breathing practices for stress, focus, and relaxation

- Meditation/Visualization

- Dinacharaya and Ratricharya– Ayurvedic day and evening routine to optimize mental and emotional well-being

- Nourishing meal menu with recipes 

- Community building

Materials:

Provided

- Pre-recorded somatic movement sequence (for classroom use)

- Retreat Nourishing Menu – recipes will be provided before the event, so you can prepare lunch to enjoy after the retreat

- Handout with additional resources, suggested reading list, and all the practices covered in the retreat 

Required

- A computer/laptop and a good internet connection

- A journal/art supplies (whatever you have at home)

- Comfortable clothing that will allow you to move freely

- A quiet space

- For restorative practice, you may wish to have a blanket, a bolster, and a few blocks handy. If you don’t have the props, you can substitute a bolster with a sturdy pillow or sofa cushions and blocks with a few books (dictionaries make great blocks! ;))

Mode of instruction: via Zoom (the link will be provided prior to the retreat)

Price: Sliding scale $40 - $80

PLEASE NOTE: The retreat will NOT be recorded to ensure physical, mental, and emotional presence and to preserve the privacy of the participants.