This time last week I had just completed a three-day Enrichment Week stint teaching University College Birmingham’s Health and Social Care students, aged between 16-18 years. Birmingham University’s Human Performance Laboratory was an amazing space to teach yoga. Birmingham should be proud of it. I was honoured to teach young people with prior knowledge of care, and it was emotionaI!
The sessions allowed the students to experience deep relaxation and use the power of their minds to create their own visualisations while learning about why stretching is so good for you. Interestingly, a variety of issues came up for the students that probably wouldn’t have been released or addressed otherwise. They were in a very safe space with caring teachers and friends around them and many said they felt better afterwards and had never been that relaxed before.
This just emphasises the need to give young people the care and support they need. Yoga classes, or something like the Enrichment Week is a great way for students to think about how they look after themselves, and analyse what is stopping them from moving forward. They are more delicate than you might think, you know! It is a time and place where they can come right back to, and learn about, the self and also, to release things they really need to, when perhaps they wouldn’t have done in any other environment. This could be detrimental to their learning and their future.
I would like to thank the amazing Miss McCann for working so hard to make this week happen. She selflessly shares her fountain of knowledge, has ever-flowing care, and the highest regard for her students. Thank you to University College Birmingham for supporting and pioneering a project so important - a space to let go of anxiety and stress - before those students go on to care for us.
If you are from an educational institution, and are interested in how you can help your students, please get in touch for an informal chat. Young people are our future!
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