Tranformative Power of Education: Lessons from Gandhi, King, Chavez and Mandela
Following conference worskhops will be offered concurrently on Saturday, 8:00-9:00 a.m.
Workshop 1: Mindfulness for the Teacher: A Practice in Personal Nonviolence
According to Gandhi, King, Chavez and Mandela, the road to nonviolence and social change begins with the self. Before considering to transform others, it is important to transform the self. This workshop's focus is on how educators may embody mindfulness themselves so that their students may emulate and follow them. For this teachers need to go beyond curriculum content, pedagogies and embrace mindfulness. What does mindfulness look like in the classroom? How does one undertake a journey to mindfulness? Adam Dennis will share his experience and perspective while engaging participants in an excercises of mindfulness, interactive elements of meditation, and reflective listening.
Offered by Adam Dennis
ADAM DENNIS
ADAM DENNIS recived a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Portland State University. He has been teaching for 16 years. Currently he is teaching English and Mindfulness at a public school in Lake Oswego School District outside out Portland, Oregon. His goal is to integrate nonviolent communication and mindfulness in K-12 education. He has led workshops in both nonviolent communication and mindfulness.
Workshop 2: Yoga in the Classroom for Cognitive Stimulation & Self-Regulation
This workshop will demonstrate the practice of yoga as an alternative to traditional behavior management and self-awareness techniques. In addition to brief presentation of data, the workshop leaders will engage participants in the practice of basic yoga, breathing techniques and mid-line brain activities to enhance learning, improve behavior and decrease violence. The abstract of this workshop by its leaders will be published in the Journal of Functional Neurology, Rehabilitation, and Ergonomics.
Offered by Leah Brooks, Kimberly Cassidy, Darlene Lee, and Melissa Nelson
LEAH BROOKS
LEAH BROOKS is a 200 RYT YogaFit Certified Instructor and is certified in the following specialities: Levels 1-5; Thai Energy; Seniors; YogaFit Kids; Yoga for Neurological Disorders; Yoga Warriors for PTSD; Anatomy & Alignment; Yoga Nidra;Yoga Props. She is active in teacher trainings and conferences for this yoga study and is presenting research findings at Harvard School of Medicine Movementis: Body, Brain, Cognition International Conference in July and NAEYC in Washington, D.C.
KIMBERLY CASSIDY
KIMBERLY CASSIDY is assistant professor of early childhood and special education at Shawnee State University. She earned a Ph.D. from East Tennessee State University. Her research is currently focused on integrating yoga in the classroom for self-regulation and attributional retraining. Cassidy was nominated for Outstanding New Faculty 2018 and is presenting research findings at Harvard School of Medicine Movementis: Body, Brain, Cognition International Conference in July and NAEYC in Washington, D.C.
DARLENE LEE
DARLENE LEE is a certified YogaFit Instructor specializing in the mind/body/breath connection and body awareness. She is certified in Level 1 Foundations, Level 2 Communication, Level 3 Introspection, Level 4 Tradition, GoFit Seniors, Anatomy, Prenatal, YogaFit Kids, and Warrior Kids. Lee is actively involved in the yoga study and is presenting research findings at Harvard School of Medicine Movementis: Body, Brain, Cognition International Conference in July and NAEYC in Washington, D.C.
MELISSA NELSON
MELISSA NELSON is a 200 hour RYT certified YogaFit instructor. She specializes in Healing Emotional and Physical Trauma, PTSD, Warrior Kids, & Using Props in Yoga Practice and trained Level 1-5, seniors, anatomy and alignment. She currently owns and operates The Loft Yoga Studio in Rogersville, TN. Nelson is actively involved in the yoga study and is presenting research findings at Harvard School of Medicine Movementis: Body, Brain, Cognition International Conference in July and NAEYC in Washington, D.C.