The Port Washington schools celebrated National Nutrition Month in late March with a program entitled “Breathe Into A Healthy Lifestyle.” Many children at the elementary school level participated in workshops about becoming more mindful of the choices we make which contribute to our overall wellness and mental state of being. Parent volunteers taught children lessons in mindfulness, including breathing and relaxation tools and stress-reduction practices like meditation and yoga. They shared with the students about what earthly foods are and why feeding their bodies with foods that have nutrients is important. Students were encouraged to be mindful in making healthy choices in their nutrition and in their actions.
Breathing techniques were introduced to help children manage their feelings and stress and lead to becoming calmer, more focused and better at making decisions. The children were also taught what meditation is, what mantras are and when they can use these tools in their every day school lives. The program finished with yoga fundamentals, and the kids practiced some core yoga poses.
The “Breathe Into A Healthy Lifestyle” program was developed by the district Nutrition Committee members and volunteers around Port Washington. Parents and students were very enthusiastic about the subject matter and the program was well received across the district.
