The Mindful Educator

The Mindful Educator

Type: Erasmus+ Training Course for Educators 

Duration: 5 days (4-6 hours per day) 

Location: Vilnius, Lithuania 

Target Audience: Teachers, Adult Educators, NGO Staff, School Leaders 

Focus: Mental well-being through stress management, mindfulness, yoga, breathwork, and creative self-care

Course Objectives

• Understand the science behind stress management for educators

• Explore mindfulness practices such as breath, movement, and creative techniques to support regulation

• Equip participants with tools to manage emotional fatigue and prevent burnout

• Use body-based and arts-based methods for daily reflection and restoration

• Develop sustainable, personalized well-being routines for work and life

Course Structure

Day 1 – Understanding Stress & Mindfulness (4-6 hours)

• Topics:

  • The nervous system in stress: fight, flight, freeze, fawn

  • Mindfulness as presence, not perfection

  • Realities of well-being in education

• Workshops:

  • “Tracking the Body’s Signals”: Use a body map to identify stress and tension points. Share patterns in small groups.

  • “Mindfulness in Motion”: A mindful walking session focusing on sensory prompts to redirect attention.

  • “Peer Talk Circles: Where I Carry Stress in My Day”: Participants share one stressful moment, practicing mindful listening.

• Tools Used:

  • Nervous system self-check worksheet

  • Body scan audio + journaling template

  • Interactive slideshow with nervous system visuals

Day 2 – Breathing & Grounding for Awareness and Calm (4-6 hours)

• Topics:

  • Breath as a bridge to self-awareness

  • Grounding practices for emotional first aid

  • Creating internal space before reaction

• Workshops:

  • “Meet Your Breath”: Explore three core breathing techniques (box breathing, 4-7-8 breath, and alternate nostril).

  • “Grounding in Nature”: A guided nature walk using the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding method.

  • “Micro-Calm Moments”: Co-create 2-minute calm breaks combining grounding, breath, and an anchoring word.

• Tools Used:

  • Breathwork / Oak / Pranayama apps

  • Digital breath-tracking log (Google Forms or Notion templates)

  • Grounding prompt cards

Day 3 – Movement, Stillness & Self-Listening (4-6 hours)

• Topics:

  • Yoga for release, focus, and daily reset

  • Somatic exercises for emotional awareness

  • Meditation for educators: how to actually sit still

• Workshops:

  • “Yoga for Tired Bodies”: A gentle yoga session with options for floor and chair poses.

  • “Tension to Ease: Drawing from the Body”: Express emotions through abstract drawing after a somatic body scan.

  • “Five-Minute Meditation Lab”: Try different short meditations and select one to practice for a week.

• Tools Used:

  • Insight Timer / Smiling Mind

  • Spotify: curated movement & stillness playlists

  • Guided somatic body map (PDF + QR version)

Day 4 – Creative Calm: Art Therapy & Emotional Expression (4-6 hours)

• Topics:

  • Art as a language beyond words

  • Visual journaling for clarity, not perfection

  • Creating symbols of safety, rest, and energy

• Workshops:

  • “Layers of Me” – Mixed Media Mask-Making: Design a paper mask showing the outer self and inner needs or emotions.

  • “What I Need Today” Collage: Create a visual reflection based on a prompt like “How I feel today” or “What nourishes me.”

  • “Silent Studio”: A free-drawing session with gentle music and optional group walk-around.

• Tools Used:

  • Canva / Collage Maker (digital or printed)

  • Soundtrack: music for focus, letting go, soft exploration

  • Shared digital gallery (Padlet or Google Slides)

Day 5 – From Practice to Habit (4-6 hours)

• Topics:

  • Building daily rituals that actually work

  • “Emergency Calm Kit”: designing a toolkit for in-the-moment regulation

  • Sharing our strengths and support strategies

• Workshops:

  • “Design Your Daily Reset”: Build a daily self-care routine using a visual template.

  • “Lead a Micro-Session”: In trios, facilitate a 3–5 minute peer session using one tool from the week (e.g., box breathing, tension drawing).

  • “Closing Circle”: Reflect on the course, share what you’re taking with you, and make a verbal or written commitment to self-care.

• Outputs:

  • Personal Well-Being Toolkit (physical and digital)

  • Peer-reviewed 10-minute self-care session

  • Follow-up resource pack with videos, playlists & printable visuals

Additional Information

• Methods Used:

  • Mindfulness practice, breathwork, movement labs, somatic exploration, creative reflection, peer learning, coaching-style support

• Certificate:

  • Certificate of attendance aligned with Erasmus+ requirements

  • Europass-compatible learning outcomes available upon request

Expected Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Identify their personal stress patterns and calm signals.

• Use breathing and grounding tools to support daily focus and energy.

• Integrate yoga, somatic exercises, and movement into personal, classroom, or workspace routines.

• Apply arts-based reflection techniques for mental clarity and emotional ease.

• Design a realistic, personalized well-being plan and toolkit that supports long-term resilience.

Digital & AI Tools for Support:

• Breathwrk / Oak – for guided breathing and calm routines

• Insight Timer / Smiling Mind – for meditation, educator burnout series

• Notion / Google Keep – to build digital well-being journals

• Canva – to create visual reflections or quote posters

• CurioAI – a journaling AI that gently prompts mindful check-ins

• Padlet – for sharing silent reflections or collective art

Please note that each program can be changed and adapted to the group's needs. The course duration can be made shorter or longer, and the content may also be adjusted. All the details can be discussed via email at info@ivaigo.lt.