Background: Our sympathetic nervous system speeds us up, and our parasympathetic nervous system slows us down. A simple breathing technique can help us balance these two branches of our nervous systems.
Today in Class: We practiced 5-5-5 breathing. We breathed slowly in our nose for five seconds, then slowly our our mouths for five seconds, then paused for five seconds. We repeated this pattern three more times. Then we noted whether we felt more balanced.
Self-Reflection: Try 5-5-5 breathing. When you are feeling out of balance during your work day, breathe in for five seconds, breathe out for five seconds, pause for five seconds, and repeat the pattern two more times. How do you feel?
At-Home Support
Discuss 5-5-5 breathing with your child:
- Today, you learned a breathing strategy to feel more balanced. What was it? (5-5-5 breathing)
- How does it work? (Inhale through the nose for a count of 5, exhale through the mouth for a count of 5, then pause for a count of 5 and repeat.).
- Let's try it together.
- How are you feeling now?
- This is how I am feeling ____________ .
Student Reflection
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