On Saturday, February 11, 2006, I attended the T.E.A.M. Workshop called “Mentastics – Clear the Mind and Free the Body” with Roger Hughes. The workshop was no ordinary workshop like the ones I have attended during my educational career. It was not what I expected; Roger showed us movements that allowed us to have peace within ourselves physically and mentally.
Clear the Mind and Free the Body
By Patsy Gil
There were other workshops that looked inviting but I particularly choose this one because as an educator of first graders, a mother of two boys both under the age of three, a graduate student, and a wife, need I say more. Life, as everyone has experienced, can, at times, be extremely overwhelming. Many educators do not have a full plate like I do, but being a teacher can be a rewarding and overwhelming profession.
A workshop like this would be wonderful for those teachers who need that peace of mind when events in the classroom just do not seem to be going good on a particular day, as well as for administrators. As adults, we need that “cool off time” to recompose ourselves and to successfully do what we need to do -- and that is teach our students. It is only normal for us to “loose it” and what Roger taught me would be a good workshop for any teacher. If we are relaxed, then our classroom environment is relaxed as well. No one can work well under stress and anxiety.
I highly recommend this workshop in future conferences. It was wonderful and I did leave with a lot in mind. Not only do teachers need workshops on story telling, curriculum development, teaching methods, etc…but something different like Roger’s workshop really hits the spot. Something different, new, and comforting.