Helping Students Breathe Through Big Moments at North Hi Mount Elementary
Bringing Breath, Stillness, and Confidence to Testing Week
Breathing Practice with Ms.Brooke
For many students, spring doesn’t just mean blooming flowers and longer days—it signals testing season.
And with it, a wave of stress and pressure that’s felt across classrooms nationwide.
According to research, more than 70% of students often or always feel stressed about schoolwork (Healthline), and 81% report physical symptoms due to academic stress—like headaches, fatigue, and trouble sleeping (SAU70 Study PDF).
That’s a heavy burden for young bodies and minds to carry.
Stressed Out and Overwhelmed Student
Helping Students Manage Stress Right from Their Desks
Last week, Yogi Squad had the joy of visiting North Hi Mount Elementary to offer mindfulness and movement support to students as they prepared for upcoming tests.
The testing season can bring on big feelings—nerves, pressure, and even self-doubt.
But with just a few simple tools, we can help kids approach these moments with the sense of relief, calm, and confidence that mindfulness brings.
In each classroom, we guided students through breathwork and chair yoga, all from the comfort of their desks.
Together, we explored:
🌀 How to pause and take a deep breath when our minds are racing
🪑 Gentle, seated stretches to release tension and reset the body
🧠 Simple focus techniques to boost clarity and ease test anxiety
Mindfulness isn't just a break from the day.
It's a lifelong skill, a tool that students can carry with them into their future.
Why It Matters
Mindfulness isn’t about avoiding stress—it’s about equipping students with tools to navigate it. When kids feel safe in their bodies and steady in their minds, they perform better, connect deeper, and bring more resilience into every part of their lives.
That’s what we’re building through Yogi Squad—one breath at a time.
Whether it’s a big exam or a tough day at home, these kids are learning that they can come back to themselves with a simple inhale and exhale.
The tools we taught weren’t just for that day—students carried them into testing with confidence.
One teacher noted:
“I noticed several of our 4th graders using strategies to stretch and move in their chairs during testing.It gave them a minute of respite, however, did not distract them or others around them. Great ;)”
Together, we’re helping kids grow up calm, confident, and connected.
