Why use breathing and stretching?

Some students can get overwhelmed. Breathing and stretching are proven to help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.

Students can get overwhelmed easily.
Many students want to be successful but haven’t yet developed all the skills which can lead to anxiety/frustration.
Breathing provides an easy and quick break in place.
Breathing is easy to do anywhere at any time.
Breathing is quiet and non-disruptive.
Breathing is easy to perform and learn at any age.
Breathing can be done for short or long periods.
Breathing can be done individually or as a group.
Breathing produces relaxed state of being.
Breathing is calming.
Breathing increases oxygen to the brain, muscles, and body, which improves thinking, reaction time, and decision making.

When you see a student becoming frustrated (banging things, groaning, crying, refusing to do work)
When a student is involved in a mild confrontation with another student
When student has a lot of work to do
When a student appears anxious or upset
When a student’s emotions or mood are escalated
When students need to focus and attend
After students have been working for a long time
When students are fighting or arguing
Before stressful events or periods, like tests, final exams, speeches

Teach the technique to the entire class and practice it.
List the strategy on a poster with several other breathing techniques, and post this in the class where all can see.
Teach students what feelings to be aware of and what they feel like, which can be addressed through deep breathing.
Assure student that everyone gets stressed/frustrated/worried/ overwhelmed and using breathing strategies is normal.
Teach the student to know what they do (indicators or antecedents) when they are stressed/frustrated/worried/overwhelmed (some common answers are: clench fists, breathe heavily, cry, sweat).
Teach students that when they demonstrate the above behaviors, to stop, ask to sit outside the room or put head down at desk, and take five or more deep breathes.
Practice the first time with student or class.
Students may count while they exhale.

Practice speaking in a calm, comforting, and steady manner. The voice should be smooth but not a whisper.
Allow students to move vigorously before the stretching exercises begin. These stretching times may be a great way to wind down a PE class.
Dim the lights (when possible) to signal the body to calm down.
Provide students with carpet squares or mats to avoid sitting on a cold floor. Warmer is better for relaxing!
Play relaxing music at a low, but appropriate volume.
Cue students to tune out competing noises (ex: "if your mind begins to wander, listen to the sound of my voice").
Ensure there is adequate space for students to spread out. Being too close may be distracting.
As the moderator, be sure to stay alert. It will be tempting to relax with the students.
Practice! Stretching techniques are skills. And skills need to be practiced!