Relaxation Exercises for a Calmer Classroom

Traffic Control
Our mind is like traffic, constantly moving and flowing. Every once in a while, it is good to let the traffic come to a standstill, while you relax. While you are studying or doing your homework, try to stop every hour or half an hour, just for a few moments. Close your eyes, stay very still and take in 3 deep breaths. Count up to 10 or 20 really slowly and feel yourself becoming more and more relaxed and calm. When you are ready, open your eyes again, give your ears ad fast rub and you should feel refreshed and ready to continue with your work.

Chewing Toffee
Imagine you are eating a toffee: exercise all the muscles around your mouth as you chew the toffee.

Steps into the Sky
Close your eyes, be very still and imagine that you are lying down outside looking up at the clouds. You feel so calm and relaxed as you watch the clouds gently drift past, changing shape and making patterns in the blue sky. All of a sudden you notice a ladder made of white clouds coming down to where you are lying. Slowly you get up and start to climb the ladder. As soon as you step onto the ladder, you feel as light as a cloud. Climb up to the top of the sky. It is very quiet in the sky; you can’t even hear the birds singing, as it is so high up. This is a secret hideaway place, where you can build a den made entirely of clouds and creep inside it and be very still and silent. You love being surrounded by these fluffy clouds. They are so soft to touch; it’s almost as if they are not there. When you are ready, you may lie down and enjoy the feeling of lying on soft clouds. Stay here in you secret den, and dream your magical dreams.
Extract taken from Relax Kids Shining Stars CD

Shoulder Exercises
Lift your shoulders and squeeze as hard as you can and drop them and relax. Push your shoulders down and stretch them and relax. Roll your shoulders 5 times round and now the other way.

Squeeze and Relax
Take in a deep breath and as you breathe in, squeeze all the muscles in you body. Now, breathe out and relax all the muscles in your body.
Repeat this exercise 2 or 3 times Extract taken from Shining Stars CD

Positive Affirmations

Repeat a chosen affirmation 10 times
I am calm and focussed, I am calm and focussed
I am OK, I am OK
I know all the right answers, I know all the right answers
I am relaxed, I am relaxed

Extract from I am Wonderful CD

Long breaths
Take in a deep breath, put your lips together to make a small O and let out a soft slow and steady breath.
See if you can blow out all the old air in your lungs.
Now take in a deep breath, filling your lungs with new clean air. Repeat this exercise 2 or 3 times.


Bags of Air
Imagine your lungs are two bags. Take in a slow breath and imagine you are filling the bags with fresh clean air. Hold your breath for a count of three, and see if you can keep your air bags full. Now breathe out very slowly.
Repeat this exercise 2 or 3 times.