Integral Life Practice: A Framework for Holistic Personal and Professional Development for Educators 

                                     There are many practices on the HPD pages that are beneficial for teachers. Engaging in                                        these practices promotes holistic growth. Below I list practices that are especially                                                      applicable to teachers and I encourage you to try some of them for yourself!

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SPIRIT

 

Visualized Beholding: For this practice, picture a student in your class. Visualize them and send them positive thoughts. Think about what they need most from you as a teacher right now. Think about all of the components that make them unique, that shape who they are. 

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Directly Experiencing the Now: This practice, which is commonly referred to as mindfulness, requires the practitioner to engage with life on a deeper level. It is a level of depth and focus that we do not typically engage in. It can be simply summarized in an educational context as when you read, read; when you listen, listen. It is using the mind in a single-pointed fashion. This practice helps us to focus on what is infront of us insteas of worrying about the future or thinking about the past. 

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Gratitude Journal: We often forget to be thankful for all of our experiences as teachers. We have one of the most meaningful and influential jobs but it is easy to forget about the blessings we have. To engage in this practice, write down 10 things you are thankful for each day. 

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Daily Journaling/Reflection: Reflecting on daily experiences, looking for meaning, appreciating the Spirit at work in our lives in many ways; all of these are valuable exercises that help us to develop as spiritual people. 

 

BODY

 

Healthy Eating: Eating healthy can be a struggle for the average busy teacher, however, eating a plant-based diet can be extremely beneficial for our health (Dinu et. al, 2016, Abstract). Getting the proper macronutrients (proteins, fats and carbohydrates) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) greatly affects our health. Making good choices about what we eat is important as well for modelling healthy eating for our students. 

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Fitness: Engaging in some sort of daily physical exercise is essential. Experts suggest between thirty and sixty minutes a day. This can improve feelings of well-being and make us more energetic. 

 

MIND

 

Studying and Reading: We want our students to be life-long learners and as such, we should continue to study and learn ourselves. Sharing what we're reading about can be a powerful way to show students what it means to be a learner at all stages in life. 

 

Professional Development: As stated in the Holistic Professional Development page, there are many ways we can learn more to make us better educators. Trying out different practices from the different parts of the AQAL chart can make our PD more engaging and more holistic. 

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SHADOW

 

3-2-1 Shadow Exercise: This exercise was discussed on the Holistic Personal Development page and is a valuable practice for everyone. Think about any interactions with students today. Did any of them make you upset or frustrated? How might this be a reflection of something you need to re-own in yourself?