Teaching a session on Yoga and Heart Beaming for preschool educators on April 28 in DC; for another organization that highlights my expertise in teaching about yoga to teachers
Heart Beaming Certification
Level I Heart Beaming Certification is available after a three-hour session and six- week practicum for individuals who:
Have had at least one yoga class, Can demonstrate five basic yoga postures, Can demonstrate the ability to teach yogic breathing
Training includes special instruction in teaching heart beaming to PreK-12 students.
If you have no prior yoga experience, we can arrange prerequisite training.
Heart Beaming will help students stay calm, relaxed, and focused.
It can be practiced for 3-10 minutes or longer. It also helps students feel connected, builds flexibility, and increases lung capacity. There are specific meditative practices designed for children and adults that contribute to a sense of caring and compassion for self and others.
Each participant will receive one copy of the Heart Beaming Booklet and a resource list of suggested music and additional exercises for youth.
To be certified, participants attend the training, teach heart beaming of 5-10 minutes 3-4 a week for 6 weeks, and keep a simple log or journal
At the end of the 6 weeks, participants answer 10 basic questions about their teaching experience - local groups have the option of coming together for a final 50-minute session.
Participants receive in-person instruction on
Heart Beaming, Yoga movements, and teaching deep breathing
A brief history of yoga, its roots, and the science of yoga and meditation
A brief primer of Anatomy and Physiology and the impact of movement and breathing
How to explain Heart Beaming to parents and getting their cooperation
Instructing students as co-teachers
Setting-up and teaching classes, including information on sequencing, giving instructions, special
pointers on demonstrations, and how to engage with reluctant learners.
Each participant will receive one copy of the Heart Beaming Booklet
and a resource list of suggested music and additional exercises for youth.
Recommendations
Carol Roach, Yoga student, Virginia
"This practice empowers my spirit as well as my body. Chris provides lessons which include physical poses, breathing techniques and focused meditations. Chris provides motivation, gives individual support, and encourages individual discovery and growth. Each class makes me feel energized and uplifted as well as calm, focused and with a sense of well-being. Thank you!"
Cheryl Karoly, Preschool teacher and Yoga student, Virginia
(Note: Dr. Mason sometimes teaches yoga under her yogic name, Ravi, which means "Power of the Sun") "Ravi's Kundalini yoga classes have been an important part of my life since I started taking them a number of years ago. I'd taken yoga classes before and enjoyed them, but there is no comparison to Ravi's classes. Ravi's sets are always different, but with familiar elements. Her narrative during the exercises is so helpful in getting to the "right place" in your head, creating a wholeness of being. Some classes are more physical, some more meditative. I love them all, but the meditative exercises bring such a sense of utter peace. And who doesn't need that?"
Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini Yoga is known as the yoga of energy.
Kundalini yoga originated in the Punjab region of northern India as the "raj yoga" or yoga for the royalties. Yogi Bhajan had a vision and brought Kundalini Yoga to the West in the 1960s.
Kundalini Yoga involves the ancient science of self- healing that utilizes breath-work (pranayam)
yoga postures (asana), sound (mantra), and meditation to create vitality in the body, balance in the mind, and spiritual awareness.
Ravi Kaur has been teaching Kundalini Yoga in Northern Virginia for 15 years.
Her classes are ideal for beginners as well as advanced practitioners who are interested in spiritual development and improving their health, vitality and flexibility. Ravi also has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and she brings her knowledge of education to her instruction. Accommodations are offered. Ravi teaches private Kundalini Yoga classes on Thursday evenings in Vienna, VA (6:30-7:45 pm with individual consultations from 7:45-8:00 pm), as a drop-in hour long session at 12:15 on Saturdays at the Oakmarr Recreation Center.
Kundalini Yoga in Oakton, VA on Saturdays from 9:30-11:00 a.m. at the Unitarian Church at 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Rms. 3 and 4 of the Meditation Center.
Classes include one free introductory class, senior discounts, $11 a session for four or more session and drop-in rates ($15). Contact Ravi: 571-213-3192 or cmason@edimprovement.org.
Heart Beaming Certification
Discounts are available when a group of five or more is convened for instruction. Heart Beaming is a method Ravi Kaur developed from yoga/meditation practice to help students relieve stress, improve performance, and enhance classroom interactions through song, dance, movement, fun, laughter and positive thinking. Level I Heart Beaming Certification is available after a three-hour session and six-week practicum for individuals who:
Have had at least one yoga class
Can demonstrate five basic yoga postures
Possess the ability to teach yogic breathing
Gentle Yoga
Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan. Session includes yoga sets, breathing, stretching, and meditation.
Gentle Yoga
Thursday 6:30- 7:45 pm Through June 16. 7:45- 8:00 pm optional discussion. One free session. No charge for Emmaus Attenders. Senior Discounts. Emmaus United Church of Christ 900 E. Maple, Vienna
Drop In Rate$15.00
Testimonials: Yoga and Meditation
By Donald Kim - Note: Dr. Mason sometimes teaches yoga under her spiritual name, Ravi Kaur. Here is a statement from some of her long-time students:
Steve Simon, Ph.D., Yoga student, Virginia
"Ravi's Kundalini yoga classes are full of classic and unique yoga postures, fabulous energy producing breath exercises, and the healing energy of thoughtful meditations which have helped me regain, as a senior, much lost flexibility, mobility and a calm self assurance. She is a master teacher of the Kundalini style of yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan. Great for all ages."
Carol Roach, Yoga student, Virgina
"Kundalini yoga has been an amazing discovery for me. This practice empowers my spirit as well as my body. Chris provides lessons which include physical poses, breathing techniques and focused meditations. Chris provides motivation, gives individual support, and encourages individual discovery and growth. Each class makes me feel energized and uplifted as well as calm, focused and with a sense of well-being. Thank you!"
Cheryl Karoly, Preschool teacher and Yoga student, Virginia
Ravi's Kundalini yoga classes have been an important part of my life since I started taking taking them a number of years ago. I'd taken yoga classes before and enjoyed them, but there is no comparison to Ravi's classes. Ravi's sets are always different, but with familiar elements. Her narrative during the exercises is so helpful in getting to the "right place" in your head, creating a wholeness of being. Some classes are more physical, some more meditative. I love them all, but the meditative exercises bring such a sense of utter peace. And who doesn't need that?
Jillayne Flanders, Executive Director, Massachusetts Elementary School Principals' Association
"The Center for Educational Improvement is dedicated to ensuring that social-emotional learning and physiological development are an integral component of a child's education. Through their Heart-Centered Program, the whole school benefits from practicing daily interactions that include justice, tolerance, kindness, mindfulness, and forgiveness. When an entire school is grounded in these precepts, a palpable community of thoughtful learners, children and adults, grows and succeeds.
Dr. Marian White-Hood, Head of School, Potomac Preparatory PCS
"The Center for Educational Improvement (CEI) provided a series of workshops for Potomac Public Charter School this year. The workshops focused on problem-based learning, arts integration, creativity and engineering, and motivating students through astronomy. Dr. Mason worked with an outstanding teams of presenters and all sessions were highly rated. My teachers and leaders found each session to be engaging, practical, and informative. CEI is truly focused on 21st Century Learning.
Kathy Ward-Cameron, President, Early Literacy Institute, Washington, DC; Ohio; and Wisconsin
"Dr. Mason has a vast network of professional affiliates. She and her team at the Center for Educational Improvement provide high-quality training and technical assistance to schools and districts throughout the United States and abroad. I am proud to be counted among her many professional colleagues and pleased to highly recommend her to you.
Gregory R. VanHorn, Race to the Top Regional Consulting Specialist, Ohio Department of Education/Central Ohio Educational Service Center
"After the first year of guidance, recommendations, and training seminars we moved from a rating of 'Academic Emergency' to 'Academic Watch.' This was a huge achievement for a school of our model, which is set up to serve potential drop-outs and students not performing positively in a traditional setting. In the past year we moved a full 15 points ahead on our Ohio Performance Index, from 49 to 64. Before that time we had never risen out of the 40's. Through end of year teacher surveys, it was clear that our faculty attributed much of our success to the initiatives and training provided by Chris and her team.
Jacque Hayden, Assistant Principal, Hospital High School, Washington, DC
"I have worked with Dr. Mason and her team for quite some time, first as a classroom teacher and now as a school leader. The thorough observations and feedback and coaching provided by Dr. Mason and Ms. Labib have been an valuable asset to our school community. Our teachers are able to have a third party to work with in a non-evaluative environment. The instructional coaching is always in line with our school-wide goals as well as the professional development goals of the school and each individual teacher.
Carol Roach, Yoga student, Virginia
"Kundalini yoga has been an amazing discovery for me. This practice empowers my spirit as well as my body. Chris provides lessons which include physical poses, breathing techniques and focused meditations. Chris provides motivation, gives individual support, and encourages individual discovery and growth. Each class makes me feel energized and uplifted as well as calm, focused and with a sense of wellbeing. Thank you!
Publications
Heart Beaming by Christine Mason and K'Lee Banks (2014)
CEI's Heart Beaming publication can now be ordered in bulk. The publication includes easy-to-follow diagrams and steps for using breath, movement and brief exercises to take "mind-breaks" to promote compassion, student engagement and learning. Heart Beaming works well with morning meetings, and also for brief 3-5 minute stretch breaks. Pricing below reflects bulk discount pricing for order quantities of 5, 10, 20, or 100. Contact CEI directly to order other quantities to meet your school or district needs.
Heart Beaming 5 copies$15.00
Heart Beaming 10 copies$29.00
Heart Beaming 20 copies$50.00
Heart Beaming 50 copies$110.00
Training and Certification Options
Partner Highlight: The Exam Performance Program
CEI is now teaming with Exam Performance Publishing, LLC
To provide a performance training program like no other. The Exam Performance Program was designed by sports therapists, psychologists and educators to maximize student performance, as well as their scores, on standardized and academic tests. The program was developed for students in grades 8-college.
The program consists of six seminar videos, a seminar workbook, and 10 daily training videos.
The two hour online seminar component of The Exam Performance Program will walk you through the principles of peak-performance training and help you to prepare your students to achieve maximum success on any test. You will learn how to help your students develop high-quality habits that will help them control their test anxiety, response to stress, recover from mistakes, and be prepared to perform at their best - particularly during stressful exam situations.
For more information, and to receive our special CEI discount
contact cmason@edimprovement.org, to learn more about this valuable tool.
Coming Soon! Educator Module, Training and Certification for Exam Performance Ambassadors.
CEI is leading the effort to prepare educators to assist with the implementation of Exam Performance. We are looking for retired teachers and principals, college students, and interns to be Ambassadors. Contact cmason@edimprovement.org to learn more.
Local Yoga & Meditation Classes
Local Yoga & Meditation Classes
Dr. Mason teaches private Kundalini Yoga classes on Thursday evenings in Vienna, VA (6:30-7:45 pm with individual consultations from 7:45-8:00 pm) and in Oakton, VA on Saturdays from 9:30-11:00 am. She also teaches Yoga Basics from 12:15-1:10 on Saturdays at the Oakmarr Recreation Center which is part of the Fairfax County Parks and Recreation Department. Contact Dr. Mason at 571-213-3192 or cmason@edimprovement.org for more information and to register. Drops-in are welcome, discounts for seniors, and discounts for registering for at least 4 sessions. Dr. Mason is available for individual and group sessions.
Heart Beaming Certification
Starting in February 2016
CEI will offer Heart Beaming Certification to train teachers in CEI's Heart Beaming approach.
Level I Heart Beaming Certification is available after a three-hour session and six week practicum for individuals who:
Have had at least one yoga class, Can demonstrate five basic yoga postures, Possess the ability to teach yogic breathing
Training includes special instruction in teaching heart beaming to PreK-12 students.
If you have no prior yoga experience, we can arrange prerequisite training. Discounts are available for schools and other educational organizations that arrange for five or more teachers to become certified. For a nominal $10 a year individuals who are certified will receive an annual update on the advances in Heart Beaming. Click here for more information.
Cost
with a group discount when you arrange for five or more people to be certified. CEI trainers are available to come to your community. $10 a year for an annual update.
(per person)$79.00
Heart Beaming Regional Leaders
CEI is currently seeking 10 Regional Heart Beaming Leaders. If you have completed at least one yoga class and are interested in helping train teachers in Heart Beaming, contact Dr. Mason (cmason@edimprovement.org) to discuss expectations.