Wouldn’t you love to start out everyday with bliss?

This year at the Calais School, we’ve infused the daily morning announcements with our own form of Zen. Everyday Mrs. Vitaletti, a counselor at the Calais School leads the school through a short breathing and meditation exercise. This simple yet effective practice has served to build a sense of centeredness and calm that is almost palpable.  Attention is brought to the body, mind and the breathe as she walks us through a guided mediation each morning.

Our morning meditation is widely appreciated for setting the tone of the day with bliss and a refreshed awareness and acceptance for ourselves and others.  It has been so well received that even various students have even volunteered to step in as guest speakers.  It not only brings about peace and positive intent but serves to create a feeling of connectivity through out the school. This feeling is carried with us throughout the day.

As a Licensed Yoga Instructor and a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified School Counselor with a Master’s Degree in Special Education, Mrs. Vitaletti applies the principles of meditation and the use of breathe in her interactions with the students at Calais.

When asked about the benefits of such practices, Mrs. Vitaletti explained,

Stress related to relationships, body image, emotions, school and even job issues can play a major role in lives of children and adolescents. It can create a lot of negative impacts on mental, physical and emotional wellness. Guided meditation, and breathing exercises may help to empower children and teens with confidence by providing easy-to-use tools to manage their stress…

The ability to focus on the breathe helps to quiet the mind and to concentrate better on areas of school and life. Breathing exercises work well whether you are feeling nervous, anxious or sad.

Through Yoga, meditation and relaxation exercises, children and teens are encouraged to think in a caring, sharing way about each other and the world around them.

At the end of the meditation Mrs. Vitaletti always reminds the students that they can use this exercise throughout their day if they find themselves feeling anxious, stressed, worried or just need to feel emotionally and mentally centered. We can all use a little bliss each day and Calais is grateful for Mrs. Vitaletti’s contribution to the morning announcements. She has taught us that stressful situations can arise at any moment but we can navigate these issues while still staying positive with a little breathing and meditation.