Hello,
The past two years (a 5-year project in development) has allowed us to help thousands of children develop tools to self-soothe. We have been working with many schools in Denver and after my move to Maine 2.5 years ago I have been working within the Portland Public School system. The common thread among all the schools is that they are looking for a trauma-informed way to help all children thrive.
Below is an article that was recently published in a local paper here in Maine. I would love to hear from you if you think this could help your community- Maine, Colorado and beyond!

Happy New Year! May this year be filled with health and peace.
With Gratitude,
Julie

 

Portland-Area Children Improving Emotional Health with Five-Minute Yoga and Mindfulness Videos

Scientifically Proven Techniques Make Significant Impact In Self-Regulation

PORTLAND, Maine, November 7, 2018 — Local Portland children and teachers are gaining tools to improve attention, emotional regulation and overall well-being in just five minutes a day. Julie Campilio, owner and founder of Radiant Beginnings Yoga, is helping Portland elementary schools through a video curriculum of breathing exercises and mindfulness techniques designed to calm the nervous system and prepare young bodies for learning. Currently being used in five local schools, Campilio is looking to expand throughout the state of Maine.

The five-minute, web-based videos lead children and teachers through deep breathing techniques, mindfulness and guided relaxation. The results of the videos are decreased stress, anxiety and aggressive behavior. Additionally, they also increase emotional regulation, self-control, compassion and attention. Through techniques proven to shrink the amygdala, the section of the brain that controls fear and other emotions, participants are calmer and happier.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in seven children aged two to eight years old has a mental, behavioral or developmental disorder. The most common diagnosis is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Research shows that children at Parkside Head Start in Portland had a significant decrease in hyperactivity, as well as behavioral difficulties and overall stress after they watched the Radiant Beginnings Yoga videos three times per week for four weeks, in conjunction with twice-weekly in-person mindfulness and movement sessions from OmKids, a children’s wellness program in Portland, Maine.

“There isn’t enough mental health support for kids. I have been working with youths ages three to eighteen for more than a decade. I have seen first-hand how yoga and mindfulness can impact different aspects of a child’s life – from relationships to learning,” says Campilio.

Working in collaboration with Dr. Bruce Thompson, developmental psychologist at the University of Southern Maine, Campilio is currently working in 20 classrooms in Riverton Elementary with children ages five to ten. The teachers in these classrooms are using the videos three to five times per week.

“An aspect we are evaluating at Riverton Elementary School is how these videos improve the teacher’s wellbeing, in addition to the emotional and behavioral improvements seen in the students,” said Campilio.

In October 2018, Campilio was featured in The New York Times discussing how yoga and mindfulness can help youths manage anxiety. The special section featured alternatives to traditional conflict resolution techniques used in schools.

Kelly Thornhill, assistant principal at East End Community School in Portland, Maine, said, “Whenever students are sent to the office before they go back we do one of your videos. It’s been so helpful in regulating them and getting them ready to return to the classroom.”

Dr. Beverly Stevens, principal at Ocean Avenue Elementary School in Portland, Maine, said, “The teachers that started working with the Radiant Beginnings Videos were astounded by the difference in their students. Once other teams heard of the impact, they also wanted it for their classroom. We observe students using the mindfulness techniques spontaneously across settings at school.”

Through a program designed to support students who have experienced trauma, Campilio has worked with Chris Salamone, social worker at Ocean Avenue Elementary. “Portland’s large population of refugee and homeless children are particularly at-risk for mental health issues. Many have lived through extremely traumatic experiences, but don’t have access to resources to support their emotional well-being,” said Campilio. “The techniques adhere to a trauma-informed approach, so the entire focus is to help children feel safe and supported.”

About Radiant Beginnings Yoga

Radiant Beginnings Yoga offers stress management solutions to children and adults. Through deep breathing techniques, mindful movement and guided relaxation every program is designed to help individuals increase social-emotional health, emotional-regulation and stress-resilience. Radiant Beginnings Yoga is based in Denver, CO and Portland, ME. Learn more at radiantbeginningsyoga.com.

 

Radiant Beginnings and founder Julie Campilio were published in The New York Times Magazine about how yoga can help youth manage anxiety.

The column is titled “What’s new in school discipline” and explains new alternatives to conflict resolution techniques used in schools.

It’s exciting to see schools thinking outside the box to serve their students’ mental health. The time is now.

Let’s empower youth to learn tools so that when they experience hard feelings— because they will, they will have the skills to shift into a better place physically and mentally.

Imagine… You almost got into a car accident. You swerved out of the way just in time, phew! Your body tightened up (especially the jaw, shoulders, and face) and your mind started to race. After a couple of minutes, those feelings dissipated–you are back to baseline and you can go about your day as normal.

If you experience chronic stress/anxiety having the option of moving back to baseline sometimes is not a reality. People who have experienced trauma often times don’t have the opportunity to ‘shake it off’.

So how can we help everybody? The people who have experienced trauma, special needs, and neurotypical humans? How do we get everyone on the same page to then learn and connect socially? One tool is to get everyone from fight/flight (sympathetic nervous system) to rest and digest (parasympathetic nervous system). How?

• Pause
• Create a consistent time to practice together
• Patience and practice- Consistency will help change the brain/behavior
• Explain the importance of connecting mind, body, and breath: Why are we practicing relaxation techniques?
• Lead by example. Do you need a moment to collect yourself? Perhaps letting others know that you need to take a few deep breaths to feel better.

Below is a video that is helping all bodies calm their nervous system. It is not specifically for youth, it’s for adults too! This video (1 of 30) was created with the adult in mind. Feel free to press play and participate alongside youth.

The 5-minute video below can be done in the comfort of a chair. There is no movement required.

Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to connect!
With Gratitude,
Julie Campilio, founder

Do you ever feel like the day is going so fast with all the to-dos, meetings, texts and many other obligations that pull your attention in a million different directions? Do you feel scattered? Like your nervous system is buzzing?

It’s no surprise that youth do too! What is beautiful about this is that we all have the tools inside of us to calm ourselves down in uncomfortable situations. Imagine learning healthy coping strategies as a child that you could carry with you through your entire life?

Someone pushes you or cuts you off in traffic and instead of retaliating you get the opportunity to pause, breathe and then decide how you want to respond, rather than react. What a superpower!

With practice, we can build resilience, patience, compassion (to self and others) and so much more.

Schools are using our videos for their students and teachers. Parents are using them for themselves and their children to practice simultaneously.

After teaching yoga and mindfulness for the past 11 years, it was evident that youth were not the only ones looking for these tools- I would have teachers laying down on the rug with their students to get a taste of ‘pause.’

Below is a resource for you to try. It’s for you, for kids and designed to calm the nervous system with deep breathing, mindfulness, and guided relaxation.

If you are a teacher, many use our videos during morning meeting or before/after a transition. Feel free to give it a try- We would love to hear from you!

With deep gratitude,
Julie