CURRENT CLASSES TO REDUCE QUARANTINE STRESS

DO YOU WANT TO TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT DIFFICULT SUBJECTS (including COVID-19) and how they are effecting their lives, school, friends and even their futures... BUT NOT SURE WHAT to say, HOW to say it, or even WHEN to say it?

Research shows that direct and honest discussions benefit all family members and create a setting that will foster healthy emotional development. In times of uncertainty and upheaval, clear and consistent messages build resiliency, teach coping skills and reduce stress in families.

Based on the award-winning national curriculum called Creating Lasting Family Connections, this class has been designed to strengthen parent-child communications skills and family bonding.  Family members learn how to safely express their emotions, thoughts, fears, and also show kindness and support for each other. 

                                     * * * * * * *

Our PARENT CONNECT Zoom Class consists of a series of 5 (90 min) sessions facilitated by Nancy Billington and Lauren Lanham. 

These classes are FREE and open to all  parents, grandparents and guardians. Feel free to forward our link to your friends.

We have 2021 WINTER SESSIONS running January through March: TO JOIN OUR Tuesday morning or Tuesday evening CLASSES please request your ZOOM invitation by email to:

Nbillington@Inspireinc.org

WINTER SESSIONS beginning soon: 

5 Consecutive weeks on TUESDAYS: January 12, 19, 26, Feb 2, Feb 9

OR

5 consecutive weeks on TUESDAYS: February 16, 23, Mar 2, 9, 16

SESSION 1:  Walking in Their Shoes

                    TUES @ 10-11:30 AM 

             OR TUES @ 7-8:30 PM 

We will focus on understanding your child's perspective in order to connect empathetically.

SESSION 2.  How Do You Feel?

                      TUES@ 10-11:30 AM

               OR TUES @ 7-8:30 PM

An in-depth look into emotions, their effect 

on behavior, how to regulate our own  and 

validate those of others.   

SESSION 3:  Can We Talk?

                       TUES @ 10-11:30 AM  

               OR  TUES @ 7-8:30 PM

Valuable techniques to listen compassionately  and express our feelings honestly. 

SESSION 4:  Let's Make a Deal       

                        TUES @  10-11:30 AM  

                OR  TUES @ 7-8:30 PM

Identify parental  expectations and consequences and present them fairly for mutual agreement.

SESSION 5:  Being the Peace

                      TUES @  10-11:30 AM

              OR  TUES @ 7-8:30 PM

Discuss specific Covid-19 challenges and how to create your COVID-COPING PLAN and model the behavior you hope to see in your child.

Today's  unprecedented  health crisis has shaken our lives to the core. Perhaps nothing causes more stress and anxiety than the unknown. With so many unanswered questions, we must look to calm, relax and heal ourselves with the tools available where we are sheltered.

 A pen and paper can help.  

Expressive writing is easy. In just one hour you will learn ways to add this simple practice to your at-home Covid-Coping Plan. By writing about your thoughts and feelings for as few as 10 minutes you may change your emotional state,  improve your thought process and even sleep better. 

This class is based on University of Texas Prof. James Pennebaker's 30 years of nationally recognized research which has connected the process of writing our feelings down on paper to better health. This practice can  result in reducing heart rate and blood pressure, minimizing stress, strengthening the immune system and improving your overall mood.  

It is important to note that the healing aspect of writing has been proven to be in the process, not the product. The goal is not to create a piece of literature but to release the tension of worrisome thoughts by transferring them from your mind to paper. No writing experience or special skills are necessary!  

This (60 min) stress reduction workshop will be offered every WEDNESDAY at 2-3:00PM throughout  our 2021 JAN-MARCH WINTER SESSION 

OR by appointment...email Lauren Lanham to schedule   

JOIN either workshop by requesting your ZOOM invitation by email to: Llanham@Inspireinc.org        

Body Balance* is a gentle movement class that works the entire body. The class focuses on 1) Core Strength-which is essential for good balance, and 2) Joint Flexibility. Expect to breathe deeply as you move your body in every direction. The class can be done standing or seated in a chair. 

This 60 minute class ends with 15 minutes of guided relaxation where you will rest, relax and restore your energy and bring a renewed vitality to the rest of your day.

* Previously presented at Fairfield's Bigelow Senior Center.

Join us every FRIDAY morning 10-11 AM on ZOOM. 

Presented FREE of charge and open to ALL.

Please email Lauren to receive our ZOOM link.

Not sure about using ZOOM? 

Lauren is happy to guide you through the simple process on your computer!

Contact Lauren: Llanham@Inspireinc.org

We are all experiencing stress to some degree at this challenging time.

We strongly advocate self care, especially now. 

Below are some tips for making the best of our quarantine:

Feel your big feelings. Find safe ways to express them (journal, yell into a pillow or cry, talk them out with a friend or therapist, draw them, dance them, run them out) and feel them all the way through. Unresolved emotions lead to all manner of difficulty and health issues.

Take breaks from the media and news. There is a lot of bad news these days and you don’t have to tune in to the news any more than you normally would and maybe even less.

Increase self-awareness and resist the tendency to compare. This is a time to work diligently to tend to yourself. Determine what kind of activities and routines will work best for your unique self instead of doing what others say you should be doing.

Tend to your physical body. Move. Hydrate. Get enough sleep. Eat well. Try some new spices in your food or an entirely new recipe. We are sensual beings and require stimulation.

Tend to your physical space. Have at least one space in your home that is restful to be in. Make it clutter-free and calm.

Connect as you can. Social isolation can have a huge impact on our mental health. Feeling lonely is understandable. Use your technology to connect with those you know and with diverse platforms for entertainment.

Source: Psychology Today

Please go to our RESOURCES page for a 15 minute guided relaxation audio session and a 30 minute gentle exercise video.

OR

JOIN A FREE Zoom "Intro to INSPIRE Meditation" CLASS, by emailing Llanham@Inspireinc.org

It has been estimated that stress can be an underlying cause of nearly 80% of illnesses. Stress comes in many forms. Often stress is so much a part of our routine that we fail to recognize it as a problem. These hidden stressors continually barrage us and over time they can result in a wide range of health conditions such as:   

• premature aging 

• degenerative disease 

• insomnia

• indigestion

• high blood pressure 

• heartburn 

• addictions to alcohol, drugs and tobacco