IETA 2023

Living in a digital age invites a constant bombardment of notifications, an expectation to be ‘on’ 24/7, and a sense of feeling disconnected from the tangible – a recipe for stress, anxiety, and burnout. As a recovering stress addict, I will share three resources that have helped me on my road to recovery. In this session, be prepared for a hands-on experience to participate in using meditation, tapping, and ikebana and leave feeling prepared with tools to have peace in your life on a daily basis.

First, an explanation of what meditation is and is not will be presented in addition to dispelling some myths regarding the practice. A variety of guided meditation apps will be provided as a resource. The specific use of Insight Timer, a free app, will be presented and then the group can participate in a short sample guided meditation from Insight Timer.

Next, EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) or Tapping will be explained, benefits presented, and questions answered. The group can participate in a round or two of tapping to address current issues they may be feeling.

Last, research has shown that repetitive motion can calm the over-active mind. Not only the traditional yoga or tai-chi but also handwork such as knitting and crocheting focuses the mind and decreases stress hormones. A brief explanation of the Japanese art of flower arranging or ikebana that has been used for centuries to calm the mind will be provided. A demonstration will take place and then those who wish to participate will be invited and guided to create their own ikebana arrangement. Materials will be provided.

While the presentation will be focused on personal use, the strategies can easily be used in the classroom to help students dealing with stress and anxiety.