I find this year’s umbrella project theme, “time”, to be very fitting for me personally. Time is at the forefront of my mind these days. I am acutely aware of how much time I have left until my first child’s birth. For the last nine months I have watched my belly get bigger and my running speed get slower. I am also aware that the time that lies ahead of me will be distinctly different from the previous time in my life. Much of this pregnancy I have spent reflecting on the past or looking forward.

My hope for students in PE this year is the opposite. It is my desire for them to be present in the moment verses thinking only about the past or the future. Bringing mindfulness to the body during exercise often has a way of making one present to the moment. It can be hard to focus on what might be going on later in the day when your legs and lungs are demanding your utmost attention. It is also difficult to draw awareness to your breath and think about what happened yesterday at the same time. Practicing mindfulness techniques can be a benefit in the classroom as well. Students learn how to pay attention on purpose in a particular way. It is one way to help students think about their thinking.

In addition to the movement aspect of PE, at Sabot we are blessed with the gift of expansive outdoor space. Being outside can shift your focus away from the stresses of the day to the birds overhead or the feeling of the sun on your skin. It alerts the senses and draws awareness to the body.

Don’t get me wrong, I see great value in learning from the past or setting goals for the future. But it is my desire to use exercise as a way to help students enjoy the moment that they are in.

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