BEST OF 2020 ACTIVITY HERO AWARD WINNER OB TOWN COUNCIL 2019 BEST PROGRAM FOR YOUTH
372 4th Avenue San Diego, California 92101
Intro
Curriculum creator & Faciltator
Good Day! My name is Jenny Blackwood. I create & facilitate The ZenTotz Program: Mindfulness & Yoga for Youth!
14 years ago, I received a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. I began my teaching career months later.
It was thrilling, yet exhausting. First grade classroom teachers are swamped. All of the tropes are true: large class sizes of 30+, an impossible workload, and measly paychecks. I rarely had a chance to purely teach; most of my time was spent managing behaviors and analyzing assessment data.
I tried my utmost best to maintain a sunshiny attitude despite the disappointing environment. Behind the scenes of this demanding professional life, I discovered Meditation, Yoga, and Mindfulness. I practiced daily, and noticed splendid results!
Slowly and authentically, I began weaving mindfulness themes into lesson plans. I enlightened students' understanding of gratitude, self-love, compassion, and forgiveness. The positively wonderful effects that these subjects had on our classroom community were instantaneous!
Thus, a seed was planted and The ZenTotz Program grew and is still growing.
I seek to share the essential practice of mindfulness with young humans so they will grow and thrive beyond their academic successes!
Vision
There is a twinkling light inside of each human being. The practice of mindfulness encourages a person's light to glow! When we teach children to be resilient and compassionate, they will grow up to shine their lights with greater consciousness and love for all other beings.
The ZenTotz Program presents the building blocks of mindfulness and yoga. Participants will be encouraged to observe thoughts in order to be free from negative emotions including depression, anxiety, addiction, and excessive stress.
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the act of paying attention to something consciously, which empowers us to understand our inner experience and how we interact with the world around us.
After experiencing The ZenTotz Program, participants will be better able to fend off negative thoughts and behaviors. These uplifting and inspiring experiences will encourage them to treat others and themselves with respect and appreciation.