Yoga & Mindfulness for Teachers | Erasmus+ Course Crete

Teaching is one of the most demanding professions, and teacher wellbeing directly shapes the classroom climate. This practical course gives educators simple yoga, breathing and mindfulness practices to manage their own stress and to create calmer, more focused and more connected classrooms. Sessions take place outdoors, on the beaches and in the nature of Crete, led by an experienced yoga instructor. No previous yoga or mindfulness experience is needed.

Participants start by understanding students’ needs through diversity, equity and inclusion and how to build resilient school communities with high-quality connections. The focus then moves to the teacher:

recognising the signs of stress and burnout
breathing techniques for calm and self-regulation
a first yoga practice with chair and mat options
simple daily self-care routines for teachers

Next, participants bring these practices into the classroom with a secular, practical approach to mindfulness. They practise body scans, mindful listening and attention exercises, chair yoga and 3–5 minute brain breaks, and calm routines for transitions, tests and after breaks. A day by the sea and in nature includes an outdoor yoga session on the beach, mindful walking and sensory awareness, relaxation and guided imagery, and yoga games and stories for younger learners. The course ends with participants adapting the practices for different ages, spaces and special needs, designing and leading their own 5-minute routines and planning a whole-school wellbeing routine.

The course aims to help educators care for their own wellbeing and pass simple, effective wellbeing practices on to their students. It gives teachers practical tools to reduce stress, improve focus and self-regulation, and create a calm, positive classroom climate. These tools fit easily into the school day, with no special equipment or experience. In this way the course contributes to the Erasmus+ priorities on wellbeing in education, inclusion and the prevention of teacher burnout.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

Understand students’ needs through the lens of diversity, equity and inclusion
Build resilient school communities and high-quality connections at school
Recognise the signs of teacher stress and burnout
Use breathing techniques for calm and self-regulation
Practise gentle yoga with chair and mat options
Build simple daily self-care routines for teachers
Bring a secular, practical mindfulness approach into the school day
Use body scans, mindful listening and attention practices with learners
Lead 3–5 minute brain breaks and calm routines for transitions, tests and after breaks
Use relaxation, guided imagery, yoga games and stories with learners of different ages
Use outdoor spaces and nature for yoga, mindful walking and sensory awareness
Adapt practices for different ages, spaces and special needs
Design and lead their own 5-minute routines and plan a whole-school wellbeing routine
Plan follow-up and dissemination activities and integrate the course into future Erasmus+ projects

Course Language

English Note: Participants must have at least a CEFR level B1 knowledge of English in order to be able to participate actively.

Target Groups

Preschool, primary, secondary, VET and adult teachers, trainers and PE staff. No yoga or mindfulness experience needed.

Methods & Tools

Daily guided yoga and mindfulness sessions outdoors, on the beach and in nature, short presentations, hands-on workshops, peer practice and group reflection. Participants try every practice themselves first, then design and lead short activities for their own learners.
Materials: practice cards, a classroom routine toolkit, chairs and mats.

In course fee includes

- Coffee Breaks that include traditional products.
- Guided tour of the Historical Center of the town.
- Dinner in a traditional restaurant in the town.
- Europass Mobility.
- A small gift with traditional Cretan products.
- Certificate of Attendance, for participants who attend at least 80% of the course.