Wellbeing
Tools for Life: Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in Schools
6 days
Daniela Luz
Set in the idyllic surroundings of Ferragudo Beach in the Algarve, this immersive and hands-on training is crafted to equip school teachers with foundational and advanced Social Emotional Learning (SEL) tools through the embodied lens of mindfulness. Blending conscious movement, breathing practices, reflective dialogue, and nervous system education, this course invites teachers to first experience what they will later model: regulation, empathy, presence, and emotional awareness.
Tools for Life: SEL in Schools is not about theory delivered via screens, slides, or lectures. It’s about lived experience. The sessions are conducted both indoors and outdoors (especially on the beach) and integrate mindful practices with soft cushions, yoga mats, circle sharings, and movement. Each day invites you to connect deeply with yourself, others, and nature, cultivating a new teaching presence from the inside out.
Important Information About the Structure of Our Trainings
Our trainings are thoughtfully designed to provide both collective learning and space for personal integration. Each course is structured around a common core of 30 hours, with 3 hours of guided group sessions each morning. In the afternoons, participants are invited to complete 2 hours of self-paced, asynchronous tasks that are specifically tailored to the focus of the course they are enrolled in.
Please note that some of these trainings may be delivered in parallel with other programs under the same overarching theme, meaning that while participants share the morning sessions as a collective group, the afternoon practices and assignments are uniquely designed for each course’s objectives.
These asynchronous tasks might include reflection exercises, creative assignments, or the development of a practical resource that links the morning content to the core topic of your specific training.
This blended model ensures a rich learning journey that supports both deep connection with the group and individual autonomy, empowering each participant to embody the teachings in a way that resonates with their path.
We kindly ask you to embrace the structure with presence and commitment, knowing that this combination of shared experience and personal practice is a powerful container for transformation.
Learning Outcomes
Participants to the course will learn to:
Understand the core principles of mindfulness and their application in education
Explore and embody the five competencies of SEL through personal experience
Manage stress and cultivate emotional regulation using somatic and breath-based tools
Foster deeper emotional awareness and self-connection as educators
Improve relationship skills and mindful communication with students and colleagues
Apply SEL and mindfulness strategies in age-appropriate and inclusive ways
Create a sustainable personal and professional well-being plan grounded in awareness and intention
Programme
Tools for Life: Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in Schools
Day 1: Introduction to SEL and Mindfulness
Welcome Circle & Energy Sharing: Getting to know each other
Mindful Movement & Breathing Practice
Life Values Reflection: “What kind of teacher and human do I want to be?”
Mindfulness Technique: Intention Setting Practice
Introduction to SEL: Exploring the core competencies and their relationship with mindfulness
The 3 Types of Mindfulness: How to apply them in life and teaching
Self-Paced Tasks:
Journaling: “What do I want to cultivate more of in my professional life?”
Practice: 3 mindfulness check-ins throughout the day
Reflection: Identify one SEL moment from today’s activities
Day 2: Awareness & Self-Knowledge – Who I Am as a Teacher and Person
Gentle Yoga and Breathwork for Self-Connection
The Power of Self-Awareness in Teaching
Diaphragmatic Breathing for Emotional Regulation
Guided Meditation: Anchoring in the Present
Group Sharing Circle: How self-knowledge supports well-being
Self-Paced Tasks:
Journaling: “What do I discover when I pause and listen to myself?”
Practice: Repeat breathwork + 1 mindful movement practice
Create: Visual map of ‘Who I Am as a Teacher’ – values, emotions, vision
Day 3: Emotional Awareness & Heart-Centered Teaching
Mindful Yoga to Connect Body and Emotions
Emotion Regulation Techniques for Teachers & Students
Heart Coherence Breathing + Heart-Based Mindfulness
SEL in Practice: Empathy, Compassion & Self-Care in Teaching
Guided Meditation: Releasing and Feeling Safely
Self-Paced Tasks:
Journaling: “What emotion needs my attention right now?”
Practice: 3 emotional awareness check-ins
Reflection: How emotional literacy changes my teaching
Creative Task: Design a heart-centered ritual for your classroom
Day 4: Stress, Boundaries & Relational Presence
Mindful Yoga for Stress Relief & Nervous System Soothing
Breathwork for Anxiety, Reset, and Regulation
Relational SEL: Building Positive Relationships with Students
Mindful Communication & Listening Practices
Exploring Family System Influence & Teacher Triggers
Self-Paced Tasks:
Journaling: “Where do I need more boundaries in my teaching life?”
Practice: Self-soothing and emotional reset breath technique
Create: Relationship Reflection Map – triggers, strengths, intentions
Create: Classroom SEL + Mindfulness starter toolkit
Day 5: Life Coaching for Educators & Embodying Your Teaching Values
Yoga for Focus, Confidence & Grounding
Visualization Practice: Your Ideal Teaching Day
Role Play: Bringing Mindfulness & SEL into Real-Life Scenarios
Creating Your Well-Being Plan: Personal + Professional
Gratitude Practice & Uplifting Circle
Final Sharing & Closing Ritual
Self-Paced Tasks:
Journaling: “What inspired me in this course and in life—and how will I carry this forward into my daily school routine?”
Life Plan: Action steps for sustained self-care & emotional presence
Day 6: Boat Visit to the most stunning caves and beaches of the Algarve or Light Mindfulness Walk along the coast
Integration, contemplation in full presence
*Please note: Boat visits depend on the season and weather availability.
Self-Paced Task:
Journaling: “What inspired me in this course and in life, and how will I carry this forward into my daily school routine?”
This training is not just another course—it is a journey back to the heart of teaching. Through movement, mindfulness, reflection, and community, you’ll discover how to embody the emotional and relational presence you wish to inspire in your students.
Materials, digital tools & other learning resources
Course participants will receive training and engage in exercises designed to develop their skills as trainers. The provision of additional materials or resources will be determined based on the course structure and the instructor’s approach to meeting the learning objectives
Course package content:
Services and activities included in the course package are those described above. Please note that accommodation, transport, and meals are not provided.
Cancellation & changes:
Common sense prevails when it comes to cancellations, which are analyzed on a case-by-case basis.