Open Gym: Build Practical Body-Mind Skills for the Classroom

Wellness isn't something you only rest into; it's something you practice. In this Brain Gym session within the #SameHere Global STARR Gym for the Brain learning space, you will actively practice evidence-based body-brain exercises you can bring straight back to your classroom. The STARR (Stress and Trauma Active Release and Rewiring) framework, grounded in research from trauma-informed MDs and PhDs, introduces a shared nervous system language rooted in Polyvagal Theory. Through guided and self-directed exploration, you will learn how stress and trauma exist on a continuum, how that shows up in student behavior and readiness to learn, and how to use the SameHere Scale as a shared, non-diagnostic language for tracking emotional states. Rotate through interactive stations featuring breathwork, movement, regulation and sound-based techniques, each tied to real classroom scenarios. You will leave confident using short, targeted exercises and daily check-ins that build focus, resilience and classrooms where students feel regulated, connected and ready to learn.