3-Day Teacher Training

You’re invited to participate in and contribute to this one-of-a-kind training experience; a heartfelt collection of education and experience working directly with children in the fields of mental health, yoga and mindfulness meditation for almost twenty years.  My intention is to bridge the latest development in these fields with a comprehensive and lively learning experience for you.  My hope is to cultivate the gifts already within you and to inspire you to apply what you’ve learned to help enrich the lives of children.  If you’re a parent or grandparent, educator, yoga teacher, therapist or someone working directly with children, and you’re seeking an experience that will support you in bringing the teaching and practice of yoga and mindfulness to the children in your life,  please consider joining me!  

Enthusiastically,
Jen Rapanos
Information:  
DATES:  October 26-28, 2018
HOURS:  Friday 3:00-6:00 / Saturday 9:00-6:00 / Sunday 9:00-6:00 
LOCATION:  Thought Design Learning Lab. 10 East Bridge Street. Rockford, MI.  49341
INVESTMENT:  Register by October 1, 2018  $545.  Registration after October 1, 2018  $595
REGISTRATION:  Pre-registration is required and secures your space for this training. 

What to Expect:
  • A learning environment that strategically blends active participation with evidence-based practice; that means there will be some lecture and a lot of moving, playing and discovering yoga and mindfulness as a child would, with wonder!
  • An understanding of how yoga asanas can be used as a tool to nurture a child’s physical, mental, emotional and social well-being.
  • An introduction to mindfulness meditation; learn how mindfulness exercises can help build awareness, focused attention, curiosity and compassion within children.
  • Instruction to brain-based education; learn how to use kid-friendly language, visuals and props to teach children how and why our brains are designed to interpret and react to stress. 
  • Become familiar with breathing exercises that teach children how to focus their attention, modulate their energy states and mood. 
  • Learn how to use yoga games to enhance learning and teach skills like concentration, cooperation, communication and more.
  • Gain knowledge of child development (ages 3-17) in relationship to learning expectations, lesson planning, teaching strategies and behavioral management techniques.
  • Become familiar with the Seven Seeds of a Well-Bean class; developing skills that foster self-awareness, self-management and self-efficacy in youth.
  • Learn the art of creating engaging and effective lesson plans.  You’ll be gifted Well-Bean lesson plans to help guide, encourage and inspiration you in creating your own!
  • ​Learn by observing and participating in a live Well-Bean Family Yoga class!
  • Special considerations including—children with special needs, childhood trauma, the secular qualities of mindfulness and yoga, and more. 
  • Conversation about the business of kids yoga and strategies for developing and putting your skills into practice.
  • An opportunity to connect and build community with individuals who share similar passions and interests.
  • A complete list of resources to support you on your journey of sharing yoga and mindfulness with children.
  • A comprehensive Well-Bean Teacher Training Manual.

About the Teacher: 
Jen Rapanos, LMSW, RCYT earned her Master’s Degree in 2001 in Social Work from Wayne State University; she is a licensed Clinical Social Worker and currently is in private practice in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Jen has developed a distinct approach to working with children and adolescents as a psychotherapist, yoga and mindfulness teacher.  Drawing from almost two decades of experience working as a school social worker and clinician, she blends her comprehensive background in mental health with training in mindfulness and yoga to offer an integrated and holistic approach to treatment. In 2014 she developed Well-Bean Kids Yoga & Mindfulness Programs, now known as Well-Bean, LLC and is committed to enriching the lives of youth by providing resources and services that nurture their emotional and mental health and needs.  Well-Bean provides integrative psychotherapy, yoga and mindfulness classes, wellness workshops and education and training for adults who work directly with youth.  As a life-long learner, Jen continues to find inspiration for Well-Bean programing through continued education opportunities and studying current research in her fields of study. She is humbly grateful for the opportunity to work with so many children and adolescents and continues to believe, hands down, that they are her greatest teachers! 💖
 
Jen is proficient in the areas of anxiety and mood disorders, mindfulness meditation, self-compassion, attachment and trauma, and in working with children with disabilities and their families.  She has facilitated several therapy and support groups over the years, offers support and professional development opportunities to educators throughout Michigan and is asked frequently to speak to parent and professional groups on a wide-range of topics related to mental health, yoga, mindfulness and youth. 
 
She has extensive training and practice with mindfulness meditation including: completing the 8-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course, training with Mindful Schools, and continuing education opportunities with some of her favorite meditation teachers including Dan Siegel, Jack Kornfield, and Kristen Kneff as well as attending silent meditation retreats at Insight Meditation Society with teachers Christina Feldman, Narayan Helen Liebenson and Madeline Klyhe.  Jen’s yoga training is through Rainbow Kids Yoga, Yen Yoga,  Yoga to Transform Trauma and Little Flower Yoga.  She is affiliated with the Yoga Alliance as a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT), Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher (RCYT) and Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP). 
Frequently Asked Questions:
Who should attend this training? 
This is a comprehensive training designed for individuals looking to enrich the lives of children through yoga and mindfulness practices.  This training is appropriate for parents, grandparents, educators, yoga teachers, mental-health professionals and other child-focused professionals or any person who works with children.
 
Do I have to have experience with yoga and/or mindfulness meditation to attend?  
Training, experience or a personal yoga and mindfulness meditation practice is valuable though not required as a prerequisite for this training.  In fact, if you don’t have a current practice, I hope that your participation at this workshop will inspire you to start one; we’ll be talking about the benefits in our training! 
 
If I’m a registered yoga teacher, will I receive continuing education credits with YA? 
Yes. This training will provide you with 20 contact hours that can be contributed towards your Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Requirements.
 
Will this training make me a certified children’s yoga teacher?
To become a Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance you must complete two programs, 200-RYT and 95-RCYT.  It’s important to understand that you can teach children’s yoga without being a registered yoga teacher and without being associated with the Yoga Alliance.  This training will provide you with tools to enhance the work that you are already doing with children and will get you started on the path of sharing yoga and mindfulness with children.  At the end of this training, you will receive a certificate of competition with a Yoga Alliance recognized training and if you’re already a registered yoga teacher, 20 contact hours will go towards your continuing education requirements. This is the path that got me started with teaching yoga to children.  I attended a 3-day children’s yoga training; it wasn’t until later that I pursued the path of obtaining my 200-RYT and then 95-RCYT. 
 
What if I can’t pay the full amount upfront, are there payment plan options? 
If you feel called to attend this training and the cost is a barrier please contact Jen directly and we can discuss payment plan options. 
 
Can you tell me more about the location of this training?
Thought Designed is nestled in the cozy downtown city of Rockford, Michigan.  This location was intentionally chosen because I believe that space can promote learning, creativity and connection.  The large riverfront room provides space for movement and the learning lab is ideal for active learning.  During lunch and other scheduled breaks Thought Design provides space for participants to relax and for self-care.  If you choose to explore the downtown Rockford area during breaks, you’ll have easy access to the board walk along the beautiful Rogue River and several local restaurants, shops and coffee shop within the block.     
 
I’ll be traveling, are there hotels in the community of Rockford? 
Downtown Rockford is just 10 minutes North of Grand Rapids.   There are many chain hotel options just 8-10 miles from downtown Rockford, as well as Airbnb options within 10 miles.  If you’ll be traveling from out of town and have questions about distance and hotels please feel free to reach out with questions. 
Payment & Refund: 
Payment
Payment for this training is due prior to the start date and can be made through the registration service Eventbrite.  If you prefer to make a payment via check, please contact Jen Rapanos directly.  Well-Bean is committed to making trainings and workshops available to anyone motivated in continuing their education.  If your ability to make a full payment is prohibitive to you attending please contact Jen Rapanos directly to discuss payment plan options.

Refund Policy
If life circumstances are such that you have to cancel prior to the training, you will receive a full refund up to 14 days prior to the start date.  Cancelations less than 14 days’ notice will forge a $100 cancellation fee.  Attendees not attending the training and failing to contact Well-Bean, in advance (i.e. no show) will forfeit all registration fees an no refund/credit will be issued. A minimum number of registrations must be made in order for the training/event to take place; training is subject to cancellation up to three days prior to the start date.  In the event of cancelation, full refunds will be issued through Eventbrite.  Full attendance is required to receive course credit with the Yoga Alliance.