We were honored to share I Am Safe with the Grow Your Own Teacher (MNGOT) Program at the University of Minnesota, where it’s required reading for the course Maintaining, Modeling, and Mirroring Mental Health in the Classroom. Taught by our brilliant colleague Dr. Jen Clifden—a passionate advocate for integrating the mind-body connection into education—this course prepares educators to support both their students’ and their own mental health through intentional practice.
Chrissy—movemindfully lead trainer and director of education, and author of I Am Safe—visited the class and led a discussion about how simple, accessible mind-body practices can be integrated into the flow of the school day. From balancing energy levels and boosting focus to creating space for emotional resets, the conversation highlighted how these tools can support classroom wellbeing for both educators and students.
One of the first things we noticed in Dr. Clifden’s room was the intentional setup of her classroom. Chairs were arranged in a circle, and at the center were the movemindfully Inner Resources cards. Students used the Inner Resources during a class discussion to identify the values they center in their approach to teaching, selecting cards that reflected what matters most to them. This thoughtful setup embedded mindfulness into the discussion, offering opportunities for grounding and connection.
During the discussion about I Am Safe, the students were thoughtful, engaged, and eager to share. Many spoke about how excited they were to add I Am Safe practices to their existing stress-management toolkits and to use them as a way to co-regulate with their students in real time. One student reflected on how much they wished they had these simple trauma-responsive tools to use with a particular student who had really struggled last year.
We left inspired. This next generation of educators isn’t just talking about SEL—they’re embodying it. Dr. Clifden’s class lived the message of Inner Resource EMPATHY:
I see you. I feel you. I’m here for you.
People feel safe and supported when I am with EMPATHY.
As we look ahead to a new school year, we’re focused on one important question:
How will you bring mind-body practices into your classroom or therapy sessions so every student and client feels seen, supported, and safe?
As a gift for you, use code SAFE15 for 15% off the I Am Safe book and Inner Resources Card Deck. The Inner Resources make it easy to build mindfulness into your day, while I Am Safe is your guide to trauma-responsive, portable mind-body coping skills.
If you work in higher education and are interested in integrating I Am Safe into your curriculum, we’d love to connect. Please reach out to Chrissy at chrissy@move-mindfully.com.
