Welcome!
I am Melissa "Missy" FitzGerald the proud founder of MY Ed. LLC. Are you interested in simple, effective and accessible skills to reduce stress while improving focus, productivity, health and happiness? Then I invite you to check out all the FREE information, research and resources this website has to offer! I've worked extensively with educators, students and athletes of all ages and would love the opportunity to connect with you! Please click the button below to learn about my personal and professional experience and journey into mindfulness and yoga which sparked the inspiration for MY Ed.
Mindfulness and Yoga
2023-2024 Opportunities
EDUCATOR and NON EDUCATOR WORKSHOPS and WELLNESS RETREATS
Educators can earn credit!
Why Mindfulness and Yoga in Education?
"Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally.” Jon Kabat-Zinn
Researched Benefits of Mindfulness:
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Stress and Anxiety Reduction
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Greater Compassion
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Improved Attention
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Emotional Regulation
Benefits for Educators:
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Reduced Stress and Burnout
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Better Classroom Organization
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Greater Job Efficacy
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More Emotionally Supportive Classrooms
Mindfulness training improves the Brain:
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AMYGDALA The emotional part of our brain is less activated.
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HIPPOCAMPUS The learning and memory center is MORE activated.
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PRE-FRONTAL CORTEX The rational part of the brain is MORE activated.
Benefits for Students:
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ATTENTION AND LEARNING Attention, focus and cognitive development improve
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SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SKILLS Behavior in schools, empathy, perspective and social skills improve
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RESILIENCE Improved emotional regulation, reduced anxiety and stress, post-traumatic symptoms and depression
Resources
Books
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The Mindful Teen-Dzung X. Vo (Grades 6-12)
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The Stress Reduction workbook for Teens-Mindfulness Skills to help deal with stress-Gina Biegel
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Mindfulness for Student-Athletes-A workbook to helps teens reduce stress and improve performance-Gina Biegel
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A Still Quiet Place for Athletes-Amy Saltzman
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Sitting Still Like a Frog-Eline Snel (Pre-K-Grade 5)
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Finding the Space to Lead-Janice Marturano
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A Mindful Nation-Tim Ryan
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The Gifts of Imperfection-Brene Brown
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Perfectly Imperfect-Baron Baptiste
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The Four Agreements-Miguel Ruiz
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Full Catastrophic Living-Jon Kabot Zinn
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Wherever You Go, There you Are-Jon Kabot Zinn
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The Power of Moments-Chip and Dan Heath
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Real Happiness-Sharon Salzberg
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The Miracle of Mindfulness-Thich Nhat Hanh
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One Word-Jon Gordon
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The Energy Bus-Jon Gordon
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Mindfulness and Yoga in Schools-Cook and Cottone
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The Body Keeps the Score-Bessel Van Der Kolk
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Say What you Mean (Mindful approach to NVC) -Joseph Goldstein
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The Happiness Advantage-Shawn Achor
Apps
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Calm
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Breathe and BreatheKids
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Headspace
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Insight Timer
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Aura
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10% Happier
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Simple Habit
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Finding Focus
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Balance
Websites
Research
Videos
Yoga Flows and Mindfulness
Let's Connect!
Mindfulness and Yoga in Education LLC
Melissa FitzGerald
Solon, OH
Services
Presentations
and
Consultation
Small and Large Group
Consultation, Workshops and Educators, Leaders, and Business Presentations:
Available in person or Virtual
Yoga
Group and Private
Yoga Classes:
ALL AGES and ALL LEVELS
available in person or Virtual
Mindfulness
Group and Private
Mindfulness Classes:
ALL AGES and ALL LEVELS available in person or Virtual
Mental Training
Group and Private
Peak Performance
Athletes and Sports Teams:
Available in person or Virtual
TESTIMONIALS
MINDFULNESS COURSE 2022
"The Mindfulness course is such a gift! It gives teachers an opportunity to recharge and begin a journey that can improve their lives. The stress and anxiety that I was feeling from my workload was causing me to feel "burned out" for the first time in my career-it was frightening! With the instruction from Missy and the support that I felt from all my colleagues that were taking this class, I embraced this journey to bring my life back into balance! On-going opportunities to grow and maintain our mental health and well-being is needed more than ever in our profession."
Solon City Schools Teacher
I signed up because I needed hours to renew my certificate and a coworker recommended it and to be honest, I wasn’t sure it was for me, but it seemed fairly straight forward so I signed up. Now, I am telling every educator I know to sign up for it - for themselves and their students! The Class is online - but instruction is all provided via zoom. Taught by a teacher that knows what educators need to know so she provides research that is appropriate to share with your administrators and families to help them understand the benefit of mindfulness in the classroom. *Provides activities, immediate practice, discussion of how it can be applied to students in classrooms of all ages and the related science and research behind each activity *Follow up is 2 week plan of living mindfully - you track your practice of using the techniques she has taught, you write a plan for when you return to school, and an outline of how you could use it for kids *I am a huge believer in growth mindset - but now I have more formal tools to help my students and myself when dealing with the stress we face in the educational setting and daily life and 3 graduate hours toward renewing our license!
Teacher-I Promise School
MINDFULNESS COURSE 2022
"Missy- You are amazing! Please keep spreading your message of mindfulness to your students, colleagues and other teachers...it is so powerful! I looked forward to every class with you even with our virtual class, I felt your positivity through the screen."
"I honestly loved the course. I got so much out of it and enjoyed Missy's way of teaching! She gives us the WHAT and the WHY to our daily practices!"
Solon City Schools Teachers
My best feedback is that this course is immensely helpful to anyone who takes it because it truly meets us where ever we are in our life and guides us to move in a better way through our future days. All areas of life are included. We talked about so many things in such a short time. Even discussing smiling and the research of the effect this has on ourselves and others. All that we learned needs to be tried, honed, and fitted into our lives - so takes ongoing practice. It is not just a class, but an invitation to a new way of life. This class is just what I needed this summer!
Teacher-Mindfulness I June 2022
I like that you gave us time Missy to try things out and practice mindfulness while taking this class. The usual stressors that happen when taking college courses weren't present and made this class super amazing and helpful. I thank you for giving us the many resources to use after our class was finished in person and the flexibility to try things out after we met in person still holding us accountable but able to do things in our own timing that fit best for our own families.
Teacher-Mindfulness I June 2022
MINDFULNESS COURSE 2022
"In this day and age, I think anything that can help reduce stress is a win-win for the teachers and the district. More and more studies are showing how much mindfulness can have a positive impact. We are leaders in so many areas, we should be leaders in taking care of our staff as well."
"Greatly appreciated an opportunity to learn new strategies, to talk with other teachers, and to share what is and what isn't working in our classrooms and in our personal lives. I also appreciated learning the science of our brains and the benefits of breathing and mindfulness. The literature we read was also beneficial for this course."
Solon City Schools Teachers
Honestly, I think Missy you are already doing amazing by teaching it in a format that helps us as teachers and busy moms. You are giving us super information that we can use everyday in our lives both professionally and personally. Keep doing what you are doing and thanks for making yourself available to come spread the word to us in our districts. I'm so glad our paths have crossed and thanks for the impact you have made already in my life so I can carry out more mindfulness activities with myself, my family, my professional career and in my classroom. Keep doing what you are doing! :)
Teacher-Mindfulness I June 2022
I am truly amazed at how much my mindset had changed with 3 days of direct instruction! I like how Missy was able to teach us so much and have us live what she taught us for an extended time. I find myself sharing what I have learned with my husband and children on a daily basis. I have encouraged them to also use the stress relieving strategies I have learned.
Teacher-Mindfulness I June 2022
TEEN YOGA TRAINING
2021
"My 200 hour yoga training was a life changing experience . Not only did I learn more about the practice of yoga and it's benefits, but I learned about myself as a yogi and a human being. I am now an instructor at Kent State University and love what I do! Because of training, I get to share my passion with many others and have found my best self. Being an athlete for many years, even at a division I college, and being someone who has struggled with depression and anxiety, this training has helped me become more mindful and has improved my life in countless ways. I am very thankful for the positive transition in life that this training has given me."
Tara-19
Mindful Moments
BREATHE
Taking a few slow, deep breaths calms the central nervous system allowing us to be less reactive.
SMILE
Smiling releases endorphins and allows us to feel happy in the here and now.
RELAX
Relaxing the Central Nervous System allows us to be in the present moment with curiosity and acceptance.
