A Relaxing Time for the Faculty
On Tuesday, March 25, 25, this year’s professional development day was held at BBS Alice Salomon. The faculty had decided by a large majority to focus on teacher well-being.
A dedicated planning team quickly came together and prepared for the event with great enthusiasm and attention to detail. They secured the services of the top-notch guest speaker Jimmy Little, booked the Stadthalle in Linz, and arranged for excellent catering for the day. And so the faculty spent 7.5 inspiring and energizing hours with Jimmy Little, who provided numerous exercises and tips on how to stay healthy while navigating the day-to-day challenges of teaching.
Mr. Little, who was born in Los Angeles but has lived in Germany for many years, is a certified coach with the German Sports Federation, a lecturer at the German Sport University in Cologne, and also works for the Institute for Teacher Health in Mainz. He argues that four pillars are essential for a healthy lifestyle:
- Exercise
- Healthy Eating
- Sleep Hygiene
- Relaxation
From an evolutionary perspective, our bodies are not designed to sit all day. That is why movement-based instruction—which not only keeps the body fit but also supplies the brain with oxygen—is of great importance.
On the topic of healthy eating, Mr. Little also drew a comparison with his home country, the United States, and used striking images to highlight the harmful effects of fast food. The faculty learned breathing techniques that promote rapid relaxation in stressful situations, and they performed numerous physical exercises that are simple yet effective and lead to a healthier lifestyle.
The entire day was focused on sustainability, which means we received a wealth of materials to help us incorporate the exercises into our daily lives.
Jimmy Little comes highly recommended as an instructor. However, anyone who wants to work with him will have to act fast, because unfortunately, he’s retiring next year.
A huge thank you to the planning team: Martin Schäfer, Theresa Raabe, Ulrike Köhler-Raithelhuber, Iradet Bajrami, Anne Gasper, Kerstin Heil, and Doris Schulte-Schwering. Without you, the day wouldn’t have been possible.
Text: Doris Schulte-Schwering
Photos: Jutta Döring