This school year has been one of the most difficult years to be an educator, parent and student. We are living through a global pandemic that is coupled with major loss, grief and a growing mental health crisis all the while transitioning back to “normalcy” at schools. None of this should be normalized.

At FEEST, our students are campaigning for better mental health resources for students and teachers, and we want to take this time to practice embodying mental health with our community.

This is why we’re creating our Summer Rest & Restore Series, to cultivate belonging, play, care and self & community-preservation. In 3 Sessions with community practitioners, we’ll explore Mindful Meditation, Generative Somatics, and healing spaces!

These virtual events are FREE and open to students, teachers, parents, and community members. Register to attend early and win a $50 Safeway or $ 25 GrubHub gift card!

Spanish interpretation is available! Please reach out to Fotima at [email protected] for questions.

And finally – we are working with teachers to host small gatherings in their classrooms to practice together, so if you’re an educator from Franklin, Rainier Beach, Chief Sealth, Tyee or Evergreen High school and would like to host more folks in your rooms to follow along during the session, let us know! You are welcome to practice from the comfort of your own space.

June 14th, 5-6:30 pm

Session Recap:

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this beautiful event, led by Tai Mattox, a Chopra Center certified Primordial Sound Meditation instructor. This session was designed to counteract stress and anxiety by activating participants’ parasympathetic nervous systems.

We started with a community check-in, briefly discussed the scientific benefits of mindfulness practices, moved into a guided breathing practice and ended with a “sound bath” (Tai played singing bowls) intended to promote relaxation. Participants were encouraged to lie down for a portion of our time together, to invite deep rest. Suggested items to bring: yoga mat, blanket, pillow/bolster, a bottle of water, and anything else needed for your comfort.

Learn more about Tai’s work by visiting their website!

Session Description:

This will be an hour-long session designed to counteract stress and anxiety by activating participants’ parasympathetic nervous systems.

We will start with a community check-in, briefly discuss the scientific benefits of mindfulness practices, move into a guided breathing practice and end with A “sound bath” (Tai will play singing bowls) intended to promote relaxation.

Participants are encouraged to lie down for a portion of our time together, to invite deep rest. Suggested items to bring: yoga mat, blanket, pillow/bolster, a bottle of water, and anything else needed for your comfort.

Tai Mattox Bio:

Tai Mattox is a Chopra Center certified Primordial Sound Meditation instructor, Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200), and Certified & Licensed Vibrational Sound Therapy practitioner. Her greatest joy is helping people slow down, get still and find their inner guidance. As the founder of Experiences by Tai, she facilitates this process through meditation, mindfulness, holistic movement and vibrational sound therapy.

Tai has taught meditation and mindfulness to adults through presentations to non-profit organizations and for-profit companies, mindfulness sessions for community groups, professional development for educators in academic environments and one-on-one private instruction.

Tai has also worked with children and youth from ages 4 to 22; some with documented disabilities, some who are justice-involved, and many in traditional educational institutions, sharing mindfulness exercises to assist them with emotional balance, self-management and present moment awareness.

Prior to discovering the path of stillness, Tai managed a career with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts for almost 20 years.

Tai is devoted to family, friends and causes that she believes in, with all relationships being reciprocal, loving and kind. She was raised in Seattle and lives in south Seattle with her family. Dark chocolate peanut butter cups and the sound of her son’s laughter bring her immense joy.

July 14th, 5-6:30 pm

Heather’s Adams Bio:

Heather Adams (she/her) is a breath meditation teacher and writer based in the Pacific Northwest. She is currently working to reconnect people with ancestral ways to heal the body, mind, and soul. When she’s not facilitating a ceremony, you can find her fussing over her houseplants or dance-walking around the neighborhood.

You can learn more about Heather and her work by visiting her website!