Wellbeing Activity Videos

Looking after our mental health and well-being is not something we should just do when we are struggling, feeling low, anxious, or stressed. It is something we should think about regularly and invest time in when possible, just like with our physical health. Staying on top of our well-being is good for us now, and also helps us manage difficult times in the future.

It can be particularly difficult for parent carers to find the time to look after themselves, as they are always busy looking after other people! So, we have gathered some videos, made by WellChild Family Tree parent carers and specialists, to help you take a few minutes to do something you enjoy, or try something new, and give back to yourself!

Massage with Rachel

Massage therapy has been known to lower stress, decrease anxiety, and reduce irritability. Along with increasing serotonin and dopamine, the combination of these effects leads to a happier self!

Rachel, who is a WellChild Family Tree parent and a Natural Health Coach, has filmed a couple of massage videos for WellChild. One for you, and another you can do with your children.

You can check out her business, Positive Touch, and enjoy her videos below:

Guided hand massage with Nicola

Nicola Stewart is an author, speaker, and advocate for parents and carers of children with complex needs and rare diseases. She is also a member of the WellChild Family Tree. She runs In Touch Massage and has shared a relaxing hand massage video which can be viewed below.

Nicola recommends doing the hand scrub; particularly for those who are always washing their hands, it feels like a treat!

Yoga with Adriene

Regular yoga practice can help create mental clarity and calmness, relieve chronic stress patterns, relax the mind, centre attention, and sharpen concentration.

Yoga with Adriene has hundreds of popular videos on YouTube, all for free. The videos are fantastic for beginners and yoga experts alike, and range from a quick 10-minute stretch to a 50-minute workout. This 20-minute Flow is one of our favourites. And breathe…

Strong arms with Laura

With all the lifting parents do throughout the day, it is helpful to have upper body strength!

Join parent Laura, from Movement and Co., for a seated Pilates tutorial to improve your strength. Laura firmly believes that Pilates is for everyone and is beneficial to all, regardless of age or fitness level. Her videos are varied, dynamic, and always fun!

Sing with Betsy

Research has shown that singing can be good for you on many levels. It may help lower stress, boost immunity and lung function, enhance memory, improve mental health, and help you cope with physical and emotional pain. One of the best things about singing is that you don’t have to be good at it to reap the rewards!

Watch the video below for a short singing lesson with international award-winning jazz, swing, rhythm and blues singer, Betsy Harmony.

The lyrics are on the screen, and there’s a fun warm-up to get your brain going before the song; a great activity for children and adults alike.

Dancing with Louise

Dancing allows us to express ourselves and let loose! When we feel free, the body releases happy hormones like dopamine. This hormone helps lift our mood and can alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Join adult ballet tutor, Louise Gould, for a beginners’ class, helping you to enjoy dancing for exercise.

Louise Gould has been teaching adult ballet for over a decade, and here she shares some beginner’s steps with you. Whether you are re-living the classes of your youth or giving ballet a go for the first time, this fun class will provide a mental escape for half an hour.

Looking for further dance inspiration? Watch some fantastic performances below:

• Northern Ballet’s Digital Dance project includes Feature Films, Livestreams and Insights about the Company and their work.
• World of Dance Performances have some very creative, fun performances from contemporary, to Hip-Hop, Latin, and more – don’t try the lifts at home!
• Syncopated Ladies are an amazing American tap group, run by sisters Chloe and Maud. This is their tribute to Prince!

Knitting with Sam

Many people enjoy knitting as a creative and mindful activity. It has been reported that knitting has mental health benefits, including, lowered blood pressure, reduced depression and anxiety, and slowed onset of dementia, plus, it’s fun!

Learn how to get started with Sam from Huddle Hats. Sam is a primary school teacher and started a small knitting business during the pandemic. He shares the basic techniques with you here.

Wellbeing tips with Lucy

Lucy Kidd is a transformational expert with 20 years of experience helping people lead happier and more fulfilled lives at work, and at home. She has created a series of videos to support WellChild parents through challenging times. While the videos were originally created to help during the pandemic, they are just as relevant today!

Name it to tame it

Sometimes our feelings become overwhelming and we can get stuck in them. In this 3-minute video, Lucy shares how to move on through those stuck feelings by getting more specific about how you are really feeling, based on a technique originally created by Dr Dan Siegel.

Five deep breaths (or take five)

It’s easy to forget that one of the most powerful ways of calming ourselves down is by literally taking a breath. Learn how to calm your nervous system when you’re feeling stressed, anxious, or upset, with five deep breaths.

Control the controllable

It’s easy to forget that we can’t control everything. Here Lucy reminds us that we can only control the controllables in our environment.

Finding the joy

Lucy’s series ends with a video about finding joy in the every day, even the difficult ones!

If you have any comments, ideas, or suggestions about this article don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at [email protected]

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