Bristol Based GP Launches New Course For Teachers Dealing With Stress

Main Category: Anxiety / Stress
Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry
Article Date: 23 Mar 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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Teaching is one of the most stressful jobs possible. In a survey assessing the stress levels of various jobs by the Health and Safety Executive, teaching came out top.

Long working hours, disruptive pupils, large class sizes and excessive bureaucracy can all add to the stresses and strains. Whether as a teacher or an administrator, working under great pressure is a daily reality.

Long-term extreme stress has many disruptive effects in the education environment including absenteeism, high staff turnover, exhaustion, insomnia, missed goals, loss of motivation, performance anxiety and complaints from parents. A positive strategy is needed for maintaining well-being and performance.

Dr Peter Gruenewald, a Bristol based GP from the Helios Medical Centre has developed an exciting new approach to dealing with stress called HeartSpheres. He is running day courses for teachers across the country, starting in Bristol on Friday 3rd April.

HeartSpheres is a scientifically researched technique that uses an integrated approach to promote physical and emotional health, helping overcome stress and negative emotions.

"The aim is to ensure you have the lasting capacity to manage extreme emotions and stress, both pro-actively and productively. This gives long-term benefits as well as short-term" says Dr Gruenewald.

The HeartSpheres techniques are based on an understanding of the physiology of the breathing process; the heart and the brain and their relationship to human consciousness and its development. It is this connection between physiology and positive psychology that makes the exercises so effective.

"The resulting changes to physiological and emotional patterns give benefits to teachers that are numerous. They include the ability to manage extreme emotions, stress reduction, burnout prevention, performance enhancement, improved health, improvement of working relationships, raised morale, enthusiasm and purpose, and higher efficacy of teaching" he says.

The Bristol course will cover topics such as the Role of the Heart, Physiology of Stress, Heart Rate Variability and Coherence, Neurobiology of Emotions, Transforming Stress, and Developing Empathy. You will learn the core HeartSpheres exercises of Focused Relaxation, Mental Rehearsing, Intuitive Conversation, Attitudinal Breathing, and Review. The exercises are easy to learn and to practice within a busy and challenging work environment

To learn more about the HeartSpheres technique, or to book a course, visit the website http://www.HeartSpheres.com

You can book your place by sending a cheque for £199.75 + VAT, payable to HeartSpheres, to HeartSpheres Ltd. , 17 Stoke Hill, Stoke Bishop, BS9 1JN, telephone number: 0844 800 2433

Dr. Peter Gruenewald MD has been working as a General Practitioner in an NHS medical centre providing integrated healthcare. He has been medical officer to a number of schools and training centres, as well as advisor to charitable organisations since 1986. For many years he has been involved in the training of health professionals, teachers and care staff and in facilitating professional development workshops. He also works in private practice and is the author of The Quiet Heart- Putting Stress in its Place.

Source
HeartSpheres Ltd

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