The Zen Teacher Experience

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Latest Episodes:

Instant Zen: That's Not a Functional Thought Sep 23, 2020

Hey Zen Teachers,

Just like educators, therapists often say things to their patients in passing and have very little idea of the impact they're making.

In this episode of INSTANT ZEN, I talk about something MY therapist said to me recently that has helped me more than she will ever know (unless I mention it in our next session. . .and I might).

I hope it helps you, too!

Take care of yourself.

Dan

Looking for INSTANT ZEN? Check out my online course by the same name that talks about the magic of The 5 S's here: https://zenprocourses.com/p/instant-zen3.

USE THE COUPON CODE TEACH FOR $10 OFF!!

5 Tips for Re-entering a Crazy School Year Aug 04, 2020

Hey Zen Teachers,

If you're like me, you've been more than a little stressed and anxious about what this new school year is going to look like. So in this episode, I offer 5 approaches that can help you navigate stress during a crazy time and, with practice, can help you remain calm, peaceful, and focused.

5 Tips for Re-entering a Crazy School Year is brought to you by my online mini-course INSTANT ZEN: 5 SIMPLE STEPS FOR RECLAIMING YOUR FOCUS, ENERGY, AND PEACE. In the course are 5 video lessons and 5 audio lessons (on each of the 5 S's), a bonus video on how to make these practices a habit, and a gorgeous PDF workbook suitable for printing.

Let the magic of The 5 S's help you reduce your stress, improve your self-care, and renew your spirit.

Grab some INSTANT ZEN here: https://zenprocourses.com/p/instant-zen3

Use the coupon code TEACHER for $10 off at check out!

That's all for now, Zen Teachers.

I wish you a smooth and healthy school year and, as always, much peace and love,

Dan

(Blogcast): Same Stream. New Experience May 27, 2020

Hey Zen Teachers,

Tired of this quarantine yet? I know it's an inconvenience, but hey, I'll stay inside, eat junk food, binge Netflix, read voraciously, and write poetry and blog posts and articles to my heart's content -- if it will keep people safe. :)

More seriously, we are living through an historical moment.

But right now, we are mostly living through it in our houses, and that can get kind of old.

Are you stir crazy? Feeling some cabin fever?

In this episode, I read a blog post called "Same Stream. New Experience," which is all about how you can learn to see your surroundings in a new way even if, like me, you've been stuck there for --let's see, for me this is -- seventy six days!

Give it a listen and then look around and notice your living room, dining room, bedroom, kitchen, patio, whatever it is, in a whole new way.

Enjoy!

***

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

Check out my eBook 2-Minute Zen: Creating a More Mindful Self-Care Practice: https://zenprocourses.com/p/2-minute-zen

That's all for now.

Peace and Love,

Dan

Mindfulness and Its Myths and Misconceptions with Reyna Texler Apr 14, 2020

Hey Zen Teachers,

I'm so excited to present this very special episode with my first guest ever, Mindfulness expert Reyna Texler.

Together, we discuss Mindfulness and dispel some of its myths and misconceptions.

I hope you enjoy.

Peace and love,

Dan

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Pure Edge

I am Present

***

Meet my guest, Reyna Texler:

Reyna “Ruby Sneakers” Texler is a native New Yorker with over 20 years of experience teaching elementary school children in the North Rockland School District. In 2018, Reyna transitioned into a new role as SEL Teacher where she established the Reflection Room, a restorative space for children and developed the Kaleidoscope Program; a program for at-risk students needing academic, behavioral, and social emotional support. Reyna is a proud member of West Haverstraw Elementary School’s core implementation team for the Yale Center of Emotional Intelligence’s RULER Approach. Reyna facilitates interactive workshops for families and educators locally and nationally. Reyna is a certified Little Flower Yoga Mindfulness Coach and Yoga Instructor for children and founder of Ruby Sneakers Consulting where she enjoys connecting with people on ways to support the social and emotional growth of children by creating learning experiences that are playful, fun, and accessible to all.

The Movement is Growing Feb 23, 2020

Hey Zen Teachers,

This is just a quick dispatch from the front lines. . .

When I started talking about stress reduction and teacher self-care, I felt like a lone voice in the wilderness.

But now there are more of us, and we're spreading the message of how teachers should be taken care of and how teachers should take care of themselves.

Give this episode a listen and learn how the movement is growing and why it's important to be a part of it.

Take care of yourself.

And remember: You're okay exactly as you are.

And you have more power than you think.

Peace and love,

Dan

Instant Zen: (Blogcast): Everyone Has Five Minutes Feb 09, 2020

Formerly 2-Minute Zen, Instant Zen is a new short feature on The Zen Teacher Experience that hopes to provide you with thoughtful insights, brief strategies, and actionable tools that can help you reduce your stress and improve your self-care. If you have a few minutes (and this episode suggests you do), Check it out!

So you say you don't have time to relax, rejuvenate, and renew?

I disagree.

You can regroup and recharge in five minutes.

That's all it takes.

And everyone has five minutes.

Even you.

Peace and love,

Dan

Beginner's Mind Oct 26, 2019

Hey Zen Teachers,

In this episode, I talk about the Zen concept of "Beginner's Mind."

Beginner's Mind gives you permission NOT to be the expert all the time, but instead is a practice where you can approach every situation--stressful or not--with the awe and wonder of a beginner, just as your students often do.

Want to learn how to be open and vulnerable when the stresses rises.

I got you.

Give this episode a listen.

Thanks.

Dan

What is Zen? Oct 26, 2019

Hey Zen Teachers,

In this episode, I define what I mean by the word "Zen," so that we have a common language moving forward.

While the term may ORIGINATE in religion (think: Zen Buddhism), I see it--and use it--more as a secular life approach that helps me reduce stress because I am learning to accept things as they are.

If that sounds good to you, then you'll want to give this episode a listen.

Take care.

Dan

EPISODE 4: THE ZEN TEACHER EXPERIENCE: THE 5-STEP ZEN TEACHER BLUEPRINT Aug 06, 2019

Hey Zen Teachers,

In this episode, I go over the 5-Step Zen Teacher Blueprint I developed so that teachers can figure out how to create and customize a personalized program that helps them reduce their stress and improve their self-care.

THE 5-STEP ZEN TEACHER BLUEPRINT IS:

1. INVITE POSSIBLITIES

2. CREATE ACCEPTANCE

3. PRACTICE MINDFULNESS

4. EMBRACE SELF-CARE

5. CULTIVATE PERSONAL PEACE

Throughout the podcast episodes, I will be taking you on a deep dive into each of these areas, but in this episode, I am simply giving you a basic overview so you will have the 5 steps in front of you as we continue on this audio journey together.

Thanks for listening.

See you inside.

Peace and love,

Dan

ASK THE ZEN TEACHER: Pre-school Year Anxiety Jul 16, 2019

Hey Zen Teachers,

In addition to regular episodes of The Zen Teacher Experience, I want to do a few little features that you can think of as little interludes, or maybe even as little commercial breaks, in between the regular episodes.

They may include, but are not limited to:

1. Ask The Zen Teacher (where I respond to questions about stress reduction and self-care from listeners)

2. Instant Zen (formerly Zen Teacher Thoughts: Little bits of zen wisdom that you can easily implement into your day)

3. Zen Teacher Meditations (short meditations that you can use to help you find more peace and tranquility in your day)

4. Zen Teacher Profiles (Short episodes where another teacher answers three questions about their own zen-inspired teaching practice)

In today's interlude, episode 1 of Ask The Zen Teacher, Deborah B asks, "How do you recommend teachers deal with the mini-panic attacks and anxiety dreams that often accompany starting a new school year.

Wanna know what I suggested?

Great. I'll see you inside.

Peace and Love,

Dan

Episode 5: The Zen Teacher Experience: Just One Thing (Blogcast) Jul 14, 2019

Hey Zen Teachers,

What if I told you I could help you create more space and time on your calendar for those things you want to do, those things that fulfill you, those things that you never quite seem to have enough time for?

Seems pretty amazing, right?

Well, the answer is inside.

In today's episode, I am starting a new feature that I "cleverly" call "blogcasts."

This means that I will be reading some of my more popular blog posts from my past five years of blogging. With these blogcasts, you can listen to the ideas here in case you can't or don't want to go to my website and read them on the blog. My hope is that it's more convenient for those of you on the go.

Today's post was originally published on January 30, 2016 and is called "Just One Thing."

This post will share with you a tiny secret about how to make one simple move that will create some white space on your calendar and some breathing room in your schedule.

I hope you like it.

Peace and love,

Dan

EPISODE 3: THE ZEN TEACHER EXPERIENCE: PERMISSION Jun 16, 2019

Because teachers are givers, they so often give to everyone else but don't take care of themselves.

What they are probably waiting for is permission.

And that's why I'm here.

Self-care is NOT selfish.

It is critical to being your best and doing your best so that you CAN take care of others--your family, your friends, and your students.

So let me be the little voice in your ear that says, "It's okay for you to take care of yourself."

Listen here and learn how.

Enjoy.

Dan

EPISODE 2: THE ZEN TEACHER EXPERIENCE: HOW I GOT HERE Jun 01, 2019

I was heading toward burn out and didn't know where to turn or what to do.

But now I know how to continue enjoying teaching and how I'll make it to retirement.

In this episode, I explain how I figured it out.

Enjoy.

Dan

EPISODE 1: THE ZEN TEACHER EXPERIENCE STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES May 27, 2019

Welcome to the inaugural episode of THE ZEN TEACHER EXPERIENCE podcast. This first time out of the gate, I will share with you how I want to help you maximize your performance with sacrificing yourself. But that's just the beginning. Not only will you hear me pay tribute to one of my favorite teachers, Mr. Geoffrey Anderson, but I give you the lowdown on what I'm going to be doing on the podcast and what you can expect in the future.

I hope you enjoy it, I hope it serves you, and I hope you will join us for future episodes.

As my fancy sign off goes. . .

Remember that you're okay exactly the way you are and that you have more power than you think.

Take care.

Dan