YAH Self Care Lab

WORKSHOP & RESIDENCY

The Young Audiences of Houston Self Care Lab is a transformative Healing Arts program on campus where students are involved in creating and transforming a physical space into a haven for Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programs. The Self Care Lab is an inclusive space where students and staff experience Healing Arts with YAH Teaching Artists through mediation, sensory activities, group discussion, self-exploration, writing and reflection, poetry, visual art, music, movement, and other restorative practices. Class goals are curated through a collaboration with campus support staff and YAH Programs Team. The Self Care Lab provides each campus with a long-term residency in the form of a dedicated physical space where students are either sent by referral or attend during or after school in collaboration with campus teachers and YAH Teaching Artists year-round. Workshops and Residencies are aligned with TEKS through YAH's SEL Curriculum. Curation of physical space is a separate cost. 

Emotional Self Awareness & The Human Body Through Dance

WORKSHOP & RESIDENCY

Participants will be introduced to working with emotional balance and emotional states through dance. Participants will learn to express themselves through somatics, stretching and the universal movements of dance. This workshop encourages practices of finding balance, centering, and grounding, when it comes to expressing emotions. This workshop can be adapted for grades K-12. The progression of the workshop integrates the physicalities and sequential movements of the human body, (particularly the brain) its systems, and how we apply them in dance and everyday life. This can be offered as a single class or as a residency that has a culminating performance.

Speaking Through the Arts

WORKSHOP & RESIDENCY

Join Gigi in speaking the universal language of art. This experience is based in the therapeutic benefits of creating art through exploration of multi/intermodal processes. The creative process promotes relief of stress, encourages creative thinking associated with problem solving, boosts self-esteem, activates our reward systems, and provides a sense of accomplishment. It allows people to find new ways to communicate and make connections, even between seemingly unrelated things. The best part is that there is no skillset required to participate, just a willingness to engage with the material. The goal of this workshop is to promote slowing down, mindfulness, and intentionality through two competencies of social emotional learning: self-awareness and self-management.

Dance Expressions

WORKSHOP & RESIDENCY

Dance Expressions allows the youngest participants to perfect gross and fine motor skills while incorporating basic movements of dance. Children will bend, jump, crawl, and everything in between to help them learn more about what their bodies can do. Imaginative play will allow them to experiment with decision-making on how to behave and increase interaction with their peers. The cognitive, social, emotional, and language development that occurs will build a strong foundation for stress management and social-emotional resilience. For this age, we recommend 45 minutes per session.

Movement Speaks

WORKSHOP & RESIDENCY

Movement Speaks allows participants the freedom to creatively express themselves through movement while sharing stories that will educate and inspire them within their communities. Participants will engage in creative movement and various dance styles including, but not limited to, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, African dance, and more. Social and emotional learning is incorporated into classes through journaling and dedicated time for self-expression. Movement Speaks creates a safe space for participants to enjoy the creative process that is dance. Our goal is to empower and encourage participants to use the leadership skills they acquire within these sessions in everyday life. This program can be adapted for PK-12th grade participants.

Moving Voices

WORKSHOP & RESIDENCY

Through writing exercises participants in grades, 6 through 12 will use poetry and prose to express and idea, emotion, opinion or experience. The group will be guided to further express their ideas in movement, drawing from the imagery they created with words. This residency may be offered in as few as 6 sessions or as an ongoing program. Public performance options require a minimum of 12 sessions.

Creative Yoga, Mindfulness, and Meditation, an SEL Experience

WORKSHOP & RESIDENCY

Yoga and Mindfulness:

Through imagination and storytelling, participants will explore yoga postures, breathing exercises, and meditation. Creative Yoga is a gentle physical experience for each body. Participants will develop strength, flexibility, and coordination while learning positive breathing  and relaxation techniques to cope with stress. The intention of this workshop or residency is for participants to get to know their own body and get in touch with their breath while understanding how body and breath are connected in a fun way.

Participants will develop self-confidence. Self-control and self-awareness. They will explore topics such as self-love, gratitude, and kindness to help them gain skills to build self-esteem and regulate emotion in an inclusive environment.  

Meditation:

Participants will experience a simple approach and understanding to meditation, including the personal benefits. This workshop or residency will include a beginner’s approach to meditation, where participants learn applicable skills to utilize outside of sessions during challenging times.  Workshops and residencies will explore silent meditation, active moving meditation, loving kindness meditation and dancing meditation. Trauma informed dynamic mindfulness practices and sound healing meditation are also included.

Sound Sculpture

WORKSHOP & RESIDENCY

During this workshop or residency, participants will explore sound. What is sound and how do we perceive sound? Participants will learn how to create sound instruments or sound sculptures and create their own sound experiences. Recycled materials are used for this project.  

Healing Through Moving Arts
(Grounding/Mindfulness & Positive Body Movement)

WORKSHOP & RESIDENCY

Our bodies often hold on to experiences long after our minds and hearts do. Students will explore practical techniques in self-soothing and regulation through grounding practices and positive body movement. These sessions are designed to support the Social and Emotional (SE) growth and development of students through hands on movement experiences. This artistic workshop and residency are perfect for recovery from natural and man-made disasters, crisis, and socially vulnerable youth populations.

Healing Through Written Arts
(Songwriting, Poetry, & Storytelling)

WORKSHOP & RESIDENCY

Our voices matter and the pen is one of our greatest tools. Students will explore the value and power of their unique voice through their engagement in written art forms like songwriting, poetry, and storytelling. This artistic workshop and residency focuses on Social and Emotional (SE) Learning and Development, reduction of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and youth literacy. These sessions are a great opportunity for students to find, refine, and strengthen their self-advocacy, mediation, and communication skills.

Healing Through Performing Arts
​ (Drama, Singing, & Oration)

WORKSHOP & RESIDENCY

Community and connectivity are the cornerstones of recovery and resiliency, we build on these things through the sharing of our experiences. Students will utilize performing arts like drama, singing, and oration to express complex emotions, ideas, and query they may be engaging with. This artistic workshop and residency aims to develop student’s self-confidence, group presence, communal connectivity, and other social emotional (SE) needs. These sessions are designed to support the reduction of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), literacy, SE growth and development and oral communication.

Healing Through Written Arts
(Songwriting, Poetry, & Storytelling)

WORKSHOP & RESIDENCY

Our voices matter and the pen is one of our greatest tools. Students will explore the value and power of their unique voice through their engagement in written art forms like songwriting, poetry, and storytelling. This artistic workshop and residency focuses on Social and Emotional (SE) Learning and Development, reduction of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and increasing youth literacy. These sessions are a great opportunity for students to find, refine, and strengthen their self-advocacy, mediation, and communication skills.

Healing Through Visual Arts (Hand Craftings, Photography, Style & Film)

WORKSHOP & RESIDENCY

Journey with Soulliaa Rae as she uses visual arts like photography, handmade craftings, personal styling and film to support student’s mental wellness and resiliency. This Socially & Emotionally (SE) focused artistic workshop and residency gives participants and opportunity to explore their internal needs through the world of visual arts. These sessions are designed to promote SE development, critical thinking and analysis skills, advancement towards self-actualization and support the reduction of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

SEL-Based Yoga for Kids

WORKSHOP & RESIDENCY

Practicing different breathing techniques and yoga poses allows children to develop concentration, attention, memory and relaxation skills. In this yoga class the participants learn to relax with conscious breathing, which helps the participant channel their energy and be more prepared to handle

difficult situations and increase confidence and self-esteem. Each participant will learn breathing techniques to strengthen their core muscles,

gain greater flexibility and balance, improve concentration and gain awareness of their body. This will also stimulate their creativity and imagination, sharpen their senses while fostering new friendship and companionship. In Cindy's yoga class the participants perform warm up exercises before getting into various yoga poses, they learn breathing exercises, sing mantras accompanied by healing music and aromatherapy. Cindy's workshops are also offered in Spanish. Cindy is a certified yoga instructor.

Sound Healing

WORKSHOP & RESIDENCY

Come and discover the art of healing through sound..The main objective of this experience is to increase vibrations and resonate with your healthy life state. Cindy sets the scene with vibrating rhythmic sounds using bowls, mantras and shamanic instruments. This process improves concentration, facilitates mindfulness and connects with our emotions. It also encourages others to connect with their feelings and brings a sensation of tranquility.