CPS Moves March Madness

Complete and submit all three challenges before Spring Break (Friday, March 24, 2023) for a chance to become a finalist in CPS Moves March Madness.

During Spring Break, CPS Moves: March Madness Finalists compilation videos will be shared on social media. The video with the most engagement will be crowned CPS Moves Champion of the Month!

Download the flier: CPS Moves March Madness 2023

CPS Moves Champions will be announced the following month. (i.e. January's winner will be announced in February)

Submit Your CPS Moves Video

CPS Moves March Madness Challenges:

Challenge 1: Principals or Department Leaders score 2 free-throw shots or one half-court shot
Challenge 2: Dribble-to-the-Beat
Challenge 3: 3-on-3 Co-Ed or Staff v. Students' Basketball game 

Video Examples:
Free-throw shots: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b74zkWmAwM
Dribble-to-the-beat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz7L1RRbcps
3-on-3 game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUx-EmnQVRg

10 Physical and Mental Benefits of Basketball
1. Strengthens muscular endurance
2. Builds healthy bones
3. Improves balance and coordination
4. Develops fundamental movement skills
5. Improves body composition
6. Boosts heart health
7. Develops self-confidence
8. Lowers stress
9. Encourages  team spirit
10. Develops communication skills

Stress Less with CPS!

Show us your mindful moments - whether its meditation, yoga, taking a walk or indulging in your favorite candy, stressing less is important to your health.

Stay tuned - we'll be announcing more soon!

Stay tuned - we'll be announcing more soon!

What is mindfulness?   
Mindfulness is a state of awareness in the present moment. You aren’t thinking about the past or worrying about what’s to come. It is acknowledging what is happening around you and accepting your feelings about it without judgment. 

Why is it important?

• Reduces anxiety 

• Increases feelings of gratitude 

• Decreases negative thinking

• Prioritizes your time

• Supports better eating choices

• Enhances your sleep. 

Check out these great tips about how to be mindful, thanks to TriHealth, CPS’ wellness partner:

How do I start?
Mindfulness is a skill. The more you practice, the better you will become at being mindful in your daily life. Just a few minutes a day can help you feel calmer, focused and patient. 

Let’s practice!  

4-7-8 Breathing
Breathing techniques are designed to bring the body into a state of deep relaxation. The 4-7-8 technique forces the mind and body to focus on regulating the breath to have more control over the mind. These simple steps can help you fall asleep faster and soothe a racing heart or calm frazzled nerves.  

1. Find a place to sit or lie down comfortably. 

2. Let your lips part. Make a whooshing sound, exhaling completely through your mouth.

3. Close your lips and inhale silently through your nose as you count to four in your head.

4. Hold your breath for seven seconds.

5. Make another whooshing exhale from your mouth for eight seconds. 

6. Practice this pattern for four full breaths. 

Am I Hungry?

To break out of the pattern of eating on autopilot, get in the habit of asking yourself, “Am I hungry?” every time you feel like eating. This simple but powerful question will help you recognize the difference between an urge to eat caused by the physical need for food from an urge to eat caused by head . 

Try these tips to be more mindful while enjoying food: 

• Check in with yourself in a non-judgmental way before eating a meal or snack. Reflect on how you are feeling, think about your hunger level and consider expressing gratitude for the food you’re about to eat. 

• Slow down while eating. If you’re a fast eater, try putting down your utensil or taking a sip of water in between bites.

• Bring your focus back to your food every so often if you are working through lunch. Ask yourself if you are still enjoying it and how you are feeling.

• Avoid distraction while eating, especially when the activity or task doesn’t slow down your pace of eating, like when doing hands-free activities like watching TV.

• Pre-portion your food and check in with yourself every so often if you do choose to eat in front of the TV or a device.

As the Center for Mindful Eating states: There is no right or wrong way to eat, simply varying degrees of awareness surrounding the experience of food. Make your experience positive by practicing mindfulness and creating a positive relationship with the food you eat.

Guided Meditation

Meditation is a great tool to use to become more mindful. One type of meditation involves relaxation techniques. Breathing deeply, doing a body scan or listening to a guided visualization are all effective ways to meditate. 

Elevator to the Beach

This 9-minute guided imagery meditation will take you down to a beach for a brief interlude that will focus on warming the hands and feet to increase relaxation in the body.

Forest Walk Meditation

This 8-minute guided imagery mediation will provide you with a relaxing walk in the woods to reduce stress.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercise

This 8-minute meditation will provide you with an opportunity to decrease tension in your body and calm your mind.

Hop for Heart Health!

Single Rope? Double Dutch? Show us your best jump rope skills! Prefer to Hula? No problem! Record it, submit it and you could be the CPSMoves Champion of the month!

Wear red on Friday, Feb. 3 to promote heart health. Tag #CPSMoves in your pictures on social and upload them to the form.

The school or department with the most engagement will be crowned CPS Moves Champion!

Submit Your CPS Moves Video

Resources:

Gain new skills with these jump rope videos: https://www2.heart.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=khc_resources_jump_skills_videos

Live a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle with these tips: https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/infographic/hearthealth.htm

Visit the America Heart Association: https://www.heart.org/

Participate in National Wear Red Day on Feb 3: https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/get-involved/give/wear-red-and-give