MTS offers new fitness program for teachers

Hundreds of Manitoba teachers are spending four minutes for fitness thanks to a new initiative by The Manitoba Teachers’ Society’s Primary Prevention Team.

This year the PPT, made up of classroom teachers who volunteer their time, is offering training for teachers in a four-minute fitness program. At a wellness day in Brandon last month, the program attracted more than 300 participants.

The initial training session takes two hours to learn and understand the moves in the tai chi-based program. Once that is done, the routine takes only four minutes a day.

Eight of the 12 members of the Primary Prevention Team have been trained and are available to large and small groups.

The fitness program was initiated as a complement to the other services offered by the Primary Prevention Team.

The goal of the PPT is to promote health and wellness in the teaching workplace through presentations on such issues as stress, balanced lifestyles and time management. The team is made up of teachers who have donated five days of personal time a year to learn and make half-day or full-day presentations.

Currently, MTS is looking for more teachers interested in becoming members of the prevention team. The team would especially like to increase its number of francophones to help offer services to French and immersion schools.

Along with that, MTS is also looking for new members to join its Teacher Action Cohorts, trained facilitators who make presentations and conduct discussions on issues such as homophobia, racism and teachers’ roles in school planning.

The TAC also offers half and full-day sessions on issues that affect staff and students.

New members, who also donate five days of personal time a year, are trained in leadership and facilitation skills.

Teachers interested in becoming involved in either the Primary Prevention Team or Teacher Action Cohorts can fill out an application now available on the MTS website, www.mbteach.org.