Students from group 8 of primary school Het Mozaïek from Enkhuizen have practiced hard for the final musical. And for the nerves they have come up with something: for the musical they do yoga and mindfulness-exercises.
“I’m really looking forward to the musical, because you’re all doing it together,” Lynne tells the NOS Youth news† “That also makes it very pleasant.” However, some students also find it exciting. “I think I’m going to feel a little nervous,” Liam says. Others feel butterflies in their stomach.
To counteract this, the children prepare themselves with yoga and breathing exercises. For the occasion, actors Juvat Westendorp and Cecilia Adorée from, among others, Good times, Bad times are guests at the school. The exercises are aimed at ensuring that children are less stressed. “It really does give you peace of mind,” says Esmee. “So probably with the musical too.”
To focus
“We try to teach exercises that can relieve your stress for a while,” says Juvat. “So that you can be with your head in what you actually need to be.” Cecilia has another tip for the kids. “An important one is to take a moment for yourself to focus, you know what you are going to do and are really going to do it 100 percent.”
The actors also give the children some tips for the musical, for example to sing a little louder. Group 8 is confident, but it remains a bit exciting. Nick sometimes has to laugh when he sees the audience, how the exercises will turn out for him is still the question. “Sometimes it calms me down, but sometimes it also makes me really busy.”