We love our students but teaching takes a toll on our emotional and mental batteries. So as we enjoy the last hazy days of summer break, it’s time to make sure we are fully recharged and ready to mold young minds. Here are my suggestions for a teacher’s mind, body, and soul refresh leading up to the first day back.

High Tea at InterContinental:

Before you go back to rushed lunches in machine-washable slacks, get all dressed up and laze away an afternoon with your friends and a delectable assortment of treats (and bubbles). Ajit and his team never fail to treat you like the queen or king you were always meant to be, and it’s nice to have jam on scones instead of smeared all over your shirt by tiny fingers. Scan the QR code below to reserve.

Spa Day:

Teachers are on their feet all day so be nice to yours. A full spa day of scrubs, massages, and facials will send you back glowing and ready to ace your yearbook photo, and Bodhi Spa is exactly the place to indulge. They have two locations in Beijing at Workers Stadium and Liangmaqiao. Scan the QR code to book!

Get Your Geek On:

If you’re a teacher you are probably into learning stuff, and no one makes that more fun and entertaining than Beijing By Foot and The Hutong. Tours and Talks led by Jeremiah Jenne take you through the hidden history of places like the Summer Palace, Forbidden City, and Lama Temple, and give life and perspective to these national landmarks. I promise your inner Hermione will be fascinated and entertained. To see the schedule of events check out their website at www.beijingbyfoot.com or scan the QR Code for The Hutong’s calendar below.

Take a Hike:

Beijing is more than just the city center, it’s a sprawling area filled with nature trails and historical hikes that go beyond the Great Wall. The Cave of Stone Flowers and the Guyaju Caves are only two of the hidden gems not to be missed in our immediate vicinity. Beijing Hikers organizes day trips and hikes that will help you get away from the hustle and bustle, clear your mind, and get inspired by nature. To see their schedule or ask about organizing your own group scan the QR code.

Refresh Your Workout:

Managing your own stress is a big part of managing your classroom, and for me that means my workouts are necessary! But the treadmill and yoga ball in the gym can get a little monotonous, so try shaking it up before you head back. Do something different and challenging. Discover your inner performer with an Ariel silks class, or your inner warrior in Krav Maga or Kali. You never know, it might be your new favorite and the thing that gets you through parent-teacher conference week.

Images: Canva, InterContinental Hotel, The Hutong, Beijing Hikers, Warrior One, Songyao Dance Factory

KEEP READING: Beat the Boredom in Quarantine

Let’s start off by saying that I think every body type is beautiful. This isn’t meant to body shame anyone or criticize their lifestyle. However, I personally know that after delivering my daughter, I was desperate to get back in shape.

There are plenty of gyms in Beijing and various groups for playdates, but I’ve never been more excited than when I discovered a class that combines the two. And much to my surprise, it’s a class that actually makes you break a sweat, so you leave feeling great about a morning workout with your baby.

Bump Fit was started by Alessia Chizzoniti. Anyone who’s met Chizzoniti falls in love with her. She’s bubbly, she’s fit, and she’s a doula with more knowledge about babies than any new parent could digest. Simply put, she’s stunning inside and out. Her latest fitness brainchild is the ideal morning for new and expecting moms alike, a place to both workout and enjoy some bonding time with their babies and each other.

“Motherhood has many faces. My aim is to create a safe place for moms to connect with themselves, their baby, and other moms,” Chizzoniti tells Jingkids. “Mommy and Me is just a vehicle for taking the brightest side of motherhood out of us and showing ourselves how incredible we are! As a doula and Dancing for Birth instructor, I structure the classes in a way that harmonizes dance, gentle stretching, and specific pre/postnatal exercises (breathing, posture, pelvic floor rehabilitation etc). Work on your physical and mental health while bonding with your little one.”

I expected my first Mommy & Me dance fitness class to be more like circle time where moms sit (maybe free dance around in a circle) with their babies and watch the kids play. But boy was I wrong. There was definitely dancing and our kids did in fact play, but there were also squats, lunges, yoga, and general cardio. The classes are held every Friday at 10.30am at Warrior One and as Chizzoniti explains, you get a workout from every class, however, each one is a little bit different so that even if you go every week, you’re not going to be doing the same workouts each time.

“Motherhood can sometimes throw a woman’s regular routine out of gear and leave her with very little time for herself,” says Evelyn Figueroa, a regular Mommy & Me dance fitness goer and new mom to a beautiful baby girl. “It was great to find this fun experience for me and my daughter, as it not only keeps my body flexible and healthy but also helps me bonding with her.”

Evelyn and her daughter

It’s a safe space where new moms and expecting moms can work out and get an endorphin high. There’s no judgment here. No need to feel like you should suck in your stomach or wear oversized shirts to hide your giggly postpartum belly.

My little girl seemed to enjoy every minute of it and even squeezed in a quick snooze mid-class. It’s fun for them to socialize with other babies and rock out to some cool beats. And as an extra perk, Warrior One is super on top of their photography game. Owner Yonina Chan pops in and out of the studio throughout the class to take beautiful photos of all the participants, and then shares them within a few hours after the class ends! No matter how you feel about posting pictures of your babies online, it always puts a smile on my face to see candid photos of my daughter and me enjoying life together.

Want to join us for a class? Add WeChat ID: alessia_chizzoniti to be added to the Mommy & Me Dance Fitness group. Classes are every Friday morning and to join the first one, simply shoot a message in the group and they’ll book it for you.

KEEP READING: Self Defense Q&A with Von Ng of Krav Maga Global China

Images: Courtesy of Warrior One

Back in November, we interviewed Alessandro Rolandi and his kids Clara (13) and Amedeo (10) who spend their weekends at KMG x Warrior One learning Krav Maga, the Israeli Defense Forces created by a Hungarian-Israeli martial artist named Imi Licthenfeld.

Krav Maga is rooted in the idea of real-world situations and Von Ng, head instructor and China Director of Krav Maga Global (KMG) creates classes specifically for kids, suited to size, strength, and their real-world situations. “For kids, our lessons always focus on dealing with issues that are relevant to their age groups,” Ng tells beijingkids. “In addition, we teach them street smarts, how to deal with peer pressure and stress, and making good decisions about their safety. We also teach them how to deal with bullies versus how to deal with adult attackers.”

As we sit at home, facing a very real-world situation of spending another week in self-imposed quarantine, Ng and his team have created a digital workout session to help the family stay fit, entertained, and keep those Krav Maga moves sharp. Long-time students will recognize some of these classic moves from their basic Krav Maga power drills. And the best part? No workout equipment needed!

SIT UP & PUNCH
Start with back on the floor and knees bent. As you come up, do two straight punches in the air.
CHECKPOINTS
Twist the body with each punch. Make sure you release the punch as you are going up, not when you are already at the topmost position of the sit-up.

REGRESSION
Instead of a sit-up, do a crunch and two punches in the air.

SQUAT & KICK
Start with both feet shoulder-width apart. Go down into a 90-degree squat. As you come up, do a mid-height front kick with one leg. Go down again into a squat, then come up and kick with the other leg. Continue with squats and alternating leg kicks for the rest of the time.
CHECKPOINTS
When descending for a squat, don’t go down too fast. Make sure your knees don’t go past your toes at the bottom of the squat. When you come up for the kick, do not lock your knees to avoid hyperextension.

REGRESSION
Instead of a front kick, do a front knee strike.

PROGRESSION
Instead of a front kick, do a roundhouse.

PUSH UP & BACK KICK

Start in the plank position and lower yourself to the ground. As you come up, look back and do a back kick with one leg up in the air. Put the foot down and do a push-up. As you come up, look back and do a back kick with the other leg up in the air. Continue with push up and alternating leg kicks for the rest of the time.
CHECKPOINTS
For push-ups, keep elbows facing backward, not flaring out, and shoulders stacked. For back kick, look in the direction you are kicking, do not look forward.

REGRESSION
Stay in a plank instead of doing a push-up.

RISING SIDEKICK (RIGHT SIDE)
Lay down on your right side, and prop yourself up on your right elbow. Your elbow and palms should be on the floor near your body. Have your right leg bent on the floor near your body, and your left leg chambered in the air close to your chest. 
With each move, push up to rise onto your right palm and right knee, and kick your left leg straight out. After full extension, come back down to the starting position.
CHECKPOINTS
In the fully extended position, have your hips thrust out, such that your head, hips, and heel form one straight line. As much as possible, flex the foot so that the kick leads with the heel, and the entire foot is in a horizontal position. Try to keep looking at your foot for the entire duration of the exercise.

REGRESSION
Put the left hand down on the floor in front of you to help with balance.

RISING SIDEKICK (LEFT SIDE)
Same as above, but switch to the left side.

PUSH UP & BACK HAMMERFIST 
Start in the plank position, and lower yourself to the ground. When you come up, lift one hand off the ground and twist outwardly to do a back hammerfist in the air. Return to plank and lower yourself once more to the ground. When coming back up, do the back hammerfists on the other side. Continue with push up and alternating back hammerfist for the rest of the time.
CHECKPOINTS
When twisting to do the back hammerfist, look up in the direction to make a full twist. In the top position, have your arm as perpendicular to the ground as possible, without locking your elbows.


REGRESSION
Stay in a plank instead of doing a push-up.

To get in touch with with KMG X Warrior One, scan the QR code below.

Photos: Von Ng