When classroom educators prioritize connection, playfulness, and safety, students and teachers thrive. This is the guiding vision of Brain Power Wellness (BPW), an organization that has worked with hundreds of schools across the U.S. and internationally. BPW has developed a unique approach that weaves mindfulness, social-emotional learning, and wellness practices into daily routines. At its core, the organization is committed to helping schools grow stronger by cultivating community, embracing joy, and ensuring psychological safety for every member of the learning environment.
Community as the Foundation
As Brain Power Wellness reviews, community is a central goal of education. The mindfulness company’s program helps schools establish practices that unite students and staff. These include regular implementation of brain breaks, reflections on subjects such as the importance of physical exercise and the power of a growth mindset, and team-building games, which reinforce belonging and create a sense of “we’re in this together.”
Beyond the classroom, BPW facilitates retreats, training reinforcements, professional development sessions, and parent workshops that extend connection across the entire school. Teachers, administrators, families, and students all engage in activities that foster trust and inclusivity. By strengthening these bonds, BPW helps schools become collaborative and supportive environments where everyone feels they have a voice.
Recently, an unprecedented collaboration took place with one of the company’s school partners. An initiative led by Principal Hesham Farid of Middle School 301X in the Bronx, NY, brought teachers and students together for a series of four-day trips, both on campus and off-site. All four days were about coming together as a community to overcome challenges, have fun, and practice mindfulness and intentionality.
Off-site, they visited SUNY Purchase, where they participated in a Boundless Adventures ropes course with the theme, “Overcoming Challenges.” The next day, the on-site theme was “Team-Building.” This day featured high-level collaboration, time for reflection, and deepening rapport with one another. In addition, the school visited The Kartrite Resort, where mindfulness and overcoming challenges through team effort were the ultimate goal. This series culminated in a final day of “Mindful Play,” which involved the creation of a collective mural to encourage the participants to look back on these important themes as well as the memories they created throughout the school year. Principal Hesham Farid, Mr. Salmon, and Coach Reyes were all instrumental in the construction of this series.
Fun as a Tool for Growth
BPW treats fun not as a distraction but as a vital part of learning and resilience. Playful movement breaks, team games, and interactive challenges encourage creativity and bring energy back into the school day. These moments of laughter and play relieve stress while building stronger peer-to-peer and student-teacher relationships.
During retreats, fun assumes an even larger role. Schools gather for activities such as dance, team-building games, and collaborative challenges, which allow participants to connect in energizing and joyful ways. The results are more than mere entertainment; they are also reminders that joy fuels engagement and makes learning more meaningful. As one student shared, “The games make school feel exciting again. We feel connected-like we’re all part of the same team.”
Creating Safe Spaces for Learning
Equally central to BPW’s philosophy is the idea that psychological safety must be at the heart of education. Through mindfulness practices such as “Four-Part Breathing,” “Partner Stretch,” and “Gratitude Meditation,” students and educators alike learn to regulate emotions and respond to challenges with calm focus.
Every BPW activity is designed to emphasize inclusion, productive struggle, and creativity, rather than competition, ensuring no one feels left out or judged. Teachers are encouraged to model vulnerability and empathy, demonstrating that classrooms can be spaces where openness and authenticity are valued. Founder Dave Beal explains, “When we feel safe, we can take risks, connect authentically, and grow in confidence. That’s what makes true learning possible.”
Notably in this regard, “Project Aristotle” was a study conducted in 2012 by Google to identify the key factors of high-performing teams. The results revealed that psychological safety was the key factor underlying the success across all of the participating companies. Specifically, the study found that teams that performed at exemplary levels were made up of members who felt secure enough to take risks, show vulnerability, and make mistakes without fear of reprisal. Structure, clarity, and dependability were among the other determinative factors discovered.
Transforming School Culture
By offering programs that encompass community, fun, and psychological safety, Brain Power Wellness has helped schools nationwide and internationally to transform their culture. Educators report not only higher engagement and focus, but also stronger relationships and more resilient school communities.
Ultimately, BPW’s approach shows that education is most potent when it goes beyond academics. By focusing on connection, joy, and emotional well-being, the organization equips schools to create spaces where both students and teachers can flourish.
About Brain Power Wellness
Brain Power Wellness is a holistic, school-based wellness organization that supports healthy, happy, and focused school environments. Its mission is to help transform the culture of its partner schools through self-development, mindfulness, community building, retreats, SEL, holistic wellness, and brain training for teachers, students, parents, and administrators.
