Move and Play the Stress Away – Online Course
The Move and Play the Stress Away (MPSA) MOOC is an online learning space designed to support teachers, educators and helping professionals in preventing stress and burnout through movement, play and embodied reflection.
About the course
The course is built around the understanding that effective stress regulation cannot rely on cognitive strategies alone. Instead, it requires reconnecting with the body, emotions and relational experiences that help restore balance and resilience. Through short learning units, guided activities and reflective prompts, the MOOC invites participants to pause, slow down and explore practical ways of caring for their own wellbeing.
The MOOC combines theoretical input with experiential learning. Participants are introduced to key concepts related to stress, nervous system regulation and adult wellbeing, while being gently guided to experiment with playful movement, creative expression and self-observation. The activities are intentionally simple and low-threshold, allowing learners to adapt them to their own pace, context and professional reality.
The course is suitable for individual self-learning, but it can also be used as a starting point for group reflection, peer support or professional development in educational and counselling settings. No prior experience with movement- or play-based methods is required.
The MPSA MOOC is organised into thematic modules that can be completed independently. Learners are encouraged to approach the course with curiosity rather than performance-oriented expectations. There are no “right” or “wrong” outcomes — the focus is on personal experience, reflection and gradual change.
By participating in the MOOC, educators gain:
a deeper understanding of stress and its impact on the body and emotions
practical, embodied tools for everyday stress regulation
increased self-awareness and early recognition of overload
inspiration to integrate movement and play into daily routines
The MOOC is part of a broader ecosystem of MPSA resources, which also includes self-reflection cards, training materials for counsellors and additional curated resources from related European projects. Together, these tools support educators in building sustainable wellbeing practices — for themselves and within their professional communities.
