Meet New dHL Expert Manjiah Ockey, Smart Brain Wise Heart

Today’s students are growing up in a fast-paced digital world. They are learning online, communicating online, socializing online, and often managing stress, emotions, distractions, and pressure in both physical and virtual spaces.

Because of this, students need more than information. They need practical tools that help them understand themselves, manage stress, and make wise choices in real time.

That is why I am excited to introduce teachers to the online learning component of Smart Brain Wise Heart, a HeartMath® social and emotional learning program designed for students ages 9–16.

I'm Manjiah Ockey, a HeartMath® Certified Trainer, Licensed Practical Nurse, neuroscience-informed educator, and Founder of Galena Wellness Ltd., I help students, families, educators, and organizations understand how the heart, brain, and nervous system work together to support emotional regulation, learning, resilience, and well-being.

Through the Digital Human Library, I am able to bring this learning directly into classrooms through engaging virtual sessions that introduce students to heart-brain science and practical self-regulation tools.

Smart Brain Wise Heart is a blended learning program organized into eight learning units. Each unit builds on the previous one, helping students gradually develop stronger self-awareness, self-regulation, and decision-making skills.

The online portion allows students to access learning content from school or home. It includes videos, interactive activities, student reflection, scenario-based learning, assessments, and practice opportunities that help students build emotional awareness and self-regulation skills over time.

The program is designed to help students understand what is happening inside themselves when they feel stressed, frustrated, anxious, distracted, reactive, or overwhelmed.

Instead of simply telling students to “calm down” or “focus,” Smart Brain Wise Heart helps them understand how to calm their nervous system and why regulation matters for learning, relationships, and decision-making.

Students today are comfortable learning through digital tools. The online format makes Smart Brain Wise Heart engaging, accessible, and flexible for classrooms.

The online learning experience includes:

• student-friendly videos
• whiteboard animation lessons
• learning-based scenario videos
• online activities
• reflection questions
• short assessments
• practice opportunities
• project-based action assignments

Each unit includes a video that supports the student’s learning process. These videos help bring the concepts to life and make heart-brain science easier for students to understand.

For teachers, the online format allows students to move through structured content while still creating space for classroom discussion, guided reflection, and real-world application.

The online Smart Brain Wise Heart program supports key social and emotional learning skills, including:

• self-awareness
• self-management
• social awareness
• relationship skills
• responsible decision-making

These skills are essential for student success. When students understand their emotions and learn how to regulate their nervous systems, they are better able to focus, communicate, solve problems, manage conflict, and participate in learning.

For students who experience anxiety, ADHD, autism, trauma, stress, or emotional dysregulation, these tools can be especially meaningful. The program gives students language and strategies to better understand what is happening inside them.

Smart Brain Wise Heart also includes a 24-question Student Opinion Survey that can be used before and after the program.

This survey helps educators look at student growth in three areas:

• positive affect
• negative affect
• stress management

This gives teachers and schools a way to better understand how students are progressing and how the program is supporting emotional regulation and resilience over time.

Through the Digital Human Library, I can support teachers and students by providing virtual sessions that introduce or enrich the online Smart Brain Wise Heart learning experience.

These sessions may include:

• an introduction to heart-brain-body science
• a student-friendly explanation of stress and emotions
• guided HeartMath® self-regulation practice
• discussion connected to Smart Brain Wise Heart lessons
• support for understanding “in sync” and “out of sync” states
• practical tools students can use before tests, presentations, conflict, or stressful moments
• Q&A about neuroscience, wellness, healthcare, and resilience

My role is to help make the online learning experience more personal, interactive, and meaningful for students.

Many students do not yet know how to explain what is happening inside them when they are stressed. They may feel overwhelmed, distracted, frustrated, shut down, or reactive without understanding why.

Smart Brain Wise Heart helps students develop the language and skills to notice their inner state and choose a healthier response.

This is powerful because self-regulation is not only a classroom skill. It is a life skill.

Students can use these tools when:
 

• taking a test
• during conflict
• feeling anxious
• trying to focus
• navigating friendships
• preparing for sports or performances
• they simply need a moment to reset

Teachers are supporting students through more than academics. You are helping young people build the skills they need to manage emotions, develop confidence, build relationships, and move through challenges.

The online component of Smart Brain Wise Heart offers a flexible and engaging way to bring emotional regulation, resilience, and heart-brain science into the classroom.

Through Digital Human Library, I would be honoured to support your students with interactive virtual learning that helps them understand their minds, bodies, emotions, and inner strengths.

Together, we can help students build smart brains, wise hearts, and practical tools for lifelong well-being.

Manjiah Ockey, BS, LPN
HeartMath® Certified Trainer
Licensed Practical Nurse
Founder & CEO, Galena Wellness Ltd.
Registered Digital Human Library Expert

Website: www.galenawellness.ca
Email: info@galenawellness.ca
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

When you're ready to connect with Manjiah, simply login to Digital Human Library and Request an Expert!