How One UAE Wellness Coach Is Tackling Bullying With Breath, Belief, and Bold Conversations
Bullying and cyberbullying remain among the most complex emotional challenges young people face today. As digital life becomes part of everyday reality, students are under more pressure than ever, not just academically but socially, emotionally and publicly. The pressure to be liked, visible and ‘perfect’ online can weigh just as heavily as what they experience in person.
While adults often advise children to “tell a teacher,” many hesitate. It is not defiance. It is fear. Students worry that speaking up will make things worse, that their tormentors will retaliate or that their private regrets will be dragged into the spotlight. For children who have made mistakes online or feel ashamed of what they have been through, silence can feel safer than exposure.
That is why wellness advocate Jane Elizabeth, founder of Revive to Rise and newly appointed Wellness Officer at Quantum Media, is calling for a more human, more thoughtful response to bullying in schools. One that focuses on helping children feel safe and grounded again, rather than just punishing behaviour.
Jane Elizabeth, Wellness Officer, Quantum Media:
“You cannot punish pain away. You have to meet it, understand it and help it shift.”
Jane Elizabeth, Wellness Officer, Quantum Media
A Shift Toward Healing: Why Mind-Body Practices Work
Across UAE schools, more educators are recognising that rules alone are not enough. Jane works directly with students using a combination of breathwork, meditation and positive affirmations to help them regulate emotions and reconnect with self-worth.
Jane explains,
“When a child learns to slow their breath, they signal to their nervous system that they are safe. That is the first step. From there, meditation and affirmations help them rebuild. It is not about fixing children. It is about helping them feel safe in their own minds again.”
Even a few minutes of guided breathing can reduce fear and panic. A popular visual Jane uses is breathing out dark smoke to release shame or anxiety. Paired with affirmations like “I am safe,” “I am brave,” and “I deserve respect,” students begin to shift the way they think and speak to themselves.
From Conversation to Connection
Recently, Jane joined Aysha Sarna on her podcast Stories That Matter for an episode focused on student wellbeing. What began as a conversation about mindset and meditation quickly turned into something more personal.
One of the students participating opened up about being bullied. In response, Jane led a live meditation session on the podcast, helping the group move through what had surfaced in a calm and supportive way.
Aysha Sarna, Host of Stories That Matter said,
“He went from withdrawn to calm and smiling. The change in that moment was real.”
Two weeks later, the team received feedback from the student’s school. He had been practising the affirmations daily and had shown a noticeable change in confidence and behaviour. What started as a podcast became a breakthrough moment.
The Voice Behind the Mic: Aysha Sarna
With over 15 years in marketing, Aysha Sarna built Stories That Matter to go beyond brand storytelling. She wanted to create a space for honest conversations that inspire personal growth and social impact.
“After years of shaping brand voices, I wanted to help people share their own. Unfiltered, unscripted and real.”
Aysha’s vision is to build a global community where stories inspire healing, connection and change. Her platform welcomes guests who speak from experience, not just expertise, and always with a focus on emotional honesty.
“Growth does not have to be overwhelming. Sometimes it starts with a breath or a conversation.”
Building a Culture of Emotional Safety
Jane’s organisation, Revive to Rise, continues to support schools across the UAE with student coaching, staff training and wellness strategy. She believes that helping students manage emotional challenges should not be limited to crisis response, but embedded into daily school life.
In her new role as Wellness Officer at Quantum Media, Jane will be amplifying these practices even further through partnerships, community programmes and thought leadership.
Jane Elizabeth:
“Bullying thrives in silence. Wellness gives children their voice back, and with it, their strength.”
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