WHAT IS MINDFULNESS?

Simply put, mindfulness is the practice of bringing a gentle, accepting attitude to the present moment. Mindfulness is innately within us and can be accessed at any time, we just need to be aware of it.  At each developmental stage, mindfulness can be a useful tool for decreasing anxiety and promoting happiness.  It is being taught to executives at corporations, athletes in the locker room, and increasingly, to children both at home and in school. Instilling beautiful habits such as mindfulness early in life will evolve into lifelong behaviors and attitudes into adulthood.

 

BENEFITS OF MINDFULNESS

  • Boosts happiness and self-confidence
  • Relieves stress and anxiety and helps us deal with fear and worry
  • Deepens kindness, peacefulness and acceptance
  • Encourages focus and curiosity
  • Enhances empathy

 

OBJECTIVE OF THE MINDFULNESS CLASS

In the 30/40minute session we help children understand mindfulness by having them find their “still, quiet place” – from there they can learn to observe their thoughts and feelings, tap into some specific super powers and begin to choose their behaviors.  Every session will gently encourage children to explore their inner world through breath, meditation and visualization accompanied by movement such as yoga and stretching for a harmonious body-mind-connection.

 

WHAT DOES THE MINDFULNESS CLASS INVOLVE?

We’ll start the session with a “share and care circle” to connect with each other and look back at our week and share what we’re grateful for.  The core part of the class will include a specific mindfulness practice – an activity or game that primarily pays attention to the breath, whereby children will find their resting place between the in-breath and the out-breath accompanied by the explanation that this still quiet place is always with us, they can actually feel it in their bodies and it becomes a felt experience of awareness.  The class will finish with a loving kindness phrase/word for the weekend ahead. 

 

To truly appreciate life, you need to be fully present and mindful in the here and now. These moments of mindfulness are what makes life truly blissful.