Mindfulness in Schools

 

Simply put, mindfulness is bringing a gentle awareness to all experiences in life, the pleasant and the unpleasant. When we are mindful, we are empowered. We have choice about how we relate to ourselves, our family and friends, and to the external events over which we have little or no control. In this way, we can learn to live with less stress, anxiety and fear and with more assertiveness, patience and happiness.

 

The wonderful thing about mindfulness practice is that it is available to all of us in every moment, kids and adults alike! Here are some of the documented benefits of mindfulness (from https://www.mindfulschools.org/about-mindfulness/research/

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• Increased social skills

• Increased emotional regulation skills

• Increased ability to orient attention

• Increased working memory and planning and organization

• Increased self esteem

• Increased sense of calmness, relaxation, and self-acceptance.

• Increased quality of sleep

• Decreased test anxiety

• Decreased ADHD behaviors- specifically hyperactivity and impulsivity

• Decreased negative affect/ emotions

• Decreased anxiety

• Decreased depression

• Fewer conduct and anger management problems

 

Shelly Graf leads one-time mindfulness workshops and ongoing mindfulness classes for teachers, parents and students. Most programs can be tailored to address the unique needs of your group. Shelly has been practicing mindfulness and meditation for the past 15 years and continues to be a committed student of these practices. Shelly is delighted to share these practices which have changed their life, with others. Shelly completed the mindfulness in schools project teacher training in 2013, and has been trained by Gina Biegel in the elements of teaching Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction to teenagers and offers this 8-week class to teens both in schools and in her private psychotherapy practice.

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