This quarter, a small group of seventh and eighth graders have been participating in the practice of mindfulness and meditation during their elective block. According to Yogapedia, Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment, through a gentle, nurturing lens.
When we practice mindfulness, our thoughts tune into what we're sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future. Mindfulness meditation is a type of meditation which involves paying attention to the present moment, deliberately and without judgement. It is a popular meditation practice in the West and has roots in the Buddhist tradition of Vipassana meditation. It will often be incorporated into yoga practices and teachings.
Recently, there has been much research on using this practice in schools to help students improve focus and memory in their learning, to relieve stress, regulate emotions, and reduce anxiety levels in children. During a recent session, student participants took part in a doodling activity, which is an activity that uses the right side of the brain to bring about a feeling of balance and inner peace. This is one of several activities that students will be taking part in to accumulate mindfulness strategies that they may use throughout their lives in order to obtain the many benefits of mindfulness and meditation.
Anyone is welcome to join our group. Feel free to contact me at ldamren@lymeschool.org for days and times of our meetings. We would love to share the practices we have learned thus far.
