Mindfulness in Schools

There is a crisis in teenagers. Worries about the future, stress, anxiety: all signs of a generation under pressure. There has never been a more important time to introduce the skill of mindfulness than now. This program is aimed at teenager between the ages of 13 – 16. Groups outside of this range could be included in future programmes. The main aim of this initiative is to help calm and focus those working towards GCSEs.

From first hand experience I can testify that a teenager with meditation skills is a calm, thoughtful and powerful soul with inner strength. This teenager learned meditation and set out to prove it wasn’t worth practicing; but soon found that on the days he didn’t practice his mood, concentration and energy were noticeably decreased. Meditation is a skill worth learning.

Mindfulness and meditation

I’ve used the terms mindfulness and meditation here interchangeably. They are not the same, but as far as teaching the basics is concerned, some practical parallels may be drawn. The similarities are that both are processes of deliberate mind calming. In mindfulness we aim to pay attention to how things are – this can include actions, the breath and the mind, for example. Mindfulness is the ability to be fully present in the moment. In meditation the aim is to find inner stillness – to be the observer of the self, as it were. Mindfulness can be used to direct the focus in a meditation practice along with other methods such as mantra, breathwork and visualisation. In short, mindfulness practices can lead to a state of meditation. Someone who meditated regularly will be more mindful in his everyday life. The 2 skills go hand in hand.

Mindfulness in schools program

A mindfulness program in schools is offered to small groups of teenagers – a group of around 12 is suggested. The sessions run weekly for 6 weeks and are aimed at teenagers seeking tools for success. The sessions run before school and each session is about 40 minutes long.

The group will learn:

How to relax the body

The power of the breath

How to watch the breath for enhanced mental calm

Mindfulness every day

The power of positive self talk and the use of mantra as a tool to still mind chatter

The power of gratitude

How to incorporate a simple morning practice into daily life

Each lesson will include a short mindfulness practice and suggested home practice. There will be an accompanying audio recording of the practice for the students to use if they wish to.

A Skill for Life

This is a skill for life: so active, mindful participation is required in order to get the most from it. Like going to the gym this is not a one-off experience: daily practice is key. Learning is not a linear experience – revisiting techniques and practices enriches you. Morning practice sets the tone for the day. Practicing with others makes you accountable. Meditating in the evening helps clear the mind for more restful sleep. Habits take several weeks to establish.