What is mindfulness training and breathtaking?
Though it has been around for thousands of years, mindfulness has recently become a popular topic as it relates to our overall well-being and health. Mindfulness can simply be defined as “being aware of what’s happening, as it’s happening.” Mindfulness practices have been backed by years of research to be very effective in regulating one’s behaviors and emotions.
Specifically in education, mindfulness training is newer to schools and provides a set of lessons and techniques used to calm the mind and body in order to:
• Pay attention on purpose
• Be in the present moment, without judgment or criticism
• Help us respond, rather than react to situations
Here are some stats* regarding teacher stress where mindfulness can help:
• 51% reported they suffer from severe stress as a result of workplace worries
• 83% reported stress causes them to be constantly tired
• 24% get sick more frequently
• Teachers report that stress causes their teaching to be below par, negatively impacting their students’ learning experience
*Stats gathered from:
American Federation of Teachers, 2015; Davidson, 2011; Gallup, 2013; McCarthy, Lambert, O'Donnell, & Melendres, 2009; Skaalvik & Skaalvik, 2015; Stevenson & Harper, 2006
Gallup, 2013.
Green, 2014; Kipps-Vaughan, 2013 Teachers Assurance Report, 2013
Collaborative Learning Solutions recognizes that introducing mindfulness training and breathing exercises with students and teachers is an effective way to help with social and emotional learning (SEL) and to improve overall school performance. And so, we have mindfulness training services focused around our Breathtaking Series.