Welcome to Becca's Thoughts on Mindfulness Learning

 

   Mindfulness is an awareness of oneself at the moment. It is being cognizant of how one feels or reacts in stressful situations as well as in everyday life. Knowing when to take a break and when to focus is mindfulness. The awareness of body, mind, and surroundings, and not becoming overwhelmed, is mindfulness. Mindfulness is a part of social-emotional growth. Mindfulness derives from the Buddhist practice of meditation. Mindfulness became popular in the United States when introduced by Kabat-Zinn, who learned the Buddhist form of meditation and mindfulness while studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He then reinvented his own techniques for mindfulness without the Buddhist principles. Mindfulness-based training helps one focus on self-regulation and dealing with feelings and stress (Kabat-Zinn, 1990).

 

Why use mindfulness?

            Mindfulness practices have proven to help people self-regulate, deal with stress, and reduce depression.  So why should we not implement a universal strategy for all students to learn social and emotional growth? There is data to confirm the idea that students learn more when they feel safe and have a solid social and emotional foundation (Keller, Ruthruff, Keller, Hoy, Gaspelin, & Bertolini; 2017). Research shows that yoga and mindfulness practices reduce anxiety, depression, and even stress (Knothe &Marti, 2018).  The most crucial skills necessary for children to become good students may all be taught through mindfulness training (Zenner, Herrneleben-Kurz & Walach, 2014).