Cultivating Mindfulness in the Classroom

3 Min Read • Behaviors

Before I dive in, I’d like to share very quickly how the practice of cultivating mindfulness has impacted me personally. Over the past several months, I’ve been engaged in an effort to live a more mindful life. With the intent to honor my capabilities and my limitations, to let go of past failures and the worries of the future, and to live in the present moment.

While embracing my inner “hippie,” meditating, taking yoga classes, and developing a sense of self-awareness, I have found a sense of contentment that I haven’t experienced before. I’ve heard about mindfulness in the classroom, and I thought in light of my own experiment, that I might share with you how this practice might be used. Not only to bring a positive impact to your classrooms and your students but yourselves as well.

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the practice of bringing one’s attention to the present moment- our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surroundings. When you are mindful, you observe your thoughts and feelings without judgement. When we are mindful, we live in the moment, we are awakened to new experiences, and we learn acceptance. We learn to let go of the failures of the past and the worries of the future, creating space for the present moment.

Why Practice Mindfulness?

Though this approach has its roots in Buddhist meditation, the practice has become significantly more mainstream in recent years. This movement, initiated by the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn and his Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, has spurred on thousands of studies documenting the physical and mental benefits of the practice. Even after a few weeks of practicing the approach, benefits may include:

A boost in the immune system’s ability to fight off illness.
An increase in positive emotions correlating with a reduction in negative emotions and stress.
Increased density of gray matter in regions of the brain linked to learning, memory, emotion, regulation, and empathy.
Increased ability to focus.
An increased capacity for compassion.
Practicing “mindful eating” encourages healthier eating habits, fighting obesity.

Does Mindfulness Have a Place in the Classroom?

Studies show that this practice does have a place in schools. There is evidence that teaching mindfulness in the classroom reduces behavior problems, elevates morale, improves self-esteem, and boosts focus. Additionally, teachers who are trained in mindfulness show signs of less stress and negative emotions, lower blood pressure, and greater empathy.