WHAT IS MINDFULNESS?
“Paying attention on purpose—in the present moment and nonjudgmentally—to the unfolding of experience moment to moment.“
-Kabat-Zinn
The Webster Dictionary defines it as follows:
- The quality or state of being mindful.
- The practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one’s thoughts, emotions, or experiences on a moment-to-moment basis; also: such a state of awareness.
Mindful Movements are practices that teach Mindfulness and awareness in movement, such as walking, dancing, Tai Chi, and yoga.
BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN
Practicing Mindfulness has many wonderful benefits, but its benefits to children are amazing:
- Increases emotional intelligence
- Reduces stress
- Discharges energy
- Enhances listening skills
- Enhances learning
- Enhances self-esteem
- Enhances cooperation skills
- Increases self-control
- Builds peaceful people
STANDING LIKE A TREE
A MINDFULNESS PRACTICE
Here is an example of a mindfulness practice that can be done with children and adults alike. It involves the yoga pose called “Tree Pose.”
STANDING LIKE A TREE:
Standing like a tree
With my roots down deep
And my branches wide and open.
Down comes the sun
Down comes the rain
Down comes the love into my heart
Which is open to be
Standing like a tree.
