Mindfulness

Introduction  Mindfulness is a way of using our minds to be aware of what’s going on inside and outside of us at the moment it is happening  Be mindful helps you stay strong and balanced  Just as we exercise our bodies, we can also exercise our minds: training them to be stronger, more focused and more balanced

 Everyone gets stressed from time to time  We will be learning how to use our minds to help us deal with stress

Group Guidelines  Respect each other  Listen to others  Work together  Keep an open mind  Be willing to try new things

 When we are mindful, we use our attention to notice what’s happening  What are some things you are noticing right now? They can be things inside of you or outside of you, in this room  How were you able to notice these things? What did you use?

Bell Sound  When we are mindful, we use all of our senses and our attention to help us  Our attention is really awake and is focused on what is going on, right at this moment  Sit quietly and close your eyes if you are comfortable with that  Use your attention to follow the sound of the bell  Raise your hand when you can’t hear the bell any longer.

Reflection  How was that way of paying attention different from the ways we normally pay attention?  Are there other times you can remember when you were very aware of what was happening in that moment?  This kind of paying attention is called mindfulness

Breathing Exercise