1. Mindfulness for You and Your Students

2. California Department of Education’s Support of Mental Wellness
The Coordinated Student Support Division of the California Department of Education provides training for Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA).
One of the tenets of the YMHFA Training is, “Encourage Self-help and Other Supportive Strategies.”
Mindfulness is a useful strategy for addressing barriers to learning and success.

3. Youth Mental Health Statistics
The median age of onset eleven–earliest of all forms of psychopathology.
About 8 percent of children between ages thirteen and eighteen currently have an anxiety disorder.
About 25 percent of children between ages thirteen and eighteen will have develop an anxiety disorder.
About 5.9 percent of children between ages thirteen and eighteen will have a “severe” anxiety disorder.
Only 18 percent of these teens receive treatment.

4. Mindfulness in the Last Few Years
Mindfulness has emerged as a way of treating children and adolescents with conditions ranging from:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Anxiety
Autism
Spectrum disorders
Depression
Stress
The benefits are proving to be tremendous.

5. Mindfulness

6. What is Mindfulness?
“Paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.” Jon Kabat-Zinn

7. What is Mindfulness? (Continued)
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” Victor Frankl

8. It is like having a radio station with static on 24/7.
A Typical State of Mind
It is like having a radio station with static on 24/7.

9. Mindfulness Is Hot!

10. Mindfulness Arrives in the West
In the 1960’s and 1970’s, Westerners began going to Southeast Asia to learn mindfulness practices.
They brought those practices back to the West and began to teach them within the framework of Buddhism.
In the 1980’s and 1990’s, it was discovered that those practices could be extracted from Buddhism and the cultural matrix of Asia and used within a secular context.

11. Mindfulness in Society
Increasingly, it is being understood that mindful awareness is a cultivatable skill with broad applications through all aspects of society, including education, prison system, politics, business, and even the training of soldiers.

12. Mindfulness in Society (Continued)

13. The Practice of Mindfulness
Mindfulness can be a healthy coping skill.
We can train our bodies and our attention with practice.
If we do not practice mindfulness, we remain reactive, on automatic pilot, swept along by the current of stressful current events.
We can form new habits, new neuropathways.

14. Stress Signaling Pathways

15. How the Body Responds to Stress
Central Nervous System
Autonomic Nervous System
Perception—Narrowed
Heart rate increases
Memory—Coarse, imprecise
Blood pressure increases
Learning—Blocked
Oxygen need increases
Conditioning—Defense
Breathing rate increases
Tendency—Regress or perseverate (repeat insistently)
Palms, face sweat
Blood sugar increases
Tone—Fight or flight
Adrenalin flows
Digestive tract shuts down blood to muscles
Muscular System
Tension
Blood vessels constrict in hands, face
Ready for action
Jaws clench
Body braces for action

16. Benefits of Mindfulness

17. Benefits of Mindfulness (Continued)
It can change the way we interact with people, i.e., dealing with angry students, unpleasant coworkers.
It can help almost any relationship.
The PAUSE makes the DIFFERENCE. We learn to respond rather than react.
It makes us more aware of our senses, and of our inner world of thoughts and emotions.
It is simple. But it is not often easy.

18. Benefits of Mindfulness (Continued)
Decreased anxiety
Calm
Clarity of mind
Improved concentration
Stress regulation
Decreased blood pressure
Enhanced immune system

19. The Power of Mindfulness
The power of mindfulness, a meditation practice, can help kids become less anxious and more focused.

20. Relaxation Response

21. Why the Breath as an Anchor?
Always available
Free
Accessible–easily felt
Connects mind and body, a measure of well-being
Fairly neutral

22. The Brain During Meditation
Shows how the brain changes in positive ways with meditation!

23. Mindful Posture Facing forward Back is upright Stillness Quiet
Mind and body are relaxed yet alert

24. Mindfulness Exercises

25. Breath-Focus Meditation
Meditation trains the mind to settle, let go of mental clutter, and focus in the present moment. It connects the mind with the body.
Find a comfortable position in your chair. Your spine should be erect but not rigid.
Scan through the body and release unnecessary tension.
Bring attention to the body with an attitude of friendly curiosity.
Tune into the sensations of your body breathing and focus your attention on the feel of the breath coming in and out.
When your mind wanders, notice, and gently guide attention back to the breath (over and over again.)
Note: Practice 5 to 30 minutes daily for lasting positive results.

26. Teaching Mindfulness to Youth
It is important that you practice mindfulness before teaching it to youth.
It is not to be used as a disciplinary tool.

27. Practicing Mindfulness
Make a Practice That Works for You
Try sitting still for 5 minutes each day this week
Throughout the Day
Try paying attention to taking a shower, washing the dishes, taking a bite of food
Try pausing when the phone rings or at a stop sign, taking a breath
Try taking more breaks at work

28. Take a Moment
Stop Take a breath and pause Observe your thoughts and feelings Proceed mindfully

29. Contact Information
Yvonne Evans, M.S., Ed. Education Programs Consultant Educational Options, Student Support, and American Indian Education Office