Music & Mindfulness: Allow

VIDEO

Mindfulness means noticing without judgment. Practice noticing your feelings and thoughts without trying to change them or label them as good or bad.

TIPS

• Some students will love mindfulness and easily relax their wiggles and calm their breathing. For others, it may feel hard to be still and quiet and they may resist at first. We recommend continuing to try out mindfulness with your students in small, consistent doses.

• Repetition is encouraged. Playing the same video several times will give students a feeling of mastery and help them develop mindful habits.

• Expand any activity if you have time. Allow students to journal, color, or share after doing each video. We’ve included a bonus “Reflection Video” of cello music only to allow students time to draw, journal, or reflect.

• Incorporate the breathing techniques learned into warm-ups at the beginning of class. Have a student lead it as they get comfortable with the breaths. Choose one and do it for a month. Consistency will promote regulation in the nervous system.

• Stick with it! It can take months and even years to see concrete results in your students. However, that quiet, centering moment can mean the world to certain students whose lives outside the classroom do not allow for stillness, rest, or time to reflect.

What is MINDFULNESS? 

Mindfulness is simply paying attention to what’s happening around you and within you without judgment. While adjacent to practices like yoga and meditation, mindfulness is not connected to any religion or tradition. Mindfulness utilizes neuroscience and an understanding of the nervous system to help rewire our brains and nervous system to operate optimally as students and humans. Mindfulness fits well with other Social Emotional Learning goals and helps promote self-regulation and a healthy nervous system in children and adults.

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To use our bonus reflection video of cello-only music, click here.