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Mindfulness Teacher Training

Workshop in Auckland 11th April 2015

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A half day Introductory Training Workshop for teachers and parents who wants to establish an ongoing mindfulness practice for their students or children.

The Workshop Covers:

• What is Mindfulness?

• Why Teach Mindfulness in Schools

• Evident based research and background

• Mindfulness Exercises

• Training Sessions in Teaching Mindfulness

The workshop includes, lesson plans, practices and scripts to assist teachers on all levels to introduce mindfulness into the classrooms and in the homes.

The Workshop will be in 2 parts.  Part one will give the background to what Mindfulness is and why it is gaining such recognition as a resource to improve students and children’s ability to deal with stress, pressure and anxiety. Studies shows how ongoing practise of mindfulness for students can improve calmness and focus in the classroom. Rita will give examples and tips from her own experience of running Mindfulness programmes in Auckland Schools.

Part two consist of practical exercises and training in delivering Mindfulness lessons to students and children inclusive how to establish your own mindfulness practise so you can experience the benefits for yourself.

The workshop is held by Rita Riccola who is an experienced Mindfulness trainer and NZ Registered Teacher.

Register 

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Why Mindfulness in Schools?

One of the primary ironies of modern education is that we ask students to “Pay attention” dozens of times a day, yet we never teach them how. The practice of mindfulness teaches students how to pay attention, and this enhances both academic and social emotional learning”  (Saltzman, 2011)

One of the greatest challenges for teachers and educators today is increasing behavioural problems in the classroom. Often those issues can be modified with the introduction of simple mindfulness practices such as:

• Breathing techniques
• Listening exercises
• Body scanning
• Mindful body practices

 Background

During the last few years in my contact with teachers, counselors and social workers in schools around Auckland, I’ve seen a growing interest in getting mindfulness programmes in place to help students to deal with the increasing stress and pressure in the school environment.

A single mindfulness trainer can only help so many  students. The benefits of an ongoing Mindfulness practice have been shown so positive and achieved so quickly that I think it is something that every student in New Zealand should have the opportunity to be introduced to.

To be able to reach more students in school and children at home we need teachers and parents who understand and experience the value of the practice and to learn it themselves in order to teach to others. It is recommended but not required that you have your own practise to be able to teach mindfulness. The written material and training you get from this half day workshop will give you the tools and confidence to teach mindfulness to students and children even if you don’t have an established mindfulness practice. It is hoped, that once introduced to these simple techniques and experience the almost immediate benefits, mindfulness will become a way of life for all participants.

The Science of Mindfulness

According to Dr. Romie Mushtaq Practicing mindfulness has been shown to alter the structure and function of the brain, which is what allows us to learn, acquire new abilities, and improve memory. Advances in neuroimaging techniques have taught us how these mindfulness-based techniques affect neuroplasticity

Benefits

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE? Mindfulness sessions can be as short as 15 minutes and can be introduced at any time of the day.

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REGISTER FOR THE WORKSHOP BELOW

The Teacher 

The Mindfulness Teacher Training Workshop is held by Rita Riccola. She is the director of Mindfulness NZ Schools and a registered NZ Teacher. She has been practising mindfulness for over 20 years. Rita lives in Ponsonby, Auckland.

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“Teaching Mindfulness to school children is fast growing momentum as the benefits become evident. Mindfulness has great potential as a key strategy for a positively impacting on the learning and wellbeing of children and young people in education settings.”New Zealand Mental Health Foundation

“The thing is with mindfulness is that when you are going to do something bad, you know it and you can stop.”

“I like mindfulness because it helps me feel better and teaches me to concentrate.”

“When my sister gets on my nerves, I tell her to leave me alone so I can take a deep breath. I always use the technique whenever I am mad.”

Quotes from Children

“Suspensions at our school dropped from 14 last year to 6 this year. We attribute this to the mindfulness programme.”

“I had dreaded this would be my last year teaching until the Mindfulness programme began at my school. Now I am Re-dedicated to my profession.”

Quotes from Educators

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Focus on Mindfulness

The Feb 3rd issue of Time Magazine focuses on mindfulness, the far-reaching effect it is having in all walks of life, and on Jon Kabat-Zinn, who brought mindfulness to hospitals and clinics, through his Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR).

“People come with a huge amount of pain and suffering, both physical and emotional,” says Kabat-Zinn in our Award Winning book, Be The Change. “Through the cultivation of mindfulness, they develop a more functional relationship with that suffering, they turn towards it, open to it, and actually befriend it to a degree rather than insisting that it stop, and in the process, the pain often transforms or even falls away… For the most part, they will tell you that they are more in touch with their own beauty than they may have been since they were children.”

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