Teacher experiences of a school-based mindfulness programme

Awareness of mindfulness in New Zealand school communities is growing, and many teachers are becoming aware of its significance to support health and wellbeing in the classroom. This article discusses qualitative research on a 6-week mindfulness programme for teachers and students which showed that teachers perceived specific mindfulness activities reduced their stress levels and improved their present-moment awareness. The teachers also believed that mindfulness practices had positive effects on the students, and that the practices helped the children to calm themselves and be more focused during class time.