Mindful Teens

How can Mindfulness help our Teens?

Each day our teens face a rollercoaster ride of emotions, competition in academics, sports, relationships (social media "likes"), and an overwhelming sense of not being good enough. Mindfulness practices help them see that they are 'enough' just as they are right now. We continue to learn and grow our skills; however, we're not broken, in need of fixing. Teens may struggle with awareness of choice, problem solving, and decision making; they may succumb to peer pressure and develop unhealthy habits. Mindfulness helps teens manage their thoughts, adjust their perspective, learn to be kind to themselves, and how to cultivate healthy habits.

Tap the picture above to view the video "Release" and listen to Middle School Students share their experiences and how mindfulness has helped them.

TEEN CLASS:

Mindful Meet-Up (13-17 years old): A weekly, 30 minute virtual, class for Teens to come together and "experience" mindful meditation to help deal with life's everyday stressors. Less talk, more practice....each class is an informal gathering (on or off screen depending on your comfort level) where we "practice" managing our worry mind, finding our calm, and developing healthy habits to just feel better and be happier. This is not "therapy" this is a meditation class specifically for teens or young adults (see below), which introduces valuable mindfulness skills in grounding meditations.

This Donation-Based Class meets Sunday nights, 7-7:30 pm.

YOUNG ADULT CLASS:

Mindful Meet-Up (18+): A weekly, virtual, meditation class, similar to the teen class above, yet for older individuals. Reference the above class description for more details. This Donation-Based Class meets Sunday nights 8-8:30 pm.

*The intention of both classes is to destress, find balance, and to understand/apply/integrate mindfulness skills into your daily lives for present and long term health benefits...all while simply "experiencing" meditation!

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about Mindful Meet-Up:

Why is this class better than just using a Mindfulness App?

This class allows you to text questions in the chat box (or ask questions) to help you learn to apply these practices outside class and in your daily activities/relationships. You can also email questions (anonymous to the group, if preferred), prior to the class, that may be addressed/weaved into the class meditation or replied to via email. Chances are, others share the same questions and learning how to apply mindfulness will help all.

Do you need to have a problem to take this class?

No, absolutely not. Mindfulness is a life-skill that helps us all navigate the ups and downs of just living. Everyone's mind worries, judges, criticizes, compares, blows things out of proportion, is heavy/crowded at times, etc. We can all benefit from learning how to settle ourselves, be the manager of our own mind and train it to be our best asset.

Standardized Test Anxiety:

High School Students experiencing test anxiety when preparing for, or taking, SAT/ACT Exams can benefit from establishing their own mindfulness practice. Mindfulness will help them to combat the worry cycle that can cause them to "freeze" during tests. They also learn to "bounce back" when tripped up on a question and to stay focused throughout the remainder of the exam.

College-Bound Readiness:

College-bound Seniors who have some natural trepidation about transitioning to college will benefit from cultivating a personal mindfulness practice.

Mindfulness can give them a sense of stability when embarking on uncharted territory, decreasing feelings of stress and tension, and increasing confidence in their ability to adjust to life and to balance studies on campus.

Mindfulness can help students study more efficiently (decreasing distractions) and stay healthy (managing stress and strengthening their immune system). Why not be proactive and position yourself for success and happiness in this exciting new environment.

Mindful Athletes On and Off the field

Sports are not just physical...

"You perfect your technique, get stronger, faster, and build endurance, but still something is keeping you from reaching your full potential....."

'In practice you have no problem performing your best, hitting your shots, making the goals, running for touchdowns, or getting your best times; but, in the intensity of the game/meet, your nerves get in the way.....'

'You make mistakes on the field, have a bad race, come up short and it changes the course of the game....you beat yourself up letting it effect your next opportunity to perform....'

These are common athlete scenarios....Mindfulness helps to quiet the internal chatter and allow an athlete to focus on the only thing he or she can control - his or her execution, RIGHT NOW. Mental training helps an athlete learn to release him or herself from what just happened, come back, and get centered again.

"The ability to bounce back from disappointment (resiliency) allows athletes to more quickly return to the present experience, and have another chance at a successful moment in sports!" (George Mumford)

Mindfulness in Sports

Mindfulness is a form of mental training that is often practiced in professional sports. Why not start this training with athletes at a younger age? High school and college players would definitely benefit....even introducing mindfulness in youth sports could help to lay the foundation for more confident and resilient athletes down the road!