We're making mindfulness an integral part of education.
In the high-pressure environment of a modern university, “performing” is often mistaken for “living.” For most college students, the internal monologue is filled with a chorus of shoulds: Get the A, build the resume, be the perfect friend, stay connected.
But what happens when twenty-seven students decide, for just four days, to stop performing?
In March 2026, students … [Read More]
By Kathryn Lige, LCSW, Mindfulness Director at Kennedy Middle School (Redwood City, CA)
The drive to Kennedy Middle School is one of my favorite parts of the day. As the sun rises over the hills of the Bay Area Peninsula, I take a moment to enjoy some music, observe the trees, and set my intentions for … [Read More]
By Ben Painter & Jon Luke Tittmann
Today’s youth are navigating an unprecedented mental health crisis: nearly half of teens report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, youth mental health hospitalizations have more than doubled since 2016, and daily screen time averages have surged to over seven hours per day–a two-hour increase since 2015. … [Read More]
By Erica Marcus, Mindfulness Director at Cape Elizabeth Middle School
Entering my fifth year as a Mindfulness Director at Cape Elizabeth Middle School, my students have taught me everything about how NOT to teach mindfulness. Too much seriousness, silence, and abstract philosophy have not landed well. More fun, activities, games, and challenges (even “stillness” ones) … [Read More]
By Ben Painter
4th-grade students led their town School Committee through the practices that have been supporting their mental health. What the School Committee did next shows us what is possible for mindfulness in schools.
“If I’m a little stressed or overwhelmed about school, I just take a few deep breaths and that helps me not … [Read More]
Carrington Kernodle Epperson is the Mindfulness Director at the University of Virginia. Among the initiatives she led in her first months at UVA was Flourishing While Black, a program sponsored by the Contemplative Sciences Center that uses culturally responsive yoga and meditation sessions to foster well-being and a greater sense of belonging among undergraduate and graduate students … [Read More]
By Taeya Boi-Doku
During these past few months, the world has felt like it is simultaneously spinning out of our control and desperately needing our help. To try and make sense of this jumble, I have found that I need to stay in motion. Knowing that I cannot keep up with all the information in my … [Read More]