Expert Interviews on Teaching Mindfulness

last updated April 27, 2023

Nikolaj and Didde Flor Rotne
founders of Denmark’s Educational Mindfulness Program

Mindfulness educators and teacher trainers share their expertise on:

Teaching Mindfulness

Mindfulness in Schools

Mindfulness for Kids

Mindfulness for Young Children

Mindfulness and Yoga for Teens

Mindfulness and Diversity

Self-Care and Wellness

Self-Compassion and Self-Acceptance

Creativity and the Arts

and there are many Additional Resources here at MindfulTeachers.org.

Teaching Mindfulness

Advice for Mindfulness Teachers and Practitioners: Q+A with Melli O'Brien, aka Australia’s “Mrs. Mindfulness.”
How to Responsibly Teach Yoga and Mindfulness to Adults and Children: Q+A with Robyn Hussa Farrell, creator of NOURISH Recovery Yoga, and founder and CEO of Mental Fitness.
Mindfulness as a Way of Life: Q+A with Jennifer Howd, a Certified Mindfulness Facilitator through UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center.
Teaching Mindfulness with Integrity: Q+A with Dr. Amy Saltzman, director of the Association for Mindfulness in Education.

Mindfulness in Schools

photo courtesy Inner Strength Foundation

Applying the Lessons of Aikido in the Classroom: Q+A with Pete Reilly, a coach and mentor to school superintendents, district administrative teams, and classroom teachers.

Coalition Supports Mindfulness in Schools: Q+A with Tracy Heilers, founder and executive director of the Coalition for Schools Educating Mindfully (COSEM).
Effective Mindfulness-Based Approaches, for Students and Teachers: Q+A with Keith Horan, a former school teacher with an MSc in Mindfulness-Based Approaches from Bangor University, Wales.
Fostering Well-Being in the School Community: Q+A with Margaret Golden of Greater Good in Education.
How Teachers Can Share Mindfulness with Their Students, Q+A with Bobbi Allan, director of Mindfulness in Education (based in NSW, Australia).
The Importance of Mindful Teachers: Q+A with
Didde and Nikolaj Flor Rotne, founders of Denmark’s Educational Mindfulness Program.
Mindful Moments, in the Classroom and Beyond: Q+A with Barbara Larrivee, a longtime mindfulness practitioner and yogi, and the author of A Daily Dose of Mindful Moments.
Mindful Parents, Mindful Children, and Mindful Schools: Q+A with Dr. Susie Wolbe, who provides individual and group mindfulness training for students, parents, and educators.
Mindfulness for the Middle Grades: Q+A with
Elizabeth McAvoy, English and art teacher, and co-author of Mindfulness for Teachers and Students.
Mindfulness Tips from a First Grade Teacher and Children's Author: Q+A with Kathy Marvel, author of And She Said Breathe.
Teaching For-Credit Mindfulness Classes: Q+A with Caverly Morgan, founder of Peace in Schools.
Using Mindful Questioning to Enhance Academic Learning: Q+A with Ira Rabois, author of Compassionate Critical Thinking.

Mindfulness for Kids

Kid-Friendly Yoga
photo courtesy Sara Weis

Best Practices in Teaching Mindfulness to Adults and Kids: Q+A with Jana York, author of U is for Understanding–Claire’s Journey toward Mindfulness,
Best Practices in Teaching Mindfulness to Kids: Q+A with Dr. Christopher Willard, author of Child’s Mind.
Best Practices in Teaching Yoga to Kids: Q+A with Sara Weis, an elementary school teacher, kids’ yoga instructor, and yoga teacher trainer.
Calming Young Minds: Q+A with Sherri Snyder-Roche, yoga instructor, psychotherapist, and creator of the Calming Young Minds audio program.
Children's Author Teaches Yoga, Mindfulness, and Compassion: Q+A with Susan Verde, author of I Am Yoga and I Am Peace.

How to Tame a 'Want Monster': Q+A with Chelo Manchego, author/illustrator of The Want Monsters and How They Stopped Ruling My World and Little Royal: A Fish Tale.

Slowing Down and Developing Awareness: Q+A with Laura Jean Gannan, school counselor and author of Levi Leaf Rider.

Mindfulness for Young Children

Mindful Listening
photo courtesy Dr. Renee Metty

Best Practices in Teaching Yoga and Mindfulness to Young Children: Q+A with Kelli Love, a full-time elementary school yoga instructor.

Breathing Buddies and Vibratones: Mindfulness for Young Children: Q+A with Renee Metty, founder of a preschool specializing in mindfulness and social and emotional learning.
Children's Stories for Social Emotional Learning Q+A with Noah Teitelbaum, executive director of Empowering Education.
Conscious Stories Teach Mindfulness and Connection: Q+A with Andrew Newman, author of an award-winning series of stories for children, including The Elephant Who Tried to Tiptoe.
Photo-Illustrated Mindfulness Books for Kids: Q+A with award winning children’s author Tracy Bryan.

Mindfulness and Yoga for Teens

Best Practices in Teaching Yoga to Teens: Q+A with Abby Wills, co-founder and program director of Shanti Generation.

Helping Teens Find Mindfulness and Meaning: Q+A with Amy Edelstein, founder of the Inner Strength Foundation.
How Mindfulness Helps Teens and the Adults Who Care about Them: Q+A with Dr. Sam Himelstein, founder and director of the Center for Adolescent Studies
Mindfulness for Teachers and Teens: Q+A with Heidi Bornstein, co-founder of Mindfulness Everyday.
Restorative, not Punitive, Responses to Youthful Wrongdoing: Q+A with Dr. Fania Davis, co-creator and director of Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth.
Teaching Mindfulness to ‘At-Risk’ Youth: Q+A with Bart van Melik, a lead teacher for The Lineage Project.
Teaching Yoga and Mindfulness to Students Affected by Trauma and Violence
Danielle Ancin, a lead trainer and curriculum developer with the Niroga Institute.

Mindfulness and Diversity

Alicia Brill and friends
at an Islamic Educators Conference in Indonesia

Balancing Action and Contemplation: David Harper, author of A to Z of Mindfulness for Christians, discusses how mindfulness groups can welcome both agnostics and people of faith.
Buddhist vs. Secular Mindfulness Training: Q+A with Dr. Seonaigh MacPherson, who has studied with leading meditation teachers including HH the Dalai Lama, Ven. Tara Tulku, and Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn.
How Christians Can Benefit from Mindfulness Practice: Q+A with Dr. Irene Kraegel, director of student counseling at a Christian university and author of The Mindful Christian.
How Mindfulness Can Help Us Wake Up to Oppression and Suffering: Q+A with Jade Bryan, author/illustrator of Dragon Girl, a children's book based on the Lotus Sutra and traditional Buddhist cave paintings.

How We Can Support Every Student's Gifts and Challenges: Q+A with Christine Fonseca, a critically-acclaimed author of fiction and nonfiction for adults and children.
Mindfulness, Compassion, and Buddhism: Q+A with Sean Fargo, a mindfulness consultant and coach who spent two years as a Buddhist monk in Thailand.
Multicultural Considerations in Teaching Mindfulness: Q+A with Dr. Amoneeta, a psychology professor who works with Indigenous and other marginalized communities.
Multiple Intelligences Lead to Mindfulness: Q+A with Kathleen Hackett, an award-winning educator and author of Mindfulness, Not Mind-full Nest!
Mindfulness and Compassion in West Africa: Q+A with Dr. Emmanuel Ande Ivorgba, an award-winning educator and peace activist from Nigeria.
Teaching English, Yoga, and Mindfulness in Indonesia: Q+A with Alicia Brill, a mindfulness practitioner and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) educator from the United States.
Teaching Mindfulness, in English and Irish: Q+A with Ann Caulfield and Derval Dunford, who have worked with primary schools throughout Ireland.
Teaching Mindfulness Across Cultures: Q+A with Ronit Jinich, Educational Programs Advisor & Senior Facilitator for Mindfulness Without Borders.

Self-Care & Wellness

How to Cultivate a Joyful Mind: Q+A with Shakti Burke, who has been teaching components of mindfulness, yoga and meditation since 1987.

How Mindfulness Can Help Us in Challenging Times: Q+A with Mark Pallis and Christiane Kerr, authors of Crab & Whale, a mindfulness story for children, based on 20 years of experience in teaching mindfulness and yoga to kids.
How Mindfulness Benefits Physical and Emotional Health: Q+A with Erin Sharaf, a mindfulness coach who spent many years as a primary care provider and university professor.
How Yoga and Mindfulness Contribute to Well-Being: Q+A with Linda Yaron Weston, who developed the undergraduate mindfulness course at the University of Southern California.
Mindfulness Helps Kids and Adults Handle Stress: Q+A with Florenza Lee, a certified life coach, children’s mindfulness coach, and author of The Tail of Max the Mindless Dog.
Mindfulness and Mental Health for BIPOC Christians: Q+A with KiYada Upshaw of GrowBlackGirlGrow Coaching.
Mindfulness, SEL, and Teacher Self Care: Q+A with Dr. Season Mussey, founder of the Kaya Teacher Project and author of Mindfulness in the Classroom: Mindful Principles for Social and Emotional Learning.
Self-Care Through Self-Awareness and Self-Compassion
Q+A with Evalyn Gaskell, a retired social worker and special education teacher and the founder of Harmony LifeBalance.
Wellness Tips for Stressed-Out Teachers: Q+A with Debra Mazda, a former kindergarten teacher and the founder of ShapelyGirl Fitness.

Self-Compassion and Self-Acceptance

from Happiness Doesn’t Come from Headstands

image courtesy Tamara Levitt

Children's Author Emphasizes Mindfulness and Self-Acceptance: Q+A with Sarah Kraftchuk, author of Love to Be Me!, I Am. Magical Me!, and The Hue in You.
Children's Book Helps Kids Cope with and Grow from Failure: Q+A with Tamara Levitt, Head of Content at Calm.com, and author of Happiness Doesn’t Come from Headstands and The Secret to Clara's Calm.
How Growth Mindset Complements Mindfulness: Q+A with Mary Cay Ricci, the New York Times Best Selling Education author of Mindsets in the Classroom: Building a Growth Mindset Learning Community.
Mindfulness and Self-Compassion for Children and Healers: Q+A with Heather Krantz, M.D., author of Mind Bubbles: Exploring Mindfulness with Kids and Heart Bubbles: Exploring Compassion with Kids.

Creativity and the Arts

Narwhals and Waterfalls:
Adrien Palmer and Paige Bell

How Music Helps Kids with Social and Emotional Learning: Q+A with music teachers and kindie rock group Paige Bell and Adrien Palmer (“Narwhals and Waterfalls”).