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Welcome! This is an international community of educators and helping professionals committed to mindfulness and compassion. 

NEW interview: Effective Mindfulness-Based Approaches, for Students and Teachers



Start with these posts if you're skeptical about the mindfulness 'trend' or if you're trying to convince other people (parents, sponsors, administrators) of the benefits of mindfulness.

• 7 Reasons Mindfulness Might Not 'Work' for Everyone
• Mindfulness in Schools: Research-Based Support for Teacher Training
• 5 Common Misunderstandings about Christians and Mindfulness

The Benefits of Mindfulness page has more information and links about how mindfulness benefits kids and adults.



Start with these posts if you’re a teacher or other helping professional looking for resources on self-care and self-compassion.

• Realistic Self-Care: Is It Possible to Keep All the Balls in the Air?
• Realistic Self-Care: What Does Your Body Need?
• Realistic Self-Care: How Do You Handle Anger?

The Self-Care Page has more resources on coping with stress and burnout, mind-body health, and self-compassion.

Start with these posts if you’re interested in starting a personal mindfulness practice:

• Body Scan: Awareness of the Body
• One-Word Labeling: Thoughts, Emotions, Sensations, and Urges
• Relaxed Abdominal Breath: Stress Reduction through Mindful Breathing

The Recommended Books page offers a variety of perspectives on mindfulness and complementary practices and perspectives.

Start with these posts if you're interested in integrating mindfulness with academic content: 

• Mindful Listening: Only If You Listen Can You Hear
• Using Mindful Questioning to Enhance Academic Learning 

Start with these posts if you're interested in trauma-informed teaching:

• 8 Principles of Trauma-Informed Yoga and Mindfulness Teaching
• A Very Brief Introduction to How Trauma Affects the Brain
• Training Compassionate Educators to Respond to Childhood Trauma

Start with these posts if you’re new to teaching mindfulness, or working with a new student population:

• Effective Mindfulness-Based Approaches, for Teachers and Students
• Mindfulness and Yoga for Young Children: Tips, Books, Apps, and Activities
• Mindfulness for the Middle Grades
• Teaching Mindfulness, Meditation, and Yoga to Teens 

• Tips for Including Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students in Mindfulness, Meditation, and Yoga Classes  

Some basic guidelines if you're new to teaching mindfulness:

• I've been asked several times "What training do I need to become a mindful teacher?" There's a distinction between a 'mindful teacher' (one who practices mindfulness) and a 'mindfulness teacher' (one who teaches mindfulness).
• Please establish your own personal practice before teaching meditation or formal mindfulness practices to adults or children.  
• Please don't push anyone beyond their comfort level, for example if they don't want to close their eyes during meditation or prefer not to share personal information with the group.  
• The interviews with experienced mindfulness teachers and teacher trainers give a lot of suggestions for teaching different ages of students in different contexts around the world.
• The recommended mindfulness books will put the activities in context and help you prepare for the common challenges in teaching mindfulness and compassion, such as working with reluctant students or coping with strong emotions that might come up in meditation. (MindfulTeachers.org receives no financial benefit from books ordered through links on this site.)