LOCAL Houston | The City Guide April 2017 | Page 52
2017 MINDFULNESS CLASSES AT THE HEALTH MUSEUM
Mindfulness is learning to pay attention to the present moment with an
openness, curiosity and kindness. Over the last 25 years, mindfulness prac-
tices have been studied widely in America and shown to reduce stress, lessen
suffering from anxiety, depression and physical pain, boost the immune
system, improve our sense of well-being and actually change the structure
and function of the brain. Come join Dr. Ann Friedman, a psychologist and
certified mindfulness instructor, to learn more about mindfulness.
You’ll learn how to focus your attention and let go of stressful thoughts
and emotions – and will learn a specific way of paying attention to your
breath, body, thoughts, feelings and to the world around you. The way of
paying attention is powerful because when you can observe your thoughts
and feelings, then you can choose how you act. You can also learn how
to bring relaxation to your body when you are feeling stress and anxiety.
Classes available:
• April 18–May 23 (Tuesday evenings, 6:15-7:30pm)
• April 20 –May 25 (Thursday mornings 8:30-9:45am)
• Special series focusing on cultivation practices: April 18-May 23
(Tuesdays, 8:30am–9:30am)
Cost: $225 Members | $250 Non-members
www.thehealthmuseum.org
denise
kai
students, students with documented behavior issues and special needs
students all work together in the Health and Wellness lessons. What does the art of mindfulness mean to you both and how do you
practice it daily in your own lives?
Many of our trained teachers hope to continue sharing what they learned
at staff meetings and district-level professional developments. Houston ISD
administrators were very supportive of the Breathe, Move, Rest program
and the respective health benefits for staff and students alike. We are open
to developing new partnerships in the Greater Houston area. Mindfulness means to pay attention to what is happening as it is happen-
ing. It’s something that we work on throughout the day, every day.
Denise: One reason we practice mindful exercises like Tai Chi and Yoga
daily is so that we can form healthy habits, like getting up early, keeping
a clean home and listening to one another.
Kai, you also teach mindfulness at Whittier Elementary, correct?
Kai: Yes, I teach mindful practice K through 5, making sure to address
the needs of individual students and the campus. Special needs students,
including those in our autism program, receive mindfulness lessons on a
regular basis. I also add martial movements to enrich the mindfulness
curriculum to show them mindfulness can be relevant in a variety of kinetic
activities, like Kung Fu. I even making pop culture references to “Kung Fu
Panda,” “Avatar – The Last Airbender,” “Naruto” and Super Heroes to
help engage my students.
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Kai: A daily mindfulness practice includes focusing on small tasks as
they are being done, like making food, eating or making coffee. For me,
interacting with students, in both a school setting and at local studios,
helps me build a mindfulness practice within a community. We are all
interconnected, so actively listening as a teacher and student, helps me
better understand what is happening around me.