The Lion's Pride , Vol. 5 (Feb. 2016) | Page 71

 Helps teens to stay in the present moment. When letting go of the past and the future, they will live 100 percent in the now, which affects all aspects of their life and relationships. Physical Benefits:  Stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, helping the body return to a calm, relaxed state after the threat of danger, and daily stress, has passed. When this branch is activated, the body can naturally repair itself.  Clears the mind for better quality sleep. Improves athletic performance by allowing to focus on a situation  Slows respiration for longer, deeper breaths. Promotes the immune system by slowing the production of the stress hormone cortisol. Meditation benefiting the schools:  Decreased teacher turnover - After three years of the Quiet Time program at Visitacion valley middle School, teacher turnover dropped to zero, leading to the institution’s removal from the district’s “hard to Staff” school list.