An Experiment

In order to gather whether this experience can be successful for all my classes, I am experimenting with a more complex story line, that will be the same with each class. The script and feedback are posted below
Image Credit to XPE, found here http://xpe.deviantart.com/art/desert-castle-428283242

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Meditation conducted through Pandora Radio

Nature Sounds With Music: Inspiring Thunder And Rain With Relax

Script

Introduce the methods of mindfulness.  Explain that this experience is a reward, just for them and to see it as such. Introduce to students how to use their chair in mindfulness and the purpose of posture and the breath.
Script:

• Your eyes are focusing on the image, capturing every detail, as your lids slowly close
• You feel the warm air cross your face as you look at the castle in the desert. 
• The light from the desert sun is shining on the top of your head, warming your scalp.  The light is traveling through your neck, down your arms and out through your palms. The light is traveling down your spine through your knees, shins, ankles and returning to the earth through the soles of your feet.
• You limbs feel light and warm as you begin to walk over the desert plains.  You feel the course dirt beneath your feet. 
• You look up to see the desert castle with its door wide open. 
• You feel the cool temperatures as you approach the castle door. 
• The hard desert earth is changing to cool marble floors
• You eyes adjust to the dark tones of the desert castle as you walk down the main hallway. 
• You start to walk forward and bend down, piercing the earth with your spade.
• You begin to dig a whole that is perfectly circular.
• You place the spade down as the center of the whole fill with water
• The water seeps out to the edges and goes still.  
• In this water, an image begins to form.  You see the circular grove and the moon shining above.  As you stare at the moon, a cold wind passes over your eyes as the lids begin to lift. 
• Welcome back
• You begin to dig a whole that is perfectly circular.
• You place the spade down as the center of the whole fill with water
• The water seeps out to the edges and goes still.  
• In this water, an image begins to form.  You see the circular grove and the moon shining above.  As you stare at the moon, a cold wind passes over your eyes as the lids begin to lift. 
• Welcome back

Block 7 Art II, 2/3/15

Time: 20 min. 
Prior experience with meditation? No
Reaction to Experience: The majority of Students
Behavior Before mindfulness: Students came in with high energy, two students were told to stop rough housing. 
Behavior After mindfulness: Students remained rested and calm as I introduced their assignment for the day.  There were brief periods of activity between the students who did, or had issues with, not participate in the meditation. 

Response to Questions
How do you feel?

• safe
• rejuvenated
• tired(3)
• Enlightened
• relaxed
• Rested
• good
• the same(3)

Do you feel different after the meditation?

• yes(10)
• the same (4)

If you could meditate every day, would you?

• yes(5)
• maybe(3)
• no(3)

Draw and image of what you saw on your journey.

• Images Collected

Block 2, Drawing I 2/4/15

Time: 20 min. 
Prior experience with meditation? Yes (4 months prior)
Reaction to Experience: For most of the class the experience was positive or benign. The majority would want to participate in meditation once a day.  
Behavior Before mindfulness Student came in with high energy
Behavior After mindfulness: Students worked quietly with brief moments of energy

Response to Questions
How do you feel?

• sleepy(4)
• refreshed
• happy
• relaxed
• good
• relieved
• frustrated
• 
  

Do you feel different after the meditation?

• no(4)
• yes(6)

If you could meditate every day, would you?

• yes(5)
• maybe
• no(3)

Draw and image of what you saw on your journey.

• Images Collected

Block 4 Painting I 2/4/15

Time: 20 min. 
Prior experience with meditation? Yes (4 months prior)
Reaction to Experience: Calm.  Majority of students were positive. Majority found success with experience. 
Behavior Before mindfulness: Students came in with higher levels of energy
Behavior After mindfulness: Students remained calm, if distracted. 1/20 had attentiveness difficulties. 

Response to Questions
How do you feel?

• relaxed(3)
• tired(6)
• lost
• calm
• connected
• sleepy(3)
• restful
• 
  

Do you feel different after the meditation?

• yes(12)
• no(4)

If you could meditate every day, would you?

• yes(8)
• no(3)

Draw and image of what you saw on your journey.

• Images Collected

Block 6, Drawing 1 and Drawing II, 2/4/15

Time: 45 min. 
Prior experience with meditation? Yes 4 months prior
Reaction to Experience: This class had mixed Reviews.  3/18 students could not focus, thus they felt no results from the experiment. 
Behavior Before mindfulness: Students came in stressed, were playful and were making excessive contact with one another. 
Behavior After mindfulness: 
Students were attentive to the assignment.  While there were some bouts of playfulness, they produce a high quality of work
Response to Questions
How do you feel?

• calm
• relaxed(3)
• tired(3)
• sleepy(3)
• good
• refreshed
• couldn't focus
• annoyed (2)
• 
  

Do you feel different after the meditation?

• yes(7)
• no(5)

If you could meditate every day, would you?

• yes(7)
• no(4)
• maybe

Draw and image of what you saw on your journey.

• Images Collected