Mindfulness Day 7

Back to the Beginning

At the end of this 4 week journey, the  students finally respond to their ocean waves.  The image begins where we left last session, the mist.  The soundtrack of the ocean waves acts as a guide to their final image.

Script (5 min.)

• "Begin breathing routine
• Your eyes are focusing on the Image
• You eyelids are growing heavy as they slowly begin to drop
• You are standing on a path and see the mist in front of you
• slowly the mists roll over you and begin to chill your body
• The chill starts at your scalp, as it touches your scalp it begins to pass over your faces
• Your eyes begin to relax, your cheeks,nose and ears.  Your neck begins to relax as does your shoulders, arms and hands
• Your spine begins to relax, along with your hips.  The mist flows down your thighs, knees, shin, ankles and toes. 
• Your body is relaxed and calm. You look out to the mist covered path and begin to walk
• Walking down the path you hear the ocean in the distance.  The mists begin to part as you reach the shore.
• You sit on the beach and feel the texture of the sand beneath your toes
• Your body slowly relaxes, laying flatly on the beach as you look up.
• Here you are safe, Here you are at peace.  Anytime, throughout your day, you may return to this spot. 
• Slowly the mist rolls off of the see, cooling your face as your eyes begin to open
• Welcome back"

Student Responses

The students were asked to draw half of their face before the mindfulness and half of their face after the meditation. 

Conclusions of a Month with meditation

While meditation has improved my classroom management and mood of the classroom, it has not increased students art abilities (i.e. focus).  The quality of work remains the same, however the amount of participation has improved.  I did not meet my original goal of enabling artistic expression. In the end I found meditation made vast improvements in my classroom experience.