FAQs

What is mindfulness? Is it the same as meditation?

Mindfulness is the quality of paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, without judgment (Jon Kabat-Zinn). Meditation is one of many effective avenues we can pursue to become more mindful. However, it is by no means the only way. Meditation can help us tune into our inner world and thought patterns. Mindfulness can help us tune into the world around us, taking on forms in eating, seeing, listening, moving, etc. If we think of mindfulness as a quality of life, meditation is a solid practice to achieve this. Just like there are several ways to achieve optimal physical health, there are different ways to become more mindful.

How are mindfulness and social-emotional learning related?

Both mindfulness and social-emotional learning (SEL) have invaluable places in the classroom. Well+Educated draws on the strengths of both in our programming for students and educators. In mindfulness, we not only tune into our thoughts but we also explore our emotions, and the ways in which our bodies react, process and express those emotions. Mindfulness creates the space to move away from evaluating our feelings and move toward acknowledging them as messengers of information to be curious about. The more we practice this, the more we can discover how we respond to different stressors, how to deal with difficult emotions, and how to regulate our nervous systems. This, in turn, allows students to apply SEL skills: self-regulation, co-regulation, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and relationship building. In short, mindfulness creates the foundation for healthy intra and interpersonal relationships. SEL equips us to build upon that foundation. Both cultivate kindness and compassion.

Who benefits from mindfulness? Are there prerequisites for those who want to develop a mindfulness practice?

There are no prerequisites to develop a mindfulness practice. Mindfulness is a way of being intended for and accessible to everybody.

Why teach mindfulness in schools?

How much time do you have!?

Is mindfulness education religious?

Well+Educated has no intention of advancing any religious belief system. While mindfulness does have its origins in contemplative practices that go back thousands of years, often rooted in or connected to religious traditions, the mindfulness that is taught today in hospitals, clinics, schools, military bases, and corporations is based primarily on Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn (a physician at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center) in the late 1970s. Well+Educated's programming is founded on the benefits and best practices of mindfulness and social-emotional learning, supported by decades of research in the fields of mindfulness, education, and psychology.

My students/kids have been exposed to mindfulness before, and they thought it was really boring. How is your program different?

Well+Educated is driven by the goal of connection: we strive to connect with each student and educator we work with as well as cultivate the conditions where students and educators can connect to themselves and others. Simply put, authentic connection is never boring. No two sessions are exactly the same, as we respond to the unique set of circumstances of each school and classroom. Together, we tap into all of the senses, explore mindful movement and stillness, and almost always find ourselves in laughter together.