Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any link between mindfulness and Buddhism?
Are mindfulness and meditation the same?
Is mindfulness used in psychotherapy?
What if I do not have time to practice mindfulness?
At what age can children start practicing mindfulness?
Can I teach my child mindfulness?
Can I teach my students mindfulness?
Should we bring mindfulness to a school with SEL program?
Is there any link between mindfulness and Buddhism?
A: Rooted in Buddhism, mindfulness helps practitioners to be present and aware of what is happening in the here and now. Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh was one of the pioneers who brought the concept of mindfulness to the West, and in 1979 Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn began using mindfulness as a stress-reduction technique in patients at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in the United States.
Jon Kabat-Zinn defines mindfulness as "the awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, nonjudgmentally." For him, this definition involves attention and a neutral attitude, not bounded by religion.
Over the past 40 years, there has been a growing body of scientific research linking secular mindfulness practices to changes in the brain and mental health. Mindfulness has gradually been popularized as a life skill, applied in medical sector (for both patients and doctors), schools (for both teachers and students), and various corporates like Google, IBM, SAP, Aetna…
Are mindfulness and meditation the same?
A: There are different interpretations of mindfulness and meditation, depending on the context and culture.
Within the framework of MindFitness, mindfulness means paying attention with awareness to what is happening inside you and around you, with curiosity and kindness.
Meditation is a process of training the mind to achieve different goals such as relaxation, concentration, peace of mind, energy movement, etc. There are different types of meditation, such as chanting, beads, praying, visualization, Transcendental Meditation...
In our understanding, mindfulness represents a state of mind while meditation is more of a process.
For example, when we sit in silence for 5 minutes to practice concentration through observing the breath, we can say that we are practicing mindfulness meditation.
In another example, we are arguing with a colleague and we realize that both sides are no longer cool headed, and we decide to take a deep breath to calm down, and politely suggest to continue talking in 15 minutes. At this time we are being mindful - or in the state of mindfulness - and not meditating.
Is mindfulness used in psychotherapy?
A: Mindfulness is applied for mental health care in general and for psychotherapy in particular:
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction was started by Jon Kabat-Zinn in University of Massachusetts Medical Center in 1979
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy was started by Segal et al. in 2002 to treat depression
- In addition, mindfulness is taught as a skill in components of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to deal with negative emotions and thoughts, or in Dialectical Behavior Therapy to reduce suicidal attempts and self-harms.
However, MindFitness does not provide psychotherapy work. We provide mindfulness exercises and can complement your psychotherapy treatments.
What if I do not have time to practice mindfulness?
A: There are two common ways to practice mindfulness
- Formal practice: mindfulness meditations that train attention, observation, awareness with a curious, nonjudgmental attitude, and are usually 10-30 minutes long
- Informal practice: moments of mindfulness in everyday activities.
If you cannot arrange 10-20 minutes to practice formally, you can spend 2-5 minutes doing informal practice. It is important to practice regularly to form new habit and create new neural connections in the brain.
Each day you can set a plan for informal practice (for example, when you have morning tea/coffee, lunch, drive, etc.), and you can even set a timer to integrate mindfulness practice into daily life.
Furthermore, when you believe that practicing mindfulness is an investment for the future, helping you to be more focused and efficient, saving time from worrying and frustrated with everyday things, then you will be more motivated to practice.
At what age can children start practicing mindfulness?
A: Mindfulness is the deliberate practice of attention. Typically, children from 4 years of age can practice mindfulness exercises that involve focus and emotional awareness.
der the age of 4 who are interested in mindfulness can still participate, especially activities related to describing and being awareness of emotions.
Can I teach my child mindfulness?
A: We encourage cultivating a habit of practicing mindfulness in the family. Please feel free to share what you have learned with your child. If your child is interested, encourage he/she to follow, but do not force him/her because it will create ineffective resistance.
You can bring mindfulness to daily family activities such as
- during meals: suggest your child to try chewing more carefully and perceiving flavors more clearly
- washing hands or bathing: suggest that your child focus on feeling the water running over each part of the skin
- when walking: suggest the child to feel the footsteps, then observe the scenery and people walking on the street
These activities help train observation, awareness, focus and nurture curiosity. While guiding your child, if you have questions, acknowledge that you are also learning, and that you can explore different resources to get answers.
Can I teach my students mindfulness?
A: You can share your knowledge on the brain and mindfulness with your students, as this information is also useful for children. At the same time, you can encourage students to practice mindfulness through activities such as naming, describing emotions, feeling the body, relaxing the body, and learning how to calm down...
If you're going to teach mindfulness as a formal subject, we recommend you gain experience in mindfulness teaching for the following reasons.
First, students learn more from observing how you act than from listening to what you say. If you want to teach mindfulness, the first thing to do is practice mindfulness regularly and set an example for your students.
Second, children’s brains are still developing and not yet mature, especially the prefrontal cortex in charge of thinking, managing emotions, and making responsible decisions. During this stage, children need support from adults who can help them co-regulate. Understanding children's brain and physiology is important to help teachers teach mindfulness and connect with children.
Third, challenging situations in mindfulness teaching can arise, such as when a child has been hurt or abused, or a child has expressed resistance, and teachers need to be equipped with the skills to cope.
In addition, when mindfulness is introduced into schools, parents can inquire the School Board or teachers. Parents will feel safer if the teacher is knowledgeable about the subject and can answer parents' questions. Therefore, teachers should actively prepare for this interaction.
Should we bring mindfulness to a school with SEL program?
A: Information about connection between Mindfulness and SEL
You might consider bringing mindfulness to your School because mindfulness complements the SEL framework, providing the skills to implement the 5 frameworks of SEL. In particular, mindfulness is the foundation for cultivating the first two components of SEL, namely Self-Awareness and Self-Management.
MindFitness can also help your School integrate mindfulness into its existing SEL program, or design a standalone mindfulness curriculum to supplement the SEL program.