We hosted our annual staff retreat and we hired Mindfulness First to teach us some mindfulness practices. After hearing Sunny Wight, founder and CEO, make her pitch during the Fast Pitch semi-finals earlier this year, we felt our team could benefit from her insight and innovation.
According to the American Psychological Association, chronic stress is linked to the six leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver and suicide. (Miami Herald. 3.21.2014) And Sunny Wight and Cheryl Sosnowski shared how mindfulness can alleviate and eliminate stress and those deadly chronic illnesses.
Cheryl leading SVPAZ through mindfulness practices.
Cheryl led us through different breathing exercises, encouraged us to address some of our personal and professional stresses, and taught us how to reign in our “monkey minds” (scattered constant thoughts). All in just 90 minutes. The time prepared us for a productive and strategic discussion (more on that in the coming weeks!).
Mindfulness First’s work is primarily based in schools, teaching our youngest the practice of calm, breathing, thinking before reacting … skills that aren’t directly taught or modeled well to many, especially those in inequitable circumstances. And the work is changing these children.
And Sunny has a vision to bring that training to more children through teacher training. Mindfulness First is launching online training in both “Personal Mindfulness” and “Pre-K-12 Teacher Training” (learn how to teach mindfulness in schools) during this academic year. To receive notification of when these courses will be launched, please send your name and email address to info@mindfulnessfirst.org and indicate whether you are interested in mindfulness for yourself or teacher training (or both!).
Mindfulness First and SVPAZ
Mindfulness First practitioners are also available for corporate training similar to what we received today. In fact they offer several community classes. If you or your team is interested in learning more, be sure to check them out!