Mindfulness - Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment.
Why Practice Mindfulness?
Mindfulness for Teens
5 Ways to Get Started (for teens)
Calming the Teenage Mind
Meditation and Breathing Exercises
There are different ways to meditate, and since it’s such a personal practice there are probably more than any of us know about. There are a couple that are usually focused on heavily in scientific research, though. These are focused-attention, or mindful meditation, which is where you focus on one specific thing—it could be your breathing, a sensation in your body or a particular object outside of you. The point of this type of meditation is to focus strongly on one point and continually bring your attention back to that focal point when it wanders.
What Happens to Your Brain When You Meditate
The Benefits of Meditation
6 Breathing Exercises in 10 Minutes
More Breathing Exercises
Dr. Gladd’s Breathing Technique:
- Find a quiet and comfortable place. Make sure the room is not too bright. If you choose to play music, be certain it’s relaxing and set to a reasonable volume.
- Wear comfortable clothing that is not too tight.
- Stand, sit or lie in a position that keeps the back straight.
- Start by clearing your mind of all thoughts and focusing only on your breathing. Feel the air come into your lungs and go out of your lungs. Do this for several minutes, getting into a relaxed state.
- Try for several breaths to make your breathing as slow, deep, quiet and regular as possible.
- As you continue to focus on your breathing, try to exhale completely, pushing all of the air out of your lungs. You will need to use the muscles between the ribs to do this. Inhale very slowly and fill your lungs back up with fresh air.
The next exercise is the most relaxing technique:
- The tip of your tongue should be against the roof of your mouth, right behind your teeth, during this entire exercise.
- Close your lips and breathe in for 4 seconds.
- Hold that breath for 7 seconds.
- Open your mouth and push your lips out, exhaling that breath for 8 seconds.
- Repeat steps a-d for a series of 4 breaths.
- Finish by breathing regularly, continuing to focus on your breathing.
- You should notice an immediate feeling of peace after completing this exercise.
Mental Health
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. (mentalhealth.gov)
TeenMentalHealth.org
Mental Health Danger Signs
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Depression in Teens
Normal behavior vs. Warning signs
Physical Health
Adolescent Health
Fitness for Ages 13-18
Stress Management
Your Body on Stress