Schools and Colleges
Robert C. Parker School
Mindful breathing after-school classes March 2014
One seminar and two follow up classes were offered to three children in Grade 1 and 2.
Teachers and Staff 8-28-13 (x22)
A 45 minutes session as part of the faculty meeting was organized by the head of the school with the intention of bringing this meditation into all the classrooms. The students in grades 1 to 3 were already practicing htis meditation. 22 teachers and staff attended.
Gr 2 & 3 May 2011 x10
Modes practiced
Tip mode x2
Segment x10
Counting x4
Feeling x3
Staring x8
911 x4
When did I practice?
Resting X 4
To sleep X 4
Morning meeting X 3
When I am crazy
Running
Running around my bed room
Sleeping on my dad
When dead on a video game
Dogs try to wake me up at night
How did it help me?
School X 2
Math X 2
Focus
Relaxing
Calming
Running better
Tired
A fight
All classes - Pre K to Gr 8 - May 2010
On rolls Feedback received
Per-K 4 15 7/15
K/1 20 18/20
2/3 18 17/18
4/5 16 16/16
6-8 33 5/33
Total 102 63
When do I practice Meditation?
Bed time/ Sleep 27 43%
Morning meeting 21 33%
Angry/ Mad 8 13%
At School 7 11%
In Car, Bus, Plane 7 11%
Morning at home 5 8%
In Shower 4 7%
Others - 2 each: Bored, At home after school, On waking up, When stressed.
Others -1 each:
To become calm
Crazy
Feeling yucky
Trying to hold tears
Out of control
Upset
Overwhelmed
Sad
Before dinner to be patient
To cope
Need to focus
Tired
After exercise
To engage themselves
When I like it
Grandma’s house
Every day at home
How does it help me? (Analysis of the above data)
Calms me down 21 33% 90%
Sleep 19 30%
Relax 18 28%
Focus/ Concentrate 7 11%
Keep away sadness 2 3%
Survive 2 3%
Feel good 2 3%
Others 1 Each
For a better mental state
Be peaceful
Feel the silence
Shuts my mind down
Makes me feel happy
Feel silent
Have a good day
Stop crying as much
Helps me be patient at dinner time
On the plane it helps me because I am usually scared but I don’t get scared any more
Practical uses
After that I am not tired any more
Keep away bad dreams
Wake up
Keep awake at home after school
Takes away my cough a little
Stop car sick
Slow down my heart rate
Shortens the lessons
Relieve stress
Helps me so I can get my books and not lose any of them
Unique experiences
It makes me disappear and I do not know where I am any more,
It calms me down and when I feel like running around the room it makes me not do that, Makes me feel real good and I feel like I can be a rock or stone,
Makes me feel like I am bathing in the sun
“If people do this all the wars in the World will end” - One girl in K/1 told me when I introduced the breathing to the class and asked each one how he/ she felt about the experience.
Pre K 4 (7 out of 15)
Place of practice
Every day at home
Right after I go to school
In the morning and at night
At bedtime deep breathing with mommy
When do I practice and how does it help?
Sometimes I breathe right after I am mad - It helps me by calming me down
When I feel really angry - It is calming
At play time when I am mad - Calms me down
Before dinner - Helps me be patient
When I am upset - Stop crying as much
When I am excited - It helps me by calming down
Bed time - It helps me go to sleep
When I am tired
When I am overwhelmed
It helps me so I can get my books and not lose any of them
Helps me focus
It takes away my cough a little
Gr K/1
(18/20 students, 15 of them practice 'Going into silence' and 3 of them mentioned 'breathing')
All of them practice at the morning meeting and feel these effects
It is relaxing
It feels nice, I feel calm
It makes me much calmer
It feels calm and good
It calms me down when I feel like running around in the class room, it makes me not do that
It feels good and relaxing
It makes me feel really relaxed
I feel the silence
It makes me feel peaceful
It makes me feel real good like I can be a rock or a stone
It makes me feel like I am bathing in the Sun
It makes me disappear and I don't know where I am any more
Other practice times and effects
In the morning at my house - I feel relaxed
At my house at night time - It helps me to go to my bed and sleep
At my grandma's house, sometime in the morning - it makes me feel happy
Sometimes when I am in the bath I close my eyes - It makes me feel like it is the middle of the night and I am fast asleep
When I am going on vacation in the car - It stops me from being car sick
When I am mad
At night time when I get back home
In the car
At home
On the plane when I try to go to sleep - It helps me because I usually get scared - I don't feel scared any more
Before I go to Tae-Kwon-Do - It makes me do good work
When I have nothing else to do - It feels good
How does it help me?
I fall asleep
It makes me feel silent
Gr 2/3 (17 out of 18)
When do I practice and how it helps me
Morning meeting - Having a good day
Focused
It helps me focus for the rest of the day
It helps me to calm down
It helps me concentrate
It helps relax me
At school - To survive
At night when it is hard to get sleep - Keeping bad dreams and sadness away
Before I go to sleep - It helps me sleep
Bed time - It calms me down
When I am going to sleep
Before bed - Calm down
At home 6.30 am - To survive
In the shower - I don't know
In the shower - Relaxed
In the shower - To relax
When I wake up - It helps me complete my day
When I am waking up - it helps me wake up
At home after school - Keep awake
When I am trying to hold in tears
When feeling yucky - Feel relaxed
When sad - less sadness and focus
Gr 4/5 (16 out of 16)
When do I practice and how it helps me
When stressed - Helps me relax
When angry and need to focus - Helps me concentrate better
When I want to sleep - Helps me sleep better
Before bed - Go to sleep
Before bed - I am sleepy
At night - It helps me sleep
At night - Relaxes me
At night - It helps me fall asleep
When I go to sleep - To fall asleep
At night - Get to sleep
Going to bed - To relax
At night - It helps me calm down
When I go to sleep - It helps me relax and sleep
In school - It calms me down
At school
When I am mad - I am calm
When I am meditating - I am peaceful
When crazy or stressed
It does not really help me that much
When I am in the car - Calms me down
In the car - To concentrate
Sometimes in the bus - Stay calm
On the bus - Relieves stress
It shortens lessons
When I feel like it - It calms me down
When I am out of control - Relax
In the morning
Gr 6 to 8 Middle school (5 out of 33)
When do I practice and how it helps me
When I am bored - It helps me go to sleep
When I have a hard time sleeping - It relaxes me
When stressed - It calms me down
When I am angry - Helps me relax
When I am going to sleep - Helps me shut my mind down
After exercising - helps slow down my heart rate
Some times - Relax
It does not help me
Teachers April 2010 (x5)
When do I practice and How does it help me?
Beginning of Morning meeting – Helps to focus and think about the day ahead
At morning meeting – Relaxes me as I prepare for a busy day
When I can’t sleep – It stills my mind and makes sleep come to me
I feel difficulty sleeping – Greatly helps put my mind to rest
I am faced with a particularly challenging moment – Helps me to be calm and focus on the issue at hand
In the evening – it relaxes me
When I feel stressed – it relaxes me, calms me and helps me to be more focused
When I need to become more focused – It helps me transition to the next activity
For me personally, I find the breathing helps me relax, refocus, brings back my humor and ability to see things around me a bit differently and more clearly-truly helpful in the classroom as well as life.
When do my students do the ‘breathing’
Between activities to transition to the next task- To be more focused and ready for next learning activity
After lunch – Helps students stay on task
At morning meeting- Students are more actively engaged after completing breathing technique.
Before morning meeting on their own (some students do this)
Some students use the technique before a learning activity that is difficult or challenging to them. I have seen students do this on their own – to calm themselves or refocus.
I truly feel that, what we in the class call "going in your silence" has made a very big difference for the children and Lynn and me. I often watch the children during those times and I can see their whole body relax, their facial expression become calm, and whatever the next activity we have, the children begin it with more focus and calmness. Closing eyes remains a challenge for some children and we continue to work on this piece.
Liliana (teaches K/1) said in separate e-mail after I raised some questions on how she has been teaching the ‘going into silence’ practice.
“I try to teach the children that “going into your silence” is not the same as no noise (lack of noise). I tell them that it’s about learning to find the silence inside even if there is lots of noise and distraction around them. We have discussions about what all this means. We practice sitting quietly and keeping the body as still as possible. I teach the children the meaning of the word “stillness” and I teach about stillness. As you can see, I don’t really have a method or technique – what I do is part of who I am, how I teach, the values I want to instill in children, and I try to teach them about peace. I teach about the peace within (in the silence) and how when they are able to find their own peace, they become peace makers. I don’t have a set time – can be a minute to a few minutes – I usually get a feel about how long we should do it.”
Review visit Gr 4&5 12-8-09 (x16)
Visited the grade 4/5 class at Robert C. Parker School on Dec 8, as a follow up to my introduction of ‘Focusing on breathing’ to this class in early Oct 09, nearly 2 months later. They wrote down their feedback in the supplied form (half a letter size page). It contained 3 parts – what modes did they practice (with multiple choices), when did they practice (open ended) and how did it help them (open ended). They were asked not to write their names, so that they were not under pressure to project wrong pictures. All their filled up forms were collected, reshuffled and distributed one to each. Each of them read out the paper in their hand which was not their own. The summary of their feedback is shown below –
Where, When and Why did they practice?
Practicing at home
Bedtime to sleep x 12 responses
Fights with siblings, Angry, Mom is angry etc x 3
Playing DS/ Video games, waiting for computer game to load x 2
Before piano practice x 1
Practicing at school
In general and in some classes - math, arts, LA, Music and Social x 12 (responses)
Place unspecified
When frustrated, Stressed, Scared, Tired, Bored x 7
To concentrate/ focus x 4
Relax, calm down x 3
When I feel like x 2
In car x 1
"School children coping with stress by mindful breathing"-Principal
Focusing on breathing’ was introduced to children of all classes from Pre K 4 to Grade 8 in 15 to 30 minutes sessions in Oct, Nov 09. The Director of the school, Meg Taylor posted following comment in her blog of Dec 2009.
"One of the ways we help children cope with stress at Parker, is by practicing the simple mindful breathing taught us by C.S., the grandfather of our student Veda Sripada in Grade 4-5. It is one of his life’s missions to spread this easy and effective way to reduce anxiety. The breathing technique is practiced regularly by almost all the children in the school. More..."
Four Teachers and staff members were trained. - Jan 2004
Bethlehem Middle School
The seminar was attended by 2 children and 9 adults.
5-15-13 Children (x2)
Scanned images of the feedback forms.
I am in ….
Grade 5 x1
Grade 4 x1
When I practiced the breathing I felt …
Happy, at peace and slightly sleepy
Calm and sleepy
I want to try this technique when I….
Can’t go to sleep
Am stressed at school
I think this practice will help me for ….
Sleeping and keeping my cool
Going to sleep
5-15-13 Adults (x9)
Scanned images of the feedback forms.
The seminar was …
Very useful – 8
Useful – 1
I will use this technique to relieve my (concern)
Sleep, Stress
Sleep and Relaxation
Sleep, Stress
Stress at work and Insomnia
Stress reduction
Stress, Anger and Relaxation
Headaches, Anxiety, Stress I have with my family
Anxiety, Panic
Self and Wife
Comments/ Suggestions (if any)
I want to practice this and feel better.
Wonderful. Very excited to start working on this and looking at your website!
Great Presentation.
Very practical and user friendly. I look forward to practicing it.
I am really looking forward to trying this with stress and sleep.
Very helpful. I feel very relaxed after practicing this technique.
I had been feeling tense all day, but now I am feeling more relaxed.
Helpful. I have used other counting breaths methods but this simplifies the process so the focus is not so much on counting that you forget to breathe and just enough focus on counting and breathing to keep your mind from wandering.
Very practical. Great tips and modifications.
Mary E. Dardess Elementary School - Chatham
4-17-13 and 4-24-13 - Students Gr 3 to 5 (x9)
The school counselor of a Mary E. Dardess Elementary School searched on-line for Yoga classes to help the students reduce stress before and during the state tests. She found my website and requested me to train the students in grade 3 to 5 in the ‘Focusing on breathing’ technique as an optional after school activity. I conducted two classes on April 17 and 24, 2013 for 9 students.
In the first class I demonstrated different modes of the technique and we all practiced each of the modes on one hand. Scanned images of their feedback forms 4-17-13.
In the second class I asked for their verbal feedback on how they practiced the technique after the first class. I asked each of them to demonstrate any one mode and corrected the wrong demos. Several of them said they liked the ‘Staring mode’ or the ‘911 mode’.
Feedback summary from the first class on 4-17-13
When I practiced counting breaths meditation I felt …
Calm and relaxed – 3 responses
Calm/ Really calm – 3
Good and happy
Relaxed
Relaxed, Calm, Focused
I want to try this technique when I …
Go to sleep – 2
Am mad – 2
Mad or tired
Stressed with school
Mad at my sister or stressed
Mad, angry and stressed
Am taking a test
I think this practice will help me with ….
NYS test/ Tomorrow before the state tests – 2
Calming down, Stop being stressed, angry and mad
After being bullied
Getting up in the morning
When my sister is mad at me
Settling down
Falling asleep and calming down
A lot of things
The principal also participated in the class. Her feedback -
"During the class she felt relaxed, calm, focused and stress free. She wanted to try this technique when she needed to refocus, before running a race and after a stressful day. She felt that this practice will help her in refocusing and training."
The school counselor's feedback:
“I heard great things about your class from the principal and the students. You will be here again next week for the conclusion. Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to provide a stress free learning opportunity for our students!”
Honorarium: Before doing the classes the counselor inquired about my charges. I said I loved teaching the simple technique to children and if the school was happy with the classes, they could offer me whatever they like. I am thankful to the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) of the school for the generous compensation they offered me.
Loudonville Elementary School
3-26-10
24 teachers were trained at the request of the principal. When given the choice of practicing lying on the floor, most of them practiced lying down for about 20 minutes.
May 2009 - Gr 6 Children (x46)
I offered a 15 minutes demo of ‘counting breaths’ at Albany Hindu Temple when they visited the temple for a visit. They sent me two huge ‘Thank You’ posters through their classmate. Their comments are arranged topic wise. I am surprised at their eager participation in these new practices, ready acceptance and quick application. I am grateful to all the children and teachers for their wonderful gesture in taking so much of their time to put their experiences and views on paper in a memorable way. I retain the original beautiful cards as cherished mementos. Scanned images of their handwritten comments.
Anger
Meditating is helpful for my anger.
I can use it when I get upset.
Appreciation
Thank you for showing us how to calm down or relax.
I loved it. It was very relaxing.
Meditations were very soothing. When we were meditating, I forgot that we ever left school.
It was awesome.
Thank you for showing us how to tune our selfs.
The breathing skills worked great.
The techniques were really cool and interesting!
Thanks for giving us the paper to practice at home.
It was great.
I loved the meditation! You were a great teacher and I can’t wait to use the things you taught us.
I use the techniques every time I can.
Thank you for putting all this stuff together for us. I would like to meditate more often.
Thank you for being patient and letting us watch you.
It really works.
I was really grateful and it works.
Awake
It was really cool. When I got out bed this morning I sat down on the floor and meditated. It made me feel wide awake.
Calmness
I am very calmer than I was before.
The meditation experience made me feel very calm.
Thank you for teaching us meditation and breathing techniques for us to calm down .
It taught me that meditating could calm you! You taught me a lot.
Thank you for teaching us a really cool away to calm down.
Most people in my class said it calms them down.
Focus
I love and use the techniques you taught us whenever I need to focus or calm down. You helped us so much in showing us these Amazing things.
It was an awesome experience. I loved it. I use the techniques you taught when I need to focus or calm down.
Fun
I had sooo much fun!
It was a lot of fun. It was one of my favorite things we did. I tried it last night and worked!
Thanks for teaching us to look at some one when they are talking and especially, the meditating! It was so much fun! You rock!
Relax
Ever since you taught it to us, I tried it almost everywhere. I also feel a bit more relaxed because of it.
I really loved how you taught us to meditate. It was relaxing.
The meditating was so so so awesome. Now I know how to relax the right way.
Thank you for teaching us how to relax the mind through meditation. Woo Hoo!
Sleep
Meditation works. It helps me get to sleep. When I woke up, I did it and my day has been awesome so far.
I actually tried it at night and it worked. Instead of tossing and turning to get sleep. I also tried it in the morning and that worked. So, my mom was happy that I got up early for once.
Thank you so much for those tips on how to tune your body . I did it last night and it helped me get to sleep. You are really a cool person.
Now I get to sleep much faster and more peacefully.
They really work well. I use these techniques every night before bed.
I have been having trouble falling asleep lately. It helped me a lot.
Stress
Thank you for teaching me a new fun and relaxing way to calm my nerves or settle down on a stressful day.
Your meditations made me feel incredible. All my stress went away.