Why mindfulness?

Mindfulness is so powerful. It helps in so many ways. It all comes down to this idea that when we FEEL SAFE, we can thrive and become the best version of ourselves. And mindfulness can help us feel safe.

Here are the ideas I want to share:

• Mindfulness helps to regulate our Autonomic Nervous System, thus to feel safe.
• Mindfulness and the Polyvagal Theory
• Mindfulness helps us feel safe, thus helps on the 2nd level of the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. That’s why mindfulness can help us thrive.
• Mindfulness is a set of practical tools that are on-demand, meaning you can use them when you need it the most, no need to call a therapist or take a break to do some practices such as yoga or tai-chi.
• Why mindfulness for kids and families
• Why we need a daily mindfulness practice
• The brain: the amygdala and the Pre-Frontal Cortex
• The brain doesn’t make a difference between a real danger, a perceived danger, and an anticipated danger.
• What are the Fight, Flight, Freeze responses? and Fawn, Flop…
• Reaction vs Response
• The missing piece of therapies: feeling safe.
• “Prepare your child for the path, not the path for your child” ~ old adage
• Self-regulation and Co-regulation

Mindfulness and the Autonomic Nervous System

Mindfulness and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Why mindfulness for kids and families

We live in a fast paced society, we all live under pressure to excel, and we all have busy schedules.

Advantages of teaching mindfulness to children earlier than later:

• It’s easy for them to learn and they’re curious (especially the young ones)
• They don’t have as much trauma as adults do.
• If left unattended, it will get worse because our culture will keep adding more trauma.
• Mental health is expensive and can take a lot of time to get better.
• Prevention: Even if children are mentally healthy, it’s always a good idea to give them as many tools as possible to face life with its ups and downs, because that’s what life is. It will happen sooner or later.
• Mindfulness is a lifeskill.
• Kids are our future. They deserve to thrive.

Why mindfulness for families

• Connection
• It’s a whole circle: if only kids learn mindfulness, it won’t have as much of an impact. Kids look up to their parents. If parents don’t practice, kids will less likely keep practicing.
• It’s a whole family activity, and the whole family will have the same language when talking about mindfulness!
• Parents are burnt out and also need some practical tools to cope with the fast pace life.