Mindful Moment
Turning Detention into Meditation
Mindful Moment is a comprehensive whole school intervention, developed by the Holistic Life Foundation (HLF), that integrates mindfulness and yoga practices into the school day for students, teachers, and staff. The program is designed to build on the success of the Holistic Me after-school program, providing a safe space for students who need to calm down and regain control of their emotions.
The Mindful Moment program runs for six hours a day, for 185 days, which includes five days of holistic training, setting up the Mindful Moment Room, and breaking down the Mindful Moment Room at the end of the school year. The program enables the entire school to take part in mindfulness practice once a day, for 15 minutes each session, in the morning. In-classroom practice consists of breath work and ends with guided silent reflection.
One unique aspect of the program is the Mindful Moment Room, which is maintained by the HLF. The room is a serene and calming environment equipped with meditation cushions, yoga mats, artwork, waterfalls, plants, comfortable lighting, and other soothing décor. Students may self-refer (High School only), or teachers may send distressed or disruptive students for individual assistance with emotional self-regulation through yoga, breath work, self-reflection, and meditation. Students visit for 20 minutes and then return to class. This room serves as an alternative to suspension. HLF instructors also visit to teach and reinforce practice and model patience and calm for students.
The program has been shown to have long-term benefits, including greater empathy and confidence, which lead to stronger interpersonal bonds and a greater sense of community. By integrating mindfulness and yoga practices into the school day, Mindful Moment provides a comprehensive whole school intervention that helps to create a healthier and more positive learning environment for everyone involved.
In 2021, Holistic Life Foundation operated a total of 14 Mindful Moment programs that were embedded in local schools. These programs served more than 4,000 students on a weekly basis, providing them with access to mindfulness practices that support emotional self-regulation, stress reduction, and overall well-being. Through these programs, HLF has continued to expand its reach and impact in local communities, promoting greater resilience, empathy, and connection among youth and educators.
Due to the impact of Covid-19 on city schools’ programming, HLF operated virtually during the 2020-2021 school year in Liberty Elementary and Patterson High. They primarily provided 30-minute virtual chair-based yoga focusing on the push-in component of the Mindful Moment program. As schools began returning to in-person instruction, HLF started receiving an increase in requests for Mindful Moment programming.
For the 2021-2022 school year, HLF supported seven city schools: City Springs EMS, Patterson HS, Robert W. Coleman ES, Mary E. Rodman, Govans Elementary, Judy Center at Liberty Elementary, and at Carver High School.
In Baltimore, we're currently running five Mindful Moment Programs within local schools, making a significant impact on the lives of young learners. Our reach extends to an astonishing average of 2,159 students each week, and we're gearing up for an exciting expansion with plans to launch at Renaissance Academy.
In 2022, HLF created a multi-year strategic plan and began working with the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) to expand to other underserved areas across the United States. CGI works with established organizations to develop Commitments to Action to address climate resilience, health equity, and inclusive economic recovery and growth. Aligned with health equity, our goal is to implement our Mindful Moment program in a minimum of six new cities by the end of 2024 and the potential cities include: Buffalo, Chicago, Denver, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, and Richmond.
We're thrilled to share exciting updates on our MindfulMoment Expansion initiative. Phase One of our expansion begins in early 2024, introducing our program to six new cities:
Chicago: Austin College and Career Academy.
Milwaukee: Bradley Tech High School and Milwaukee Parkside School for the Arts, reaching 1,800 students.
Denver: Colorado High School Charter.
Richmond: Fairfield Court Elementary School.
Philadelphia: Community Council Learning Academy.
Buffalo: Stay tuned for updates.
Your continued support will help us meet our timeline for Phase 2 in July, 2024. Please check out our campaign here & share it around where and when you can!
Results from the Mindful Moment program have shown positive impacts on students' focus, concentration, attendance, and GPA.
The program has effectively supported the social and emotional well-being of students, leading to reductions in suspensions and fights, as well as improvements in attendance, freshman GPA, freshman promotions, and overall school climate.
Suspensions Dropped by 72%
The referral of students who engaged in verbal or physical altercations in the classroom or hallways to the Mindful Moment Room resulted in a 72% reduction in classroom suspensions in one school year.
FAQs
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A school-wide initiative involves students and faculty taking part in a 15-minute mindfulness practice twice daily. Other key components of the program include the Mindful Moment room, which is an alternative to suspension room where students in distress receive individual assistance with emotional self-regulation through mindfulness techniques. Additionally, there is the Mindfulness Ambassador student training program. Participants also receive all supporting and reporting documents.
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Depends on the location and size of the school. Please inquire about cost at info@hlfinc.org
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Only in Baltimore City. However, we can train people and staff offsite and will be available for coaching.
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We make it practical, relatable, and fun!
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Students understand that they only have 15 minutes and that there is a specific protocol to follow when entering the room.
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Yes, we train staff to implement/facilitate the program.
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Results have shown increases in focus, concentration and attendance, and decreases in detentions, suspension, and impulsivity.
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Yes, we will travel to implement the program.
OUR MINDFUL MOMENT MOVEMENT
We need your help to bring our Mindful Moment programs to six new cities: Chicago, Denver, Richmond, Buffalo, Philadelphia, and Milwaukee.
Our goal is to give students, teachers, and the mindfulness staff we train, the tools necessary to correct behaviors in a non-punitive way and allow the time to work through problems before a severe punishment such as suspension takes place. Administrators continue to see a drastic reduction in suspension and referral numbers, an improvement in self-regulation skills and in the overall school climate, as well as reductions in anxiety and stress, the healing of trauma, and improved mental health outcomes.
By supporting this campaign, you're helping us expand this life-changing program to new communities, fostering conflict reduction, violence prevention, and a greater sense of community. Join us in making a difference and spreading the power of mindfulness and healing to these cities.