Along with yoga, JAF has also been working to introduce mindfulness exercises to teens. Mindfulness, which involves learning to tune into and accept one’s thoughts and feelings in the present moment, has been shown to have many potential benefits for students, and especially adolescents. Research has shown that mindfulness exercises can result in improved academic performance, better stress management, and higher self-esteem, and that these effects on a person’s well-being are dose-dependent–that is, a student feels the benefits of mindfulness training the more that student practices them.
These are the mindfulness initiatives JAF supported in the 2014-15 school year:
- At Woodson HS, 400 students received mindfulness class 1x a week for 6 or 8 weeks. Promising results can be viewed here, which show a decrease in students’ perceived stress with an increase in mindful attention.
- At TJHSST, 90 students received mindfulness class 2x a week for 4 weeks
These are the mindfulness initiatives JAF supported in the 2015-2016 school year:
- At Woodson HS, 200 students received mindfulness class 1x for 8 weeks.