Question 1

I would like to share these tools with my teen – I know that they are emotionally capable of doing this, but unless you have a very self aware and reflective teen who is super motivated to reflect and pause (which is a bit rare in my experience 😊  ), they won’t take the time to explore how this could help. Do you have any suggestions for engaging teens in this material?

Accepted Answer

Thanks for your question – it's so true...it's hard enough to get adults to engage in this stuff, let alone teens! Micro lessons, or feeding small bits of info at a time will be helpful.

We found some really great, short videos that speak to the WHY of meditation for teens (they're actually teens voices/stories shared in the videos, which is awesome). We also found some guided meditations specifically designed for teens. We uploaded a new section RESOURCES FOR TEENS on the Mindfulness for Parents page.

We also think the On-the-Go weekly practices might be the most applicable for teens. For example, you could tell your teen that your activity this week for single-tasking is X, e.g. washing your hands (make it small and simple), and invite them to try it out....paying full attention to the experience, and then you could share your experiences with each other. What did you notice? Another neat single-tasking activity for teens is listening to a song (5 mins or less) – they can just lie down, let their body relax, and fully listen to it. How is that experience different from listening while they're doing something else? Maybe you could listen together. If there are activities that they find "cool" or interesting, those could be good opportunities to single-task. Mindful coloring while listening to music for a few mins is another good one. We find it quite relaxing and calming ourselves. :)

One of our on-the-go practices for the next core training is the ONE BREATH RULE where you choose a routine activity and "tether" one deep breath + relaxing your body to whatever that activity is. We recommend doing it with something like opening your phone, or opening a specific app (e.g. Instagram), or putting your keys in the ignition before you turn your car "on". You could invite your teen to try that practice with a routine activity that they do. It's pretty cool – you start to rewire your brain to take a deep breath every time you do the activity, and pretty soon, you're taking more deep breaths in a day than you would in a whole month. More on that in our next Core Training!

Even if they don't fully engage now or don't seem too interested, you'll be planting seeds that will very likely sprout later on. In our experience, too, one of the best things parents can do is model these practices by doing them for themselves. If you're present while you're doing things (single-tasking) or taking conscious deep breaths regularly, your kid will notice and begin to absorb those qualities, too.

Question 2

Can I share this website/resource with my partner?

Accepted Answer

Yes, please do! This program + toolkit is intended to be a resource for your partner and/or immediate family members, please feel free to invite them to participate in the live sessions or use the on-demand toolkit.

Question 3

I need to show up to a training/session a little late – can I still participate?

Accepted Answer

Yes, please join whenever you can (this goes for the Core Trainings and the Pause Practices). We understand that schedules can be tricky and we'd rather have you join a bit late or leave a bit early than skip the session altogether.

Question 4

What if I can't make it to all of the live sessions?

Accepted Answer

We encourage you to join as many live sessions as possible to get the most out of the program; however, if there are dates you can't make it, we understand! Please don't let this be a barrier to participate. All sessions are recorded and made available for you on-demand in this toolkit under the CORE TRAININGS tab.

Question 5

I missed the first training. Should I bail out?

Accepted Answer

Definitely not – please still join us. The curriculum is designed to be sequential, but you can still get a LOT out of a single session at any point. One of the big themes we'll emphasize throughout the program is the importance of giving ourselves permission to begin again, at any point.

Question 6

Do I need to bring/prepare anything for the live trainings?

Accepted Answer

You'll need a device that supports Zoom (computer, phone, tablet). Otherwise, just bring yourself, your curiosity, and of course feel free to dress comfortably.

Question 7

What's the difference between the 90-min "Core Trainings" and the 15-min "Practice Sessions"?"

Accepted Answer

The Core Trainings (every other month) are both educational and experiential. You'll learn key insights and perspectives on the neuroscience of stress, focus, and resilience, be guided through practical exercises, and also have opportunities to connect in a unique way with your team. There will also be time to ask questions and get real-time feedback from your instructors.

The Pause Practice sessions (weekly) help you carve out space each week to practice and integrate what you've learned in the core trainings. You're invited to take a brief pause in your work flow, give your mind and body a true break, and train new habits for resilience. An opportunity to exercise your brain!

Questions

Can I share this website/resource with my partner?

I need to show up to a training/session a little late – can I still participate?

What if I can't make it to all of the live sessions?

I missed the first training. Should I bail out?

Do I need to bring/prepare anything for the live trainings?

What's the difference between the 90-min "Core Trainings" and the 15-min "Practice Sessions"?"