AISGW Annual Heads’ ConferenceNovember 3 & 4, 2016 | Salamander Resort & Spa | Middleburg, VA

A Tool for Creating a State of Personal Balance A Strategy for Transforming Your School

Frankie Engelking, MA Director of Student & Community Wellness

McLean School

Mindfulness is awareness that arises

through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment non-judgmentally.

Jon Kabat Zinn

Mindfulness Based Stress ReductionBlending of Mind and Body Control with Science

McLean School’s Three-Prong Approach to Mindfulness

EducationWhat is mindfulness and how does it work?

TrainingHow to experience mindfulness.

PracticeCreating a personal and or group practice.

Deep Breathing Reverses the Stress Response in your Body Immediately

● Slows down our heart rate

● Lowers our blood pressure

● Allows higher volumes of oxygen to reach the body’s cells and tissues.

● Calms and slows down the emotional turbulence in the mind by releasing hormones

● Diffuses emotional energy so there is less reactivity to our emotions

Mindful Body

Permanent Changes Brain imaging techniques are revealing that this ancient practice can profoundly change the way different regions of the brain communicate with each other – impacting how we think and feel permanently.

Amygdala● The brain’s “fight or flight” center -- site of fear and emotion.

● The amygdala gets smaller through mindfulness practice.

● The connection between the amygdala and the rest of the brain gets weaker, while the connections between areas associated with attention and concentration get stronger.

Prefrontal Cortex

As the amygdala shrinks, the prefrontal cortex associated with higher order brain functions such as awareness, concentration, and decision-making -- becomes thicker.

Physical Changes in the Brain Allow for Emotional and

Physical Changes in the Body

NeuroplasticityThe brain’s ability to organize itself by forming

new neural connections throughout life

Personal Practice

Mindful Monday

Stimulus -- Pause -- Response

Between stimulus and response there is a space.

In that space is our power to choose our response.

In our response lies our growth and our freedom.

Victor Frankl

What you THINK about.

What you THANK about.

YOU BRING ABOUT.

People Who Practice Gratitude Consistently Report a Host of Benefits

● Stronger immune systems and lower blood pressure● Higher levels of positive emotions● More joy, optimism, and happiness● Acting with more generosity and compassion● Feeling less lonely and isolated

Awareness of Feeling GratefulWhere do you experience the feeling

Acknowledgement of the FeelingWriting, Speaking, Heartfelt Thoughts

Share the Feeling of GratitudeGive your Time, Your Attention

Visualization Visualization

Frankie Engelking, MADirector of Student & Community Wellnessfengelking@mcleanschool.orgmcleanschool.org/mindfulness