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The Mind-full Minute

Bringing mindfulness to the classroom one minute at a time, Dr. Lori Walker joins the movement to incorporate meditation into our education system. by Alicia Neptune

Picture a class of 30 interest grew. “I started realizing that Even as mindfulness practices concentration in brain regions involved university students. One it was connected to everything that I become more commonplace, some crit- in mood, learning and memory, and or two sneak a glance taught,” she says. ics argue mindfulness doesn’t belong in sensory processes. The practice can at their phones under She’s been using mindfulness schools. In 2016, Vancouver father Ray help people to purposefully reshape their desks, but most techniques, like the mindful minute Chwartkowski started a petition (which their brains and achieve the often-touted are just sitting there, eyes closed. No, it exercise, in her classroom since she is still active in 2018) for the removal benefits of mindfulness, including isn’t a particularly boring history lecture. started teaching at Capilano University of mindfulness-based programs from reduced stress and improved memory. They’re taking a mindful minute. in 2012. Though she initially worried public schools, arguing that For Walker, the neuroscience side

It’s a quick exercise, where students about what students would think, she mindfulness medi- of mindfulness is one of the sit and focus on their breathing for one finds that most students embrace the tation sessions most fascinating parts minute, and it’s just one of the ways practice. “Now I’m much braver because were equivalent of the practice. “My mindfulness has become a part of I’m feeling like students are really much to Buddhist practice is not faitheducational environments. more supportive of it or interested in meditation, based,” she explains.

A growing list of institutions around it.” Interest amongst her colleagues and violated “It’s really grounded the world including Harvard University, has also led several other Capilano students’ in science. I see it as Oxford University, and post-secondary professors to integrate mindfulness into freedom of an opportunity to talk institutions across Canada, offer drop-in their teaching. religion. However, about the brain.” mindfulness meditation sessions, Initially, Dr. Walker saw the practice the Vancouver School It’s another way of training seminars, and workshops, as a way to increase focus and to Board maintains that the taking a multidisciplinary usually through counselling services. support students with anxiety issues. programs are research-based and approach in the classroom, regardless of And some professors have even brought However, it has also impacted the way non-secular. For example, the lessons what you teach. Mindfulness can help the practice into their teaching. she teaches courses like Interpersonal in MindUP, a program widely used in connect psychology and neuroscience to

Instructor Dr. Lori Walker, at Cap- and Intercultural Communications, B.C. elementary schools, are based on other fields of study, while also helping ilano University’s School of Communi- where being empathetic, non-judgmen- neuroscience. students to achieve a calm and balanced cation, has made mindfulness a major tal, and patient are essential elements. Meditation can help people take state of mind. part of her teaching philosophy. Around With support from Capilano’s advantage of neuroplasticity, the brain’s In a university setting, when young the time she turned 40, she realized Counselling Department, her courses ability to form and reorganize synaptic people are still learning to make their she needed help with anxiety and so sometimes include a class focused connections in response to experience, way in the world, Walker says it’s she turned to mindfulness. Dr. Walker solely on mindfulness and teaching injury or learning. Multiple studies important to “treat the student as a borrowed tapes on guided meditation students techniques for being aware of have found a connection between whole person—someone with a mind from the library and from there, her their emotions and their environment. mindfulness and increased gray matter and a heart and emotions.” ■

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