Students, execs use mindfulness to ease stress

FROM LIFE?

TAKE A MOMENT AND TAKE A DEEP

BREATH.

IT IS MINDFUL MEDITATION.

>> IT IS CATCHING ON AS A WAY

TO REDUCE STRESS FROM THE BUSY

LIFE WE ALL LIVE.

AND IT IS BEING TAUGHT

EVERYWHERE FROM THE BOARDROOM

TO THE CLASSROOM.

>> Reporter: IT IS 9:00 AT THE

TRIANGLE DAY SCHOOL.

>> LET'S TURN ON OUR MINDFUL

BODIES.

>> Reporter: TIME FOR THE WEEKLY

LESSON ON MINDFUL MEDITATION.

>> YOUR BACK IS STRAIGHT AND

YOU ARE STILL.

>> Reporter: A WHOLE ROOM OF

SECOND GRADERS IS SITTING STILL

AND ENJOYING IT.

>> I LOVE IT.

IT MAKES ME FEEL BETTER BECAUSE

I DON'T NEED TO THINK ABOUT

ANYTHING ELSE.

>> WHENEVER I DO IT I FEEL CALM.

AND RELAXED.

>> Reporter: MINDFULNESS

MEDITATION IS THE PRACTICE OF

BRINGING ATTENTION TO THE BRAIN.

ITS PURPOSE IS TO GROUND YOU IN

THE PRESENT MOMENT.

KATE DISCOVERED IT WHILE

STRUGGLING WITH AN EATING

DISORDER AND OTHER STRUGGLES AS

AN ADULT.

SHE IS NOT CERTIFIED AS A

MEDITATION TEACHER AND HAS

DECIDED TO BRING IT TO HER

CLASSROOM.

>> WE ARE NOT REALLY TELLING

KIDS HOW TO CALM DOWN.

WE JUST TELL THEM THEY NEED TO

DO IT.

>> Reporter: THE PARENTS SAY IT

IS A GOOD THING.

ONE CHILD USED WHAT HE HAD

LEARNED WHILE PLAYING WITH A

FRIEND AND ANOTHER PARENT SAYS

THEY HAVE NOTICED THEIR CHILD

TO BE MORE CALM.

>> HE CAME HOME AND TOLD ME

THAT HE WAS READY TO THROW A

BALL AT ANOTHER CHILD BUT THEN

HE REMEMBERED HE COULD DO SOME

BREATHING AND STEP AWAY.>> THE

MINDFUL LESSONS ARE NOT JUST

FOR KIDS.

>> Reporter: MARY LINDA McBRIDE

TEACHES MINDFULNESS TO ROOMS

FULL OF PROFESSIONALS AROUND

THE TRIANGLE.

SHE TO JUST -- TAUGHT AT A

GOOGLE PROGRAM.

>> IT IS LIKE GOING TO THE GYM.

BUT YOU ARE TRAINING YOUR BRAIN

.

>> AFTER EIGHT WEEKS OF

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION A LOT OF

TIMES, THE AMYGDALA, APPEARS TO

SHRINK.

IF THE SCIENCE DOES NOT

CONVINCE YOU, TEACHERS LIKE

McBRIDE HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL

SEE THAT IT DOES.

>> IT IS AN INNATE HUMAN

QUALITY.

AND WE CAN PRACTICE IT AND

CULTIVATE IT.

>> Reporter: MINDFULNESS

MEDICATION -- MEDITATION HAS

ITS ROOTS IN JUDAISM.

BUT YOU DON'T NEED TO BELIEVE

ANYTHING TO TAKE PART.

SOME TEACHERS SAY IT IS A GREAT

TIME TO INCORPORATE PRAYER IF

THAT IS SOMETHING YOU CHOOSE TO

DO.

I'M MANDY MITCHELL FOR WRAL