Paying Attention

• In the Classroom - Lesson 1 
   

Exercise:

 

• This walking meditation exercise:

  • demonstrates how difficult it can be to do something focus on doing something well while focusing on the activity (over-analysis)

  • is a great techniques for calming, clearing, and refocusing the mind
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• Your students may go through fear of looking awkward, boredom…followed by tedium, confusion (why are we doing this?). It may lead to a fit of giggles. It may, and often eventually does, lead to a profound sense of peace and fresh personal insights. ("Eventually" being the operative word here.) 
   

• For example, you can have them breathe in, as they lift their foot. Then they breathe out as they lower it. 
   

• Then have them walk silently and very slowly, deliberately paying attention to what it’s like to walk.
   

• Have the group stand up and have them form a single file line in a circle around the room.