Children’s Book Series: Master of Mindfulness

Authors of Masters of Mindfulness

One of the authors of the book is Laurie Grossman, she is the founder of the mindfulness-in-education movement and is a social worker for the Oakland community. She strongly believes that mindfulness in school is the key to help achieve social justice. Jon Kabat-Zinn is an American professor that created the Stress Reduction Clinic, The Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He also believes that mindfulness can help people cope with stress, anxiety, pain and illness. Angelina Alvarez is a mindfulness teacher, she is a local artist in the San Francisco Bay Area, who found her art as a way to reach children beyond the classroom.

About the Book

Have you ever felt frustrated, disappointed, stressed or anxious about anything going on in your life? If so, mindfulness can help as it reduces those negative thoughts or feelings we may be experiencing. Mindfulness teaches us how to respond to dysfunctional thoughts or feelings while bringing awareness of what is happening in the present. The book, Master of Mindfulness: How to Be Your Own Superhero in Times of Stress is a book written by a 5th grade class. This book shows different illustrations of different situations and  provides information on how to remain calm.

Relation to Today’s World

Our childhoods are supposed to be exciting and a learning experience; however, all if not most, kids have experienced some type of stress in their lifetime. Stress can be caused by something going on at home, at school or even with friends. Sometimes, we overreact to an event and we later feel guilty, embarrassed or angry. The book Master of Mindfulness can help with learning new skills to reduce tension by stopping to take a few deep breaths. On The Effects of a Brief Mindfulness meditation Intervention on Student Stress and Heart Rate Variability, it was found that over the course of four weeks, the mindfulness group showed a positive advantage in reducing anxiety compared with other groups. Sometimes even thinking about learning the skills to do mindfulness can be frustrating and seem like a waste of time, but one has to remember that it takes time. We must have a quiet space, be able to close our eyes, take a deep breath and relax.

Signs of needing Mindfulness Meditation

• Feeling anxious
• Feeling Sad
• Feeling frustrated

Tips for Mindfulness Meditation

• Try to meditate first thing in the morning
• Don’t sit cross-legged if its not comfortable
• Breathe naturally
• Check in with yourself

If you or anyone you know in the Chicagoland area are struggling with learning Mindfulness Meditation and would like to chat with someone do not hesitate to call Olive Branch Counseling Associates at (708) 633-08000.

Yadira

Graduate Intern

Grossman, L. M. (2016). Master of mindfulness: How to be your own superhero in times of

            stress. Oakland, California: New Harbinger Publications.

Master of Mindfulness. (2020, August 10). Retrieved August 10, 2020, from https://www.

newharbinger.com/master-mindfulness

Shearer, A., Hunt, M., Chowdhury, M., & Nicol, L. (2016). Effects of a brief mindfulness

meditation intervention on student stress and heart rate variability. International Journal

            of Stress Management, 23(2), 232–254. https://doi-org.libproxy.trnty.edu/10.1037/A003

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Picture:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/master-of-mindfulness-laurie-grossman/1122294015?ean=9781626254640