Mindfulness: a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, and can be used therapeutically.
Today, the Counseling & Wellness Department debuted a mindfulness center in their office that they have dubbed “The Zen Zone.”
The Zen Zone, which is open to students and faculty alike, is offered as a tool to be utilized when an individual identifies a need for an occasion that provides a low sensory, safe and thoughtful space for a brief amount of time. With the help of numerous items and activities designated for mindfulness practice and intentional focus, The Zen Zone can help to increase autonomy and self-regulation in its users.
“Studies have demonstrated positive and encouraging results from mindfulness interventions to address distressing emotions,” explains Head of Counseling & Wellness Karan Steuart. “The Zen Zone provides students an opportunity to de-stress, re-focus, feel grounded, and overall have permission to quiet the mind and body in order to move forward.”
From guided meditation and calming music to water beads, coloring books, and a magnetic dart board, this room is full of potential for reducing stress and improving cognitive outcomes in the development of social-emotional skills in those at Denver Academy.
Denver Academy is a private school for students with varied learning profiles in grades 2-12, located in Denver, CO. DAinspires and empowers diverse learners through student-centered, differentiated, and transformative education.