1. Mind UP

2. What is Mind Up?
Researched based activities and learning to improve our mental health and well being

3. Why did we decide to do it?
Felt that children are exposed to lots of stresses – some that we are not even aware of
Such as impact of seeing an accident, parents arguing, not understanding inequality, not being able to control emptions, early attachment issues
Start with the children but eventually impact all members of the team
Getting Focussed
Sharpening your senses
Its all about Attitude
Taking Action Mindfully
Brain function and core practice
Mindfulness
Perspective, Optimism and appreciation
Expressing gratitude, acts of kindness and Mindful action

4. Brain Break Sit down in a comfortable position.
Close your eyes or look down at your palms…to be respectful of others in the room
Take calm, slow breaths. Gently breathe in and out.
Keep your shoulders relaxed.
When you hear the chime, listen to the sound as long as you can (hit chime – wait until you cannot hear the chime)
Bring your attention to your breath (pause for 10 seconds)
If your mind wanders, that’s ok, just try to bring your focus back to your breath (pause for 10 seconds)
Feel your tummy rising and falling (pause for 10 seconds)
Feel the air coming into your body and going out again (pause for 10 seconds)
When you hear the chime again, listen as long as you can.
When you can’t hear the sound any longer, slowly, gently open your eyes and look to the front of the room (hit chime)

5. In the first few sessions we learn about the brain
Pre-Frontal Cortex
Wise Owl
Amygdala
Guard Dog
Hippocampus
Hippo
It is at the front of our brain and it helps us to think and make good choices
This protects you when you are afraid or nervous or in danger, it only lets in the happy feelings
We have two of them behind our ears.
They store our learning and send to pre frontal cortex
They store our memories and send them to the Amygdala

6. Glitter Bottle
Sometimes our ‘Guard Dog’ starts barking……..this is when we can use our glitter bottle.

7. Mindfulness Taking our time
Mindful tasting - appreciate the food we eat
Mindful listening – hearing others
Mindful seeing – seeing joy in the little things
Mindful smelling – sharpens our memory
Mindful movement – our body and brain are partners