The Telegraph – Olivia Parker
“Every morning after the register, the 260 pupils of Westfield Primary School in Hertfordshire settle in their classrooms into “mountain pose” (standing up, shoulders relaxed) or a sitting position. They close their eyes, imagine they are in their own private “bubble” and spend the next few minutes focusing on their breathing. These children have completed “Paws b”, a mindfulness course for seven to 11-year-olds. Ask them about the benefits of meditation, says Westfield teacher Adrian Bethune, 35, and they’ll tell you it “flexes the brain’s attentional muscle, which has been proven to help strengthen the prefrontal cortex.” This part of the brain is in charge of concentration, making choices and doing your best.”(more)