July 18, 2024
Recently we sat down with Kate of Mamata Kate to talk more about her personal experience with Mindfulness, and how we can benefit from it! Kate has a background in nursing, is a certified mindfulness instructor, and uses her mindfulness practices as well as spiritual guidance and intuition to coach her clients to finding a more peaceful way to move through life.
Tell us a little bit about your background and what sparked your interest in Mindfulness.
I was introduced to Mindfulness when my oldest child began school at Downtown Montessori Academy. He was taught breathing techniques and tools to become more aware of himself and regulate his emotions. I was grateful for these supportive techniques and experienced first hand the benefit of having a mindful child. My background is in nursing and I built on that foundation with accreditations in Fully Accredited Mindfulness for Teenagers and Schools, Mindfulness for Children, Mindfulness for Children diploma, and a Certification for Mindfulness through UWM. I decided to focus on youth because I recognized the positive outcomes in my own children. They have greatly benefited from from being taught self-awareness and have a better understanding of who they are, why they do things (positive or negative), and have a good grasp on self-love.
How would you describe Mindfulness to someone who is unfamiliar with this practice?
Mindfulness is a practice or a mindset of awareness of tuning into self in the present: creating an awareness of what is happening in not only your physical body but also your thoughts, energy, and actions. Having awareness or being mindful of thoughts allows us more freedom to willingly give energy to thoughts instead of unconsciously giving energy to thoughts that may not be in our best interest. Being mindful of your physical placement in the world allows for more observation of your surroundings which in turn will provide you with more information than if you weren't in a state of mindfulness. In both cases, being mindful allows you to make better choices for your mental, emotional, and physical well-being in the present. You are more accepting of outcomes because the journey to get there was less turmoil and more in flow. You tend to experience things more fully because of awareness. You are able to drop preconceptions when you are mindful because when you are immersed in the present moment, the past does not exist. You will also find that you are less judgmental. In a mindful state, or "an observers state", we are observing, taking in information, and not giving it out so the judgment has no place here in the present.
What is a typical experience in one of your classes for children?
Each class focuses on one of the attitudes of mindfulness and we work on a corresponding activity to hold the children's interest. I introduce a breathing technique with a physical prompt for the children to more easily remember. We also participate in a guided meditation. Meditation can be difficult for even the most focused adults so offering a visual experience in their mind's eye can assist in the concentration of meditation. Typically, we'll have time for discussion and I spend a lot of time validating the experience they are having and pointing out when and where they are practicing mindfulness - bringing them into awareness of their awareness!
What are the short term and long term benefits for children?
Instilling these skills into children allows them to understand, accept, and offers a self-awareness and peace of mind. Being mindful will provide children with skills to have more meaningful relationships with people they love, increase self confidence, communicate more effectively and intentionally with others, and to deal with contrast and challenges in a healthy and productive way. In the educational setting, a mindful mindset will pull the child from distractions instead of distractions pulling at the child. A mindful child is able to retain more information and keep focused on tasks for longer periods of time.
What are your favorite tips for parents who are interested in encouraging Mindfulness into their households?
The best advice I could give to encourage that awareness muscle to grow, is to breathe. Breathwork is essential to most practices because it is the most effective regulation tool we have at our fingertips. I introduce at least one breathing technique in each class and parents are always welcome to join in the class. Keeping it quick and easy and something they can easily manage, works best. My other piece of advice is to set aside time to talk. Offering them time, a safe space, and validating their feelings, will build a healthy relationship. Often times children have grievances throughout the day that they ignore, feel they are not justified, or choose to go unheard. When we offer them time, children will respond in such a way that allows their minds freedom from those thoughts and gives them (and you) those opportunities to be present and mindful.
How has Mindfulness continued to impact your life?
I have been practicing mindfulness for almost 20 years and I still have to set the intention to be mindful everyday. It is very intentional for me and my practice does get more effective as time goes on. It is a muscle that requires a regular work out to be beneficial on a daily basis. I love that I have the skills to pull myself out of less than ideal situations. I use mindfulness daily in that aspect. It is an excellent tool for those who “live in their heads” and an incredible tool for grounding yourself.
My family and I practice being mindful in every conversation and interaction we have together. It is incredible to watch my teenage daughter manage complex situations with more maturity than most thirty year olds but it is because she is mindful of all of it. She sees the situation for what it is because she's learned to be in awareness of the present. The present moment is all that is when you drop all that was or all that is to be… And a wise old man said that joy and happiness can only exist in the present moment. And I choose that.