Speakers: Kelly McGrath and Rob Middleton Date: Saturday, February 16 Time: 1pm- Location: Yokohama Youth Centre. The Youth Center is in the basement under Kannai Hall (take the lift to the bottom floor-- B2). About 5 mins from Bashamichi and Sakuragicho, and even closer from Subway Blue Line Kannai station (come out exit 9, then walk past Starbucks. Mindfulness – the act of paying attention on purpose, moment-by-moment – has been a very popular topic for a while now. With all the available information on mindfulness it can be confusing as to where to start to explore the topic. Another sometime barrier is that mindfulness is sometimes seen as a passing fad or perhaps something a bit ‘new age’. So how can we use mindfulness practically in teaching situations whether before, during, or after we step into the classroom? This practical, experiential workshop will enable participants to try out some simple easy to learn mindfulness exercises for themselves, regardless of their teaching situation. The emphasis is on the experiential, so anyone attending is highly encouraged to try out the exercises for themselves during the workshop. As well as a chance to see the practical side of mindfulness in action, participants will also learn some of the theory behind mindfulness. Kelly McGrath, PhD teaches wellness promotion as English based content courses at several universities in Tokyo. He has teaching experience at schools in Canada, Europe and Asia. His current area of interest is coaching mindful approaches to enhance enjoyment, productivity and performance in daily living. Rob Middleton teaches at Hosei University Kokusai High School and Kinjo Gakuen. He also works as a freelance illustrator and cartoonist. He has a long-term interest in mindfulness and how it can be applied in practical ways to daily life. A social event at a nearby restaurant will follow this meeting.
