Articles,Resources & Studies Community
Studies, articles and resources give us an expansive, collective view. Over the past decade here on Martha’s Vineyard, we see remarkable results too. More practice with more regularity and collaboration increase individuation and community wellness.
How? Read below. Try it out. Got a minute or more? Let’s practice and see...
outdoor open space sound yoga
SCHOOL BASED IN THE COMMUNITY MINDFULNESS
In our experience on Martha’s Vineyard, results include increased joy, decreased isolation, increased empowerment, decreased conflict, and increased inclusivity. Rising expectations of students in K-12 schools increase demands on their attention and executive functioning, but students are rarely taught how to pay attention. In this NCBI Study, school-based universal preventative programs aimed at helping students achieve greater social, emotional, and academic success have been established.
before school mindful movement in the gym
CAN’T FOOL THE MIND! BEFORE SCHOOL BRAIN BOOST TIME
The brain knows (of course) the difference between practices and placebo. In September, these Oak Bluffs School kiddos decided to learn how to hold steady upside down – giving themselves ample room to learn, practice, try, grow. In the Journal of Neuroscience, it is a remarkable finding, but we are not surprised. Why? We are Proud to Be OB! Because we practice the practice for the fun and challenge. We learn, we practice, we notice, we apply, we reflect, we repeat. It is a hands-on experience based science that has maintained relevancy for thousands of years and is intended to grow with us over a lifetime of learning.
mobile physical education space, aerial arts brain break sessions
Aerial Yoga
Health US News Report on Aerial Yoga and its array of benefits, access and possibility. At Edgartown & Oak Bluffs School, the local Libraries and around the Island students are increasing joy, agility, and mental flexibility.
hand and mallot sensory sound experiment
gratitude develops joy
Practicing gratitude is so important for our well being; and, connecting well with others. We know this to be true and we keep widening our circle of inclusion every time we practice. The Daily Health post features the power of gratitude and its affect on our well being.
2nd grade collaborative tree pose creation - design, build, reflect
HEart and mind connection
The heart’s nervous system contains around 40,000 neurons called sensory neurites that communicate with the brain. Our feelings can affect our thoughts and behaviors.
At Oak Bluffs School, we made a tree together and felt the support of each other. When I breathe in, I am good. When I breathe out, I am solid.
What an amazing connection found from heart transplant patients! Read on HubPages Education and Medicine article.
middle school tune in, let go student led sound practice
calm the mind, change the brain
Top 3 benefits noticed by hundreds of our Edgartown School community’s children practicing yoga in school are calm, focus and joy. Harvard Neuroscience studies show similar results. We power our mind, using a heart of love and train our body. Yoga is enriching our community, not only reduces stress. Dr. Perlmutter, Neurologist guide and resources
At the heart of our practice, it is our humanity that bonds us in wellness for all living beings.
The Breath, the Brain
COLLECTIVE RESEARCH AND INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCE SHOW US THE POWERFUL EFFECTS OF CONSCIOUS BREATHING AND AWARENESS
Brain Integration
Prolonged stress has been shown to shrink the hippocampus, the region of the brain responsible for learning, memory, cognition and emotional regulation. At the same time, the amygdala, which determines emotional responses based on sensory information that it perceives as a threat or not, has been shown to increase in size due to its overstimulation.
Developing healthy breathing patterns:
Calms the stress response thereby increasing oxygen to the hippocampus and reducing the size of the amygdala
Strengthens focus and attention
Promotes brain integration
Fosters deeper and better sleep by releasing physical, mental and emotional tension
Strengthens self-awareness
This directly and/or indirectly helps the student do the following:
Learn better stress management and consciously choose right action
Alleviate anxiety and depression with slow, rhythmic breathing
Naturally increase blood oxygen, vital for the growth of healthy cells
CHECK OUT THIS SHORT CLIP FROM THE WORK OF DR. HERBERT BENSON OF HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL. JUST MAY “BLOW YOUR MIND”. THIS IS FROM A 2007 DOCUMENTARY.
COOL CLIP DR. HERBERT BENSON OF HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
Here’s what the experts have to say…
“I like to sit tall and breathe, I feel calm and I like that.” – 1st grader
“ To get started, think about what calms you down, for me it’s Nature.” – 1st grader
“I need this in my life, I am very busy and sometimes too busy. “ – 3rd grader
“My mind follows the sound, like it's moving up and down - a wave - and I follow it, and then my thoughts go and float and I get relaxed.” – 4th grader
“EVERY BEING BREATHES” – 1st grader
“I feel weird. I guess I'm feeling. I'm not used to looking at my thoughts and my breathing, it is quiet. It is loud. There's a lot to notice when you do, notice.” – 5th grader
“If mindfulness removes the need to act in violence, then peace will cease to need to exist as well right? It would be a new state of being ~ No war so then no peace – those ideas would be over right? Not needed to be defined by its opposite anymore.” – 7th grader
“I'm not sure anything is happening, but I like it. We should do this every morning.” – 7th grader
“I feel lighter. A lot lighter. How did I do that?” – 8th grader