Mindfulness classes? How about just hanging around with…cats?

The teacher and cat-caregiver in me was tickled when I came across this article today: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/03/12/mindfulness-schools-david-laws_n_4948965.html

I double-checked and gosh…it was not a joke! And it’s from the land of the stiff upper lip too.

Here are some excerpts:

Ministers are looking at whether schoolchildren could benefit from classes in “mindfulness”, David Laws has said.

The schools minister said that the topic should be taken seriously, although there needed to be careful scrutiny of the evidence of its effects.

His comments came days after a leading private school headmaster suggested that all schools should make time each day for pupils to ”be quiet and reflect”.

Giving over of the timetable to a ”daily stillness period” would help youngsters learn how to concentrate and help prevent mental health issues like anxiety and depression, according to Dr Anthony Seldon, master of Wellington College, a private school in Berkshire.

A number of schools, particularly those in the private sector, are introducing or looking at “mindfulness” classes, which usually focus on teaching students meditation and breathing techniques as well as how to pay attention to the present moment.

“It is all about being yourself, making the most of yourself, and making the most of the opportunities that life presents to you.”

Reading the parts in bold instantly made me think that perhaps a more effective way of inculcating these “skills” into us humans is to emulate….cats!

Meditating on human lap. Me silent, human reading garbage on Facebook.

Me smart. Human not so smart. Human should be more like me.

Cat in foreground: Very mindful of what’s outside because cat is looking outside.
Cat near grille: Equally mindful of what’s outside, but not looking outside because cat has developed “third eye vision” to KNOW what is going on outside without having to look outside.

 I’m so good at “making the most of the opportunities” that life presents to me…

Mindfulness…stare, stare, concentrate….there see…she is looking my way now…it never fails.
Some food, please, if you don’t mind….surely you cannot resist this face, can you?

So yes, humans not so smart. Cats…smart.

Just hang around cats….we might learn a thing or two from them. And I’m quite sure youngsters would much prefer hanging around with cats than sitting on meditation mats chanting the “I’m being still” mantra! AND the schools can adopt the neighbourhood cats, CNRM them and keep them within the school compound for Mindfulness classes! It will be held outdoors, it will be hands-on for the kids. AND if they need more cats, adopt from the local shelter! Now, try and beat that!