Mixing teaching and meditation is an unusual practice, but it works for Okanagan College teacherBrett Wade.

Wade helps his students lower their stress levels by offering quick guided meditations before each class.

The idea started when Wade noticed a difference in student behaviour.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e noticed over the last five years students are reporting higher levels of anxiety and stress. So I realized that I had to do something to settle students down prior to the exam,91裸聊视频� he said.

A guru of mindfulness, he worked on a technique to get students to be present in the moment.

After handing out the exams, he asked students to do a quick breathing practice to settle down the class. After the initial success of lowering test anxiety, it became a daily classroom practice.

91裸聊视频淲hat I found was that not only was it settling the class down, but I was getting reports from students that they were finding it to be so beneficial in their own lives,91裸聊视频� he said.

Second-year therapy assistant student Cailin Parry swears by his meditations.

She used to have test anxiety, but after learning some techniques with Wade91裸聊视频檚 help, she found meditating highly effective for her mental health.

91裸聊视频淚 suffered from anxiety and depression and I91裸聊视频檝e reached out to him more than a few times,91裸聊视频� saidParry.

The guided meditations have also calmed her before a test.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a sacred place for us to quiet our minds,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淲e feel blessed to be in his presence.91裸聊视频�

Thanks to Wade, Parry practices her own meditations.

91裸聊视频淚 was looking for an easy and gentle way to bring it into the classroom. It91裸聊视频檚 interesting if I miss a day91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檒l be the students who will remind me,91裸聊视频� said Wade.

He has been doing his own meditations for 20 years and said it doesn91裸聊视频檛 have to be a spiritual practice.

On Fridays, he also gives a free meditation class for staff and students that looks into the origins of meditation in addition to meditating.

91裸聊视频淟ook around the classroom and identify five things in your mind that you can see,91裸聊视频� he says to start the class by defining mindfulness.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 about the health benefits. Just a few minutes can provide a significant stress reduction,91裸聊视频� he said.

Wade owns a yoga/meditation studio called the Ekahi Centre on Water Street, where he offers meditation classes for free.