S03 : Ep. 18 : Mindfulness in 21st Century Education with Amy Lou Wilson


S03 : Ep. 18 : Mindfulness in 21st Century Education with Amy Lou Wilson
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Mindfulness. In this episode, Amy Lou Wilson and I discuss exactly what is involved in mindfulness and more specifically how its (should be!) integrated in to 21st century education. Understand the scientific implications and biochemistry benefits behind integrating mindfulness practices into the classroom. Amy and I unpack detailed answers to questions such as – What is mindfulness? How is this integrated into the classroom? How can 21st century educators / parents integrate into their everyday life, while benefiting their students / children, respectively? How can schools prepare for this shift? What is best practice in mindfulness? How does it impact early childhood development as well as young adolescents? These are just some of the valuable insights uncovered in today’s episode. Don’t forget to jump on to YouTube to watch the full episode and additional footage!
THIS EPISODE WAS PROUDLY AND EXCLUSIVELY SPONSORED BY YOGASEEDS

Amy Lou Wilson is a passionate advocate of global mindfulness education for the 21st century. She is the founder of Yoga Seeds, teaching mindful movement, breath work & personal development to children and adolescents within the early childhood and state school sector. She also operates within the corporate sector, facilitating regular meditation, yoga and mindfulness workshops within the local government for Brisbane City Council staff and developed and facilitates the wellness component of the Federal Government's DFAT Australia Awards Women’s Leadership Program.
Amy is a Certified Level 1 Adults Yoga Teacher (Power Living and Yoga Australia), Level 1 Wellness Coach (Wellness Coaching Australia), and is a qualified Children’s Yoga Teacher, having completed multiple children’s yoga trainings in yoga therapy, yoga for schools Inspired Kids Yoga for schools. She is a youth mentor and also the Chief QLD facilitator of Yellow Lantern Public Speaking for Children, and is extremely passionate about teaching children and youth the skills they need to speak up, step up and thrive in an uncertain world. After completing her schooling in Mudgee, she went on to study Performing Arts in Sydney at the formerly known Australian Academy of Dramatic Art (now the AIM). It was during these formative years, at the age of 21, that Amy lost her father to suicide. She considers it an act of grace that she had been introduced to the practice of Yoga at her performing arts school, and at the impressionable age of 17. It was this ancient practice that helped guide her through this extremely difficult time. As a result of the tragedy, Amy was catapulted on a personal quest for growth, and decided to travel overseas, in an attempt to understand the human condition more deeply.

Upon arriving back from her intrepid adventure, she took up positions in the corporate world, working her way up the corporate ladder of the telecommunications industry. Holding positions over the years in both sales and account management, and having quick success in both, she was left feeling unfulfilled despite her achievements. Her altruistic nature left her searching. Understanding the inextricable link between movement and the mind from her background as performer, and with a burning desire to help others achieve & maintain mental wellbeing, Amy went on to study at the Australian Institute of Fitness attaining a Cert 3 and 4 Master Trainer, and subsequently began Personal Training and Performance Coaching. She then worked as a career advisor for the Australian Institute of Fitness, Amy then went on to embark on a new journey, this time, one of motherhood. She has two children aged 10 & 13 and over the past 13 years has concurrently immersed herself in a swathe of personal development programs including the Landmark Forum Curriculum, Brendan Burchard’s High Performance Coaching Program, Vipassana Meditation Training and her various Yoga Teacher trainings including Yoga Therapy & Yoga for Schools. She has a natural love for children and extensive experience with youth from many walks of life, having held various volunteer positions mentoring children & young people, including one as a 'Pyjama Angel' for the Pyjama Foundation - an organisation dedicated to improve the lives and outcomes of children in foster care. She is also currently developing a mindfulness & movement program for the Youth Justice Centre in Bowen Hills, for the successful transition of adolescents back into mainstream schooling after experiencing difficulty in the youth justice system.

Amy combines her passions of physical fitness & movement, mental well being, performance art and personal development to create dynamic & interactive programs, designed to educate children & adolescents and their teachers & caregivers, and to help the individual realise both their potential and personal power.