Embodied teaching and learning : exploring the mindfulness-nature-wellbeing connection

This mindfulness workshop will explore the interconnectedness between humans, nature, and wellbeing. We will begin this experiential workshop with a short and accessible mindfulness exercise focused on bringing our awareness back to nature. This exercise will serve as both a stimulus and provocation to discuss the concept of mindfulness, as well as steps and approaches for introducing mindfulness practices into educational settings. A selection of pre-workshop readings will focus on emerging evidence-based research on the mindfulness-nature-wellbeing nexus, as well as practitioner resources. This practitioner workshop will be facilitated by Dr Son Truong, a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (www.nctrc.org), internationally Registered Yoga Teacher (www.yogaalliance.org), and lecturer and early career researcher in Health and Physical Education (School of Education and Centre for Educational Research, Western Sydney University). One of the central aims of the workshop is to mutually generate and exchange ideas with participants on ways to integrate mindfulness into our teaching and learning. In particular, the workshop is intended to generate further dialogue beyond the short session that examines the call to reconsider cross-curricular pathways between Outdoor Education, Health and Physical Education, and Education for Sustainability