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.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝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,害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淲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,害羞草研究所� 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 Wade害羞草研究所檚 help, she found meditating highly effective for her mental health.

害羞草研究所淚 suffered from anxiety and depression and I害羞草研究所檝e reached out to him more than a few times,害羞草研究所� saidParry.

The guided meditations have also calmed her before a test.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a sacred place for us to quiet our minds,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淲e feel blessed to be in his presence.害羞草研究所�

Thanks to Wade, Parry practices her own meditations.

害羞草研究所淚 was looking for an easy and gentle way to bring it into the classroom. It害羞草研究所檚 interesting if I miss a day害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檒l be the students who will remind me,害羞草研究所� said Wade.

He has been doing his own meditations for 20 years and said it doesn害羞草研究所檛 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.

害羞草研究所淟ook around the classroom and identify five things in your mind that you can see,害羞草研究所� he says to start the class by defining mindfulness.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 about the health benefits. Just a few minutes can provide a significant stress reduction,害羞草研究所� he said.

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