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.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝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,含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淲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,含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檚 help, she found meditating highly effective for her mental health.

含羞草研究社淚 suffered from anxiety and depression and I含羞草研究社檝e reached out to him more than a few times,含羞草研究社� saidParry.

The guided meditations have also calmed her before a test.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 a sacred place for us to quiet our minds,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淲e feel blessed to be in his presence.含羞草研究社�

Thanks to Wade, Parry practices her own meditations.

含羞草研究社淚 was looking for an easy and gentle way to bring it into the classroom. It含羞草研究社檚 interesting if I miss a day含羞草研究社� it含羞草研究社檒l be the students who will remind me,含羞草研究社� said Wade.

He has been doing his own meditations for 20 years and said it doesn含羞草研究社檛 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.

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

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 about the health benefits. Just a few minutes can provide a significant stress reduction,含羞草研究社� he said.

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