After the mindfulness practice appeared in several English classes last year, the concept has returned this semester to expose more students to mindfulness.

All freshmen English classes are participating in eight-week training sessions led by representatives from Mindfulness INC.

In class, students participate in breathing and calming exercises and leaders hold discussions about mindfulness. These sessions aim to help students take a relaxing break during their school day, principal Alan Goodwin said.

“Our society has many elements of stress so to be able to take quiet moments to settle in and reflect and relax is really important,” he said.

Due to the monetary costs associated with the mindfulness project, only freshman are participating in the training this semester. The school can’t do a lot at one time, Goodwin said, but other grades will be included second semester.

In addition to training sessions in school, parent sessions will be held throughout the school year.

During one session in English teacher Elon Walters’ fourth period, the instructor Garrett Strang asked if anyone had used mindfulness in their daily lives. Two freshmen in the training responded that they had, and that the practice had helped them feel better and more energized.

“If you do it on your own you really will start finding a change in your life,” Strang said.

But since the training takes time from the class period, not all students find benefits in the training.

“To me it just seems like a waste of time, because you just think about all the homework you have and all the things you have to do,” freshman Katia Goldberg said.

Although mindfulness is not for everyone, Strang emphasized that there is no effort or expectations.

A survey done last year related to mindfulness indicated a positive reaction, Goodwin said. The positive feedback indicates that mindfulness will continue being used throughout the school year.