Over the last year we have been offering free mindfulness courses to local young people aged 14-21. These courses help young people to manage the stress and anxiety of everyday activities, to be happier and calmer in the moment and to enjoy life. By focusing on the here and now, many people who practice mindfulness find that they are less likely to get caught up in worries, are less preoccupied with concerns about success and are better able to reflect upon relationships with others.

Last Friday we held a Mindfulness Retreat Day with young people who had attended previous courses. This day helped them to learn how to take the tools that they had developed on the programme and implement them in everyday life.

This included:

• mindful meditation
• mindful walking
• photography
• painting
• writing
• reflection
• mindful colouring

We also had a communal picnic; a space and time when they were able to enjoy and share the food that they had created, in a relaxing and safe environment.

This provide a nourishing and calming experience where young people developed and explored together; helping them to feel more confident and relaxed in both their physical and emotional self.

The day was a huge success and thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended:

‘I loved today, it’s made understand Mindfulness more and want to do it again.’

‘I really enjoyed writing a future letter to myself.’

If you are aged 14-21 live in Tower Hamlets and would like to learn some techniques to help you cope with stress, anxiety and everyday life, we will be running the next sessions at the end of October.

Please feel free to contact Rebecca or Sarah at Step Forward for more details.

We look forward to hearing from you!