Presence of Mind: A Qualitative Study of Meditating Teachers

• In Event: 16.058 - Roundtable Session 6
  In Roundtable Session: 16.058-14 - Innovation in Practice

Abstract

This article presents the results of a study into the effects of meditation practice on the lives of professional educators, specifically educators who either began or continued such practice during coursework led by Professor Jack Miller at the University of Toronto. This study incorporates semi-structured interviews with twelve participants to track their current engagement with meditative practice. Respondents attest to the power of meditation to aid in reducing stress, increasing awareness of oneself and others, and promoting healthier interpersonal communication. These educator-practitioners also assert their belief in the power of regular meditation to help mitigate and improve their relationships with students, colleagues, and family members.

Authors

• Michele Irwin, University of Toronto

• Jack Miller, University of Toronto