UPDATE (March 16) — In support of efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, we have postponed this class. Please sign up for our e-newsletter to receive updates on rescheduled classes. Learn more »

This six-week series provides an introduction to mindfulness meditation and mindful awareness practices. The series includes science and research on the mental and physical health benefits; guided instruction for sitting, standing, and walking meditation; and practices to be with painful emotions, challenging thoughts, and physical pain.

New research suggests that mindfulness can:

• reduce stress and create a sense of wellbeing,
• improve attention,
• boost immune system functioning,
• decrease anxiety, depression, and physical pain,
• and change the structure and functioning of the brain, including calming areas of emotional reactivity and increasing gray matter in areas of impulse control, judgment, memory, and learning.

The course series draws on the material provided in the UCLA Mindful Awareness Practices course.

Schedule

Tuesdays, March 24 – May 5 (no class April 14)
6:30–8 p.m.

About the Instructor

Dr. Michele Pola retired in 2014 with 35 years in the public and non-profit sector of education. She served as chief of staff for the Houston Independent School District, the nation’s seventh-largest district, from 2007 to 2014. Her dedication to public education began in the early 1980s as teacher and soon after as principal of River Oaks Elementary in Houston ISD.

Additionally, she served as executive director, associate director, and program director of the Houston A+ (Annenberg) Challenge from 1999 to 2007, Dr. Pola led reform efforts to build leadership capacity in central offices and at the school level.

Michele started her journey in 2007 into mindfulness initially through Yoga, and in 2017 became a certified Yoga Instructor with Yoga Alliance at Joy Yoga University. She became directly engaged with Mindfulness in 2014 by attending sessions with Dr. Ann Friedman of Mindful Being. She became a trained facilitator through Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC) of the Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Behavioral Medicine at UCLA. She serves as a facilitator for training with Dr. Friedman and as a consultant facilitating and coaching for balanced professional and personal improvement through life skills, strategic planning, and networking.

Education and outreach programs at Asia Society Texas Center are made possible through generous funding from the George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation. Additional support provided by the Friends of Education & Outreach at Asia Society Texas Center.

Presenting Partner