Heart to Heart

Introduction

• Bring students into a circle, either seated in chairs or on the floor.
• Ask them to sit in mindful bodies (quiet and still, with their eyes closed or looking down), and to take a few full breaths into their bellies.
• Ask the students to place their hands on their hearts, and to notice their breath at their heart area.
• Have them slowly open their eyes after 1–2 minutes of mindful breathing.
• Ask, "How do you feel? What do you notice?"
• Ask the students to share some things that sometimes create unhappiness and disconnections between each other.
• Ask students to describe what helps bring the class closer together, so that they can strengthen friendships and work as a team.
• Explain to the class that heartfulness is another way we can share kindness and care for others.
• Ask, "Does anyone want to share what they think heartfulness is?" Then share the definition of heartfulness with the class: Sending kind thoughts and messages to others in our mind, as we hold our attention on our heart.
• Invite the students to turn to a partner sitting next to them.
• Ask each partner to share a challenge they have had in the day.
• Then, ask partners to share the things they appreciate and are grateful for with each other.
• Afterwards, ask partners to face each other and guide them through a heartfulness practice session, in which they will send kind wishes to each other.
• Ask the students to sit in mindful bodies again, and to close their eyes or look down.
• Have them place their hands on their hearts and to notice their breath at their chest.
• Ask them to think of their partner and what they appreciate about them, such as their smile, kindness, sense of humor, etc.
• Guide the class to send kind wishes to their partner by saying the following sentences in their minds: "May you be happy...(Pause.) May you feel appreciated...(Pause.) May you be healthy...(Pause.) May you feel peace...(Pause.)"
• Now, ask one student from each pair to say these sentences out loud to their partner: "May you be happy...(Pause.) May you feel loved...(Pause.) May you be healthy...(Pause.) May you feel peace...(Pause.)"
• Ask the students to notice how they feel after giving or receiving kind wishes.
• Switch partners, so that the one who previously sent heartfulness is now the receiver, and the previous receiver is now sending messages.
• Repeat the heartfulness practice by having the students say the same phrases to their partners, first in their minds, then out loud.
• Ask the students to notice how they feel after giving or receiving kind wishes.
• After the heartfulness exercise, explain to the class that this practice is not always easy and that it may have felt a little funny. However, it can get easier over time and with practice.
• Thank the class for their attention and the care that they have given to each other.