July 03, 2023
Te Henga host to mindfulness wananga
Auckland-based youth mental health charity The Kindness Institute is taking a group of rangatahi to Bethells Beach-Te Henga this week for a school holiday mindfulness workshop.
Te Aorangi-Kowhai Morini, who’s a tuakana or Māori mentor on the Atawhai programme, says the wanaga teaches mindfulness practices such yoga, meditation and breathing, as well as sports, arts and other activities.
She says there is lot about mindfulness that is innately Māori.
“Really we have so many practices we do like karakia and kapa haka and karanga, all these are mindful practices and I think it’s cool I was able to notice that and to implement those practices with the ragtatahi I teach now,” Ms Morini says.
The Kindness Institute is also teaming up with the Mental Health Foundation next month to make August Mindfulness Month.