Since Pause Breathe Smile began, one question has guided our approach to training:
What do teachers need to confidently and sustainably bring mindfulness into their classrooms?
The answer has evolved—not because Pause Breathe Smile has changed, but because school life has.
A brief look back
Before the Pause Breathe Smile Charitable Trust was established in 2020, the Mindfulness Education Group started training teachers across four in-person days. This time commitment was gradually reduced while simultaneously, online resource support increased. Later during Covid-19, when schools were locked down for extended periods in 2021, training across four live Zoom sessions proved to be a pragmatic response. Each version worked for its time, reflecting what schools could realistically manage.
Recently, one message has become clear: teachers’ time is tighter than ever.
A new pathway
To support teachers in 2026, we’ve created a flexible training option that keeps the integrity of Pause Breathe Smile while fitting busy schedules.
- Doable timing: A single 90-minut[GR1] e live online “Ignition” session introduces core practices and principles— meaning no full-day release needed. We offer this after-school hours to make it even easier to fit in.
- Ongoing access: Nine short lesson-specific videos and a full suite of resources can be accessed anytime, helping educators revisit content and refresh their knowledge before teaching each Pause Breathe Smile lesson.
- Connection matters: The live session still allows teachers to experience the practices, ask questions, and connect with other educators as well as our expert mindfulness facilitators.
The heart of Pause Breathe Smile stays the same: evidence-based, grounded in wellbeing, designed for Aotearoa schools, easy-to-implement, and supportive of both teachers and students.
This new pathway isn’t about reducing content. It’s about removing barriers so more teachers can confidently use Pause Breathe Smile in their classrooms.
Meeting teachers where they are
Pause Breathe Smile has always adapted to what schools and learners need. Sometimes, pausing and breathing means changing how we learn. This is one of those times.