Today is Mindfulness Day - here's a new tool

Southern Cross has teamed up with Sir Ashley Bloomfield and Pause Breathe Smile to remind everyone of the importance of good mind health. The trio released a new online mindfulness practice available free to all New Zealanders via the Pause Breathe Smile mindfulness app and website.

Sir Ashley says, “Practising mindfulness helps people to be resilient, and resilient people know what their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual boundaries are, and take active steps to protect these. Over recent years I personally have seen the benefits of mindfulness within my own whānau, and I have also started practising it myself.

Sir Ashley is the mind health ambassador for Pause Breathe Smile, a programme fully funded by Southern Cross Healthcare for tamariki aged 5 to 12 years old. The programme is delivered in schools by teachers across Aotearoa.

“I am passionate about Pause Breathe Smile, a homegrown New Zealand programme for our tamariki which has been shown through research to drive more positive behaviours and to help children regulate emotions, pay attention, and build positive relationships.”

Pause Breathe Smile co-creator Grant Rix says since joining forces with Southern Cross in 2020, 150,000 students and over 500 schools have been taught valuable skills to help navigate life’s challenges.