Secular mindfulness was pioneered by Jon Kabat-Zinn who began using contemplative practices to treat patients with chronic pain at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in the early 1970s.  Today, with so many advances in neurobiological research, we are beginning to see measurable effects of mindfulness practices on attention, memory, concentration, emotional regulation and stress reduction.  Currently, even the youngest students contend with active schedules and demanding academic loads.  Mindfulness training gives children the ability to decode their feelings, manage their stress and build skills to improve attention and focus.