Sir Ashley Bloomfield launches a new mindfulness practice

On the back of its latest Healthy Futures survey showing that 60% of parents in New Zealand are concerned about their children’s ability to cope with the pressures of life, 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.

“This Mindfulness Day on 12 September I invite New Zealanders to try out the new Kindness Across the Motu practice that I’ve recorded. It’s a mindfulness recording available on the Pause Breathe Smile app, which can be downloaded free from most app stores.”

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.

Like any good public health intervention, Sir Ashley says Pause Breathe Smile has benefits not only for tamariki, but for their whānau, school and wider community.

“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.

“Thanks to the support of Southern Cross Healthcare, Pause Breathe Smile is available to kura, primary or intermediate schools, and they can take part for free in this proven mindfulness programme. Students can develop resilience, increase self-awareness, and improve overall happiness so they can be more resilient, positive, and ready to face challenging situations in their own lives. We’ve also seen an uplift in the wellbeing of teachers who deliver the programme.”

Mindfulness Day is an emerging annual event, to raise awareness about the benefits of practising mindfulness - a mind skill developed through keeping your attention and thinking in the present in a moment.

“Southern Cross Healthcare is proud to fund the Pause Breathe Smile programme for tamariki in Aotearoa and to support the launch of the kindness practice to support the mental wellbeing of New Zealanders this Mindfulness Day,” Southern Cross Healthcare Chief Executive Officer Chris White says.

“Our purpose at Southern Cross is to help New Zealanders access more healthier years, and mind health is a key component of overall health.”

You can access the new Kindness Across the Motu mindfulness practice here.