Theo Koffler

Theo Koffler joins us to speak about Mindfulness Without Borders, a collaborative for teaching mindful awareness and social-emotional intelligence to educators, parents, students and healthcare providers.

How many of us have found remarkable value in the practice of mindfulness? It helps us be more aware, see things as they are, and make better decisions. But how many of us have had the benefit of formal education, say at the high school level, that’s taught us how to develop this invaluable skill?

Sadly, most of us come to this completely independent of our school system. If we learn it, it’s from books — which means no direct guidance from a teacher, or at the local Buddhist temple, which means having to participate in religious practices with which we may be uncomfortable. There are few resources for those who want to get an education in mindfulness, in a more formal way, for their children.

Toronto-born, Theo Koffler is founder and teacher of Mindfulness Without Borders, a collaborative for teaching mindful awareness and social-emotional intelligence to educators, parents, students and healthcare providers. In the late 1970’s, she together with her father and brother founded Super-Pharm Israel Ltd., Israel’s national drugstore chain. She developed Therapeutic Riding for the Disabled in Israel and in 2008 launched therapeutic riding for the disabled in Jericho, as an Israeli-Arab cross-border initiative. Mother of two children, writer, teacher and peace activist, Theo started on an online community, called Mindfulness Without Borders for those students from around the globe interested in sharing best practices on mindful living. She serves on the Board for The Hawn Foundation and Connecting For Change and is an advisor for the Inner Kids Foundation.

So, sit back, relax, and have a nice rose tea.

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Quotes

“The metaphor behind ‘between four eyes’ is that somewhere between your eyes and mine, there is a field of our common humanity, with respect for our differences, tolerance, understanding of multiple perspectives, that there’s a way for peace building between two people.” — Theo Koffler

Web Links

• Mindfulness Without Borders

 

Music for This Episode

Chikuzen Shakuhachi Series

The music heard in the middle of the podcast is from the Chikuzen Shakuhachi Series, Volume 1, courtesy of Tai Hei Shakuhachi. The tracks used in this episode are:

• Track 2 :: Shika no Tone