Connect Mindfully.
Live Fully.
Inspiring positive, systemic change through mindfulness—in our own backyards and beyond
Reduce Stress
Learn techniques to manage and lower stress and burnout.
Gain Clarity
Improve your focus and bring intention to each day.
Strengthen Connections
Expand the skills that promote positive, healthy relationships.
Upcoming Events
"Mindfulness practice means that we commit fully in each moment to be present; inviting ourselves to interface with this moment in full awareness, with the intention to embody as best we can an orientation of calmness, mindfulness, and equanimity right here and right now."
- Jon Kabat-Zinn
Our Programs
Through our proprietary approach, Mindful Connections™, we offer essential, evidence-based mindfulness trainings designed to meet many needs—from individuals looking to deepen their practice, to educators, to public safety teams and others working in high-stress professions.
Individuals
Improve your personal wellness, find a meditation session, and join others in mindfulness practice.
Family & Communities
Trauma sensitive programs designed for pre-K educators, families, and those who support families.
Teams & Organizations
Designed to support wellness for educators, helping professionals, public safety, and other workplaces.
Research-Based Curricula
Inspired by mounting neuroscientific research that mindfulness training can reduce stress and increase well-being, we customize Mindful Connections™ programming for a range of audiences.
We work with educators, social workers, therapists, helping professionals and others in high-stress positions, with an emphasis on those under-represented in mindfulness circles. Awaken Pittsburgh’s curriculum reflects current protocols and methodologies. We also contribute to the growing body of mindfulness through comprehensive program research, evaluation, and reporting.
Who we Are
Live fully. Mindfulness in action. Putting powerful tools into the hands–and minds–of those most in need. These are the goals of Awaken Pittsburgh.
Awaken Pittsburgh is a secular organization that draws upon the wisdom of mindfulness and meditation to serve a broad public. Our programs serve social service, public safety and mental health professionals, educators, corporations, and any other individual or organization seeking to gain clarity, focus, renewal, and decrease stress.
“Our students have so much stress and trauma in their lives, so we want to make mindfulness a catalyst for their success. For me, I believe that every day, I’m mindful. Mindfulness brings a sense of reality about what I see and hear. It creates accountability and helps me reflect and make the best decisions. It helps me understand that I am a solution.”
Kevin
Co-Founder, Executive Director
1Nation Mentoring
“Learning these skills allowed me to notice more of what others are going through. It was a big eye-opener for me. In my job, it’s easy to yell. It’s harder to take a deep breath and see things through a different lens. Adding that “moment” or “pause”, even in my everyday life makes such a difference.”
Amy
Environmental Charter School
Recess Coordinator
“Mindfulness has given me a whole different perspective on self-care. I’m a lot more gentle with myself. I’ve also learned to slow moments down in the classroom; to put anxious moments into slow motion so I react in a much more relaxed and thoughtful way.”
Deirdre
Environmental Charter School
Environmental Literacy Teacher, 2nd and 3rd grade
“I still do the finger breathing and S.L.A.M.S.E. pose and I’m a lot better at controlling my anger. I’m also better at dealing with other people’s feelings. I used to think I could control somebody else but now I know I can’t. So if someone gets in my face, I just walk away.”
Kaniesha
Brashear High School
“The mindful techniques have helped me practice patience with my students and help them bring these skills into their own lives. They get angry and frustrated easily, and this helps them draw back and take a deep breath before reacting.”
Lauren
Woodland Hills School District
Special Education K-3
“I use mindfulness when I get upset. I take deep breaths and count to ten. I get stressed out at the beginning of the school year and this helps me get past that. Now I’m someone who has self-control and knows how to hold their seat.”
Arabo
Brashear High School
“I like the 7-11 inhale/exhale. It cools me off and brings me down, so I do it a lot. Like, if I’m trying to explain something and people don’t listen, I get overwhelmed. This helps me calm down. I also taught it to my grandma and it helps her too.”
Rickie
Brashear High School
“When I get mad at stuff, I know how to calm myself down. It’s like a quick learning process to just think back to mindfulness, relax, and then try to come up with a solution. If someone gets smart with me, I use it to keep from getting mad.”
Nayshawn
Brashear High School
“Meditation helps calm me down during a rowdy day. It helps me learn about myself and what triggers me so I can have conversations, not just get mad.”
Derrick
Brashear High School
"The Awaken Pittsburgh program for educators has made a tremendous impact in the lives of my students. Through utilizing mindfulness, my students are more focused, present, calmer, and seem to embrace new opportunities. This program has helped me to introduce a level of positive energy to my students which seemingly transcends the classroom into their daily lives."
Mirabai
Third Grade Teacher
Edgewood Primary
Ready To Get Started?
Get more information about how our mindfulness programs for individuals and groups can benefit you and your organization.
Mindfulness and meditation tips and insights for everyone from beginners to experienced practitioners
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Getting Started with Mindfulness: A Quick Guide for Beginners
Many people come to find mindfulness when they are experiencing a crisis in life. Grief, nonstop stress, the loss of a job, a new medical diagnosis…these are all common reasons why people think, “there must be a better way to get through the day.”
Mindfulness can help. Starting right now can help you lower anxiety, decrease your blood pressure, develop clearer thoughts, and regulate your mood.
Making mindfulness a practice every day, even when you have a good day, can help you manage the crisis of a bad day so much easier.
More Ways Mindfulness Can Help
Donations
Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your donation helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events.
Volunteering
Are you interested in supported our mission as a volunteer? We are always seeking new team members who are looking for a rewarding way to get involved with mindfulness, support Pittsburgh communities, learn new skills and have fun doing it!
Partnerships
Awaken partners with more than a dozen organizations in Western Pennsylvania to foster well-being and deliver mindfulness. Get in touch to explore how we can work together!
Awaken Pittsburgh fosters well-being, empathy, and compassion for all by teaching and encouraging mindfulness and meditation practices.
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5738 Forbes Ave,
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
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