Pollensa has declared itself a "mindful" municipality. Mayor Miquel Àngel March personally presented the "Pollensa mindful municipality" plan at the Sant Domingo Convent hall on Monday. There was also a workshop for teachers entitled "Mindfulness in the Classrooms".
The town hall believes that the use of mental concentration techniques enables a better relationship between thoughts and emotions through a deep understanding of how the mind works. Specifically, it is believed that stress, anxiety and emotions can be controlled and that this control improves concentration, develops emotional intelligence and enriches personal relationships. Over the last two years, the town hall explains, there have been 200 scientific investigations into the impact of mindfulness meditation in education.
Some 150 teachers, mostly women, took part in the workshop. Among its objectives were combating professional burnout syndrome and dealing with school issues, such as dropout, absenteeism, bullying and drug-taking. Leading the workshop was José Luis Reig, a clinical psychologist and researcher at the University of the Balearic Islands.