Pause and Purpose

Over 50% of students are now learning remotely, leading to less movement, practice of language, and human connection. We don't yet know the lasting mental health effects of the pandemic on our children, parents, and teachers, but a proactive approach is the only way forward.

Pause + Purpose can equip our school communities with

• An outlet to examine the big picture and individual purpose in a secular way
• Science-backed mental health techniques that encourage confidence and kindness
• A weekly self-care check-in
• A greater sense of connection and community
• A platform for parent involvement in the mental health of themselves and their children
• Increased accountability to keep going
• Meditation that can be practiced without apps and distraction

Pause + Purpose is a new business, founded during the pandemic in Wilton, Connecticut, that sells easy-to-use mindfulness training resources for even the most inexperienced facilitators to expand their offerings. It is currently the only mindfulness program that can take place anywhere, can be used completely offline, and actively cultivates strong social relationships.

It is built on the idea that mindfulness training should be accessible and unintimidating to all. Our aim is to carve out local communities, all under the umbrella of the Pause + Purpose brand, so that we might be there to provide support and continued education. Our mindfulness gatherings are meant to build community through interactive, in-person, or live video chat sessions. Our goal is to provide an alternative to meditation apps or in-person silent practices which can often feel intimidating, confusing, and isolating.

Our resources come in the form of printable guides and meditation audios. They were developed by psychotherapists, renowned mindfulness writers, practiced yogis, and social workers who specialize in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and various forms of meditation and movement. By the end of 2020, we’ve released six mindfulness series by authors who have been featured in the Harvard Business Review, Huffington Post, Yahoo!, Shape, and more. Go to pauseandpurpose.com/guides-plp to learn more about our current guides and authors.

In November 2020, the founder of Pause + Purpose was talking with two friends—one a school district leader specializing in special education, and the other a Department of Education data scientist. She learned that

• The Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that parent and child well-being have taken a serious hit during the pandemic and independent studies have shown that educators’ well-being has been harmed as well.
• According to the CDC, children’s mental health during public health emergencies can have both short and long term consequences to their overall health and well-being.
• Some schools are not setup to handle a mental health challenge of this magnitude.

So together, the three friends decided to use their expertise and the Pause + Purpose format to begin developing a school mindfulness program that could be piloted at select schools in April of 2021.

What makes Pause + Purpose school mindfulness different?

Our aim is to become the first school mindfulness program that actively cultivates strong social relationships and community support by putting student leaders in charge of facilitating the program. We will also be the first program that continues for students long after school is over.

Gathering and lifting each other up is the cornerstone of our business culture.  We believe the people who write and take part in our gatherings are what make them so special. Aside from the warm feelings we get sharing our experiences, there is research to suggest that having a mindful tribe to share life's ups and downs increases well-being. A recent study put individuals together to meditate and share their feelings and body sensations with different participants each week. The majority rated the interactive portions of the session higher than the solitary practice. Results showed that participating in the discussion increased feelings of closeness and increased willingness to share with others over time. Significantly, several other studies have shown a positive correlation between strong social relationships and improved health as we age.

The School Pilot Program

• Advisor Handbook
• A beautifully designed, beginner-friendly, 8-week meditation and discussion script tailored to middle schoolers
• A Casel-based program
• All the meditation audios for in-school and/or at-home practice
• Pre- and post-assessments focusing to measure impact
• Personalized setup and support
• Monthly Zoom check-ins

Why Crowdfunding?

In light of the costs that school districts have had to endure to acclimate to the pandemic, we have decided to fund the pilot program for three local schools for an entire year using this campaign. For one year, schools will have free access to all resources and support while we collect data, troubleshoot, and measure the impact of the program. We are beginning with the Guilford School District in Guilford, CT.

How you can support us

1. Contribute what you can! Your contribution will pay for the expert writers, voice artists, graphic designers, and printers that go into making our teaching resources. 

2. Sign up for our newsletter to keep up-to-date with new events and offerings and receive a free facilitator's handbook so you can see what we’re about and do the work alongside this amazing community.

3. Share our campaign on social media. You can find us on Instagram at @pauseandpurpose

Beyond this campaign, we’re searching for partners and sponsors to continue to work with. Please email us at [email protected] if you're interested in collaborating!

Our impact so far

Since launching in March, 2020, we've partnered with yoga studios including the Well Center and Rebel Yoga in New York and CT Power Yoga in Connecticut to bring our series to their populations. The personal growth that has followed has been meaningful--

“It has been life-changing. My local mom friends and I are participating in a bedtime weekly meditation and discussion. I find peace and relaxation. Clarity too. It eases the stress and my bond with these women is stronger because of it.”

-Ashley

I’d been craving a little Pause + Purpose in my life and was so grateful to be a part of a meditation last week. The experience was such a positive one. The meditation was well written and was very accessible, not intimidating in the least. It felt great to be a part of a like minded, supportive group. After the meditation I really found it beneficial for us to be able to share our experiences. The discussion afterwards deepened my perspective as an individual on what the meditation opened up for me personally, but also really fostered a feeling of trust and connection with the community of women that were a part of it.

-Courtney

An incredible way to connect with your mind and body. Thank you, Pause and Purpose for introducing me to guided meditation! In the past, if you asked me about “meditating”, I would have imagined myself sitting in silence trying to relax; an idea that felt more stressful than restorative. But with P+P, you are lead through a well-crafted, guided mediation, helping to clear away unnecessary thoughts so you can focus on those that truly matter.

 -Brittany

“I meditate on my own but there’s something magical when people are together. The vibration is elevated, hence my love of concerts. I’ve been alone for so long that being with someone else in the same space physically is healing since we are social beings.”

-Julie

“Since doing this, I was like, actually I really like meditating. Now I’ll do it randomly throughout the day. What’s different about this is the camaraderie of being able to talk about how you’re feeling… working through things and feeling like you’re not alone in a lot of scenarios.”

-Amanda

About our Founder, Emily Vartanian-Tuttle

Emily is a publication designer, photographer, and entrepreneur with 4 years of experience supporting non-profits in the mental health industry and 5 years of experience in business growth strategy. Her passions include normalizing self-care routines, especially for caregivers, and using her voice to bring communities together through practicing mindfulness. Emily graduated from the Drexel University accelerated MBA program. The companies she's founded, Pause + Purpose as well as her photography studio, have been featured in Real Simple, Yahoo!, the Hour, Shape Magazine, The Venue Report, Brides, and more.

The Pause + Purpose School Mindfulness Board

Our board is integral to the success of this project, bringing years of experience in school culture and impact measurement. We feel so blessed to have their leadership.

The Pause + Purpose Team

Emily Vartanian-Tuttle, CEO and Founder

Jeremy Tuttle, CFO

Patti Murphy, Designer

Nicholas Kramer, Digital Designer

Mariya Ginzburg, Social Strategist

Peyton Matik, Communications Intern

Yael Shy, Mindfulness Expert

Merritt Juliano, Mindfulness Expert

Sherile Turner, Mindfulness Expert

Sara-Mai Conway, Mindfulness Expert

Aimee Elsner, Mindfulness Expert

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Thank you for helping us grow!