Michelle Bissanti, M.Ed.
Michelle has been an elementary educator and a yoga and meditation teacher in public and private schools for over 20 years. She holds a Masters in Elementary Education from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
In 1991 she taught through Teach for America in Los Angeles, California. Since then, she has been teaching in the Boston area. In 2018 she founded HeartSeed Wisdom Practices with a commitment to exploring creative, alternative ways to nurture, educate, and inspire the whole child. She draws from pedagogy and practices that honor the child as a constructor of knowledge and a capable, aware individual.
She is a certified Radiant Child Yoga Instructor, Levels 1-3, practicing yoga and meditation for over two decades, studying with Rahob Tulku (Thupten Kalsang Rinpoche), Geshe Sonam Gurung, and other eastern and western dharma teachers.
Michelle dedicates herself to developing authentic body and mind practices, drawn from Buddhist lineage traditions, that nurture the child’s connection to their true nature by integrating awareness of a sound body, a conscious mind, and a compassionate heart. In 2012 she traveled to Rahob Village in Eastern Tibet, and in 2014 to The Himalayan Children’s Home in Mustang, Nepal, to observe how these ancient cultures continue to guide and nurture their children’s physical and spiritual health. She presented her observations and work at conferences and professional development venues including, the Spirituality and the Whole Child conference outside of London, England, The Spiritual Core of the Whole Child conference at Teachers College, Columbia University, and The Wonder of Learning - Boston exhibit at Wheelock College.
Her intention and commitment are to honor and to support the development of strong, curious, aware individuals who move with compassion and kindness through this world.
Events, Collaboration, and Professional Development
Collaborative for Spirituality in Education - Teachers College, Columbia University
Michelle presented a workshop at The Next Wave in K-12 Education: The Spiritual Core of the Whole Child conference at Teachers College, Columbia University, November 2019. Her workshop was entitled Cultivating Consciousness and Compassion in our Children: Yoga and Meditation as a Pathway to a Child’s True Nature.
The Wonder of Learning/Boston at Wheelock College
www.wonderoflearningboston.org
Michelle is a sponsor of the Wonder of Learning/Boston, an exhibition, conference, and professional development series highlighting best practices in early childhood education. The exhibition highlights the pioneering Reggio Emilia Approach to early childhood education. Michelle lead a workshop entitled Stepping into The Wonder of Learning with Beginner’s Mind – The Practices of Yoga and Meditation and the Reggio Emilia Philosophy.
October 2018
International Association for Children’s Spirituality
www.childrenspirituality.org Michelle is a member of the International Association for Children's Spirituality.
Spirituality and the Whole Child Conference in Lincoln, England Michelle presented her work entitled Nurturing the Body, Mind, and Heart of Children Through the Practice of Yoga and Meditation, July 2016.
The Boston Center for Contemplative Practice • Newton Center, MA
www.thebccp.com
Michelle coordinates children’s programs, and is a co-creater of The Care Collaborative, a group of practitioners offering compassionate practices and services to the caregivers in our community.
Publications
Michelle Bissanti’s book entitled The Elephant Path: Attention Development and Training in Children and Adolescents co-authored with Daniel P. Brown, Ph.D. and Jae Pasari, Ph.D., published December 2019 is available on Amazon.
The book explains how ancient Indo Tibetan Buddhist practices can be adapted for children and adolescents in an educational setting. As our children negotiate a busy and demanding world that challenges their internal rhythm, this book introduces practices that foster the development of attention, concentration, metacognition, social-emotional skills, and compassion.