Our Story

Inner Explorer is the only audio-guided mindfulness program that is based on the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) protocol, which has nearly 40 years of rigorous scientific evaluation. Because the protocol follows a very specific pathway the same used by Inner Explorer. Inner Explorer is the only program that can point to 6,000 scientific studies demonstrating proof of efficiency.
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2011

Lifelong friends Janice Houlihan and Laura Bakosh founded Inner Explorer as a non-profit to bring daily mindfulness into the classroom.

2012

8-week research study demonstrated Inner Explorer's positive impact on 3rd grade students quarterly grades, behaviors and teacher stress reduction using valid research scales.

2013

Conducted Second (10 weeks) and Third (27 weeks) research studies on Inner Explorer's impact. Wisdom 2.0 Award recipient, funded by the 1440 Foundation. A Research study published on Inner Explorer's impact on elementary students' quarterly grades.

2015

Serving 6,600 students, programs expanded from Early Learning to 12th grade once program fidelity established. Moved from a hard-wired device to an online platform.

2016

International reach with the addition of Spanish speaking programs. Inner Explorer partnered with LG on their "Life's Good: Experience Happiness" initiative, providing 400 plus schools with the Inner Explorer program.

2017

CASEL Approved. Introduction of Mobile App Partnered with AETNA to bring Inner Explorer to 295,000 students in more than 300 schools.

2018

Serving more than 700,000 students 27,000 classrooms across the US and 14 other countries.

2019

Implemented first large district wide projects with 10- minute a day mindfulness practice built into the curriculum.

2020

Expanded from 5 full districts (every school) to nearly 30 full districts because the program is proven to attenuate stress and anxiety (more important than ever due to COVID-19.


CASE STUDY : Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District (FSUSD)

The daily practice of mindfulness through Inner Explorer really pays off for a California School District.

Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District (FSUSD) wanted to bring a mindfulness program into their schools to help students and teachers reduce stress and improve learning. They chose Inner Explorer for 14 schools in FSUSD. In addition to the academic and health benefits for students, teachers and staff, the financial benefits to the district were an incredible boost to the budget.

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