Johnny Sexton: 'I didn't hear of mindfulness until I was in my late 20s'

As new research shows children are not exercising as much as they should and many experience anxiety, Johnny Sexton chats about the helpful habits families can form to tackle these issues

Johnny Sexton at St. Benedict’s and St. Mary’s national school in Raheny, where the first episode of Laya Super Troopers TV was aired. Pictures: Alan Rowlette

Rugby legend Johnny Sexton says mindfulness has helped him on and off the pitch and it is a skill he wants to see more children learn. It was former Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt that introduced it to Sexton, as well as the importance of building habits.

“I never heard of mindfulness until I was 27 or 28. It was Joe Schmidt that brought to our attention,” he tells me from St Benedict’s and St Mary’s national school in Raheny, where children received an exclusive screening of a new series he is involved in.