Meditation for children / students
2 views
Skip to first unread message
Leo
Sep 12, 2012, 10:07:24 PM9/12/12
to Fuller Life.in
Dear Friends,
I believe sincerely that introducing meditation to children in schools
will yield great results not just in the academics but also in
building children to be strong, emotionally balanced, focussed
individuals with a global mindset; so seriously needed in today's
world torn by strife, materialism, one up-manship, and divisions
developed by fanatics.
I can across this article by Swami Shankardev Saraswati, a Ph. D who
is a medical doctor, author, psychotherapist and travels around the
world giving lectures to the Academic community. Please give it an
unbiased read.
You have one life, live it to the full; the Fuller LIfe.
Love
Leo D'Mello
***********************************************************
Teaching meditation to children
Introducing children to yoga, meditation, and spirituality is one of
the greatest gifts we can give them. It can set their future on a
nourishing and creative course. As teachers, we need to know how to
present this knowledge so that children of different ages will receive
the most benefit from it.
By Swami Shankardev Saraswati, Ph.D.
When we teach meditation to children, we need to choose age-
appropriate techniques that foster their total growth and development.
The word "meditation" is an English term for a wide range of practices
and techniques. Meditations for children cannot be the same as those
taught to middle-aged business people or spiritual aspirants seeking
higher knowledge. Rather, in this context, meditation is a process
that supports the growth of the body-mind of the child, fosters the
development of each child's own unique personality, and supports
creativity and expression.
Meditation techniques for children can help them relax and focus
better during school, so that they can concentrate and memorize more
effectively. From the spiritual perspective, good meditation
techniques teach children self-awareness, encourage them to be
themselves, and help them face life with greater belief in their
potential.
There are three broad age groups that we need to consider when
teaching yoga to children: those below the age of eight years,
children between the age of eight and puberty, and post-pubertal
teens.
Meditation for Children Below Eight Years
From the point of view of yogic physiology, children below age eight
do not need much formal meditation training. It is more important for
these children that their parents learn yoga and meditation and carry
yogic principles into their homes. Children absorb the energy of the
environment. If their parents practice some form of self-development,
their children will grow up in a healthier, more relaxed and aware
environment.
Parents need to practice meditation techniques that increase their own
capacity for awareness in the midst of their busy lives, so that they
can be more present and available to their children. The child needs
to know that a parent is really interested in them, is really
listening to and attending to them. At the same time, parents need to
learn how to allow children to be themselves and to foster each
child's own unique being and abilities.
One meditation technique can be used with children in this age group,
however. A modified practice of yoga nidra is a deep relaxation
practice in the Corpse Pose (Savasana). In this practice we cannot ask
the children to feel individual parts of the body, but rather we work
with awareness of larger parts. For example, we may playfully instruct
the child in body awareness by saying, "Feel that you are a statute
until I count to 10. Now bend your elbows and now straighten your
arms." We give similar instructions with the legs and may ask them to
wiggle their toes, and so on. This takes their awareness through the
body.
Once children have developed a little body awareness, we can teach
them to listen to and follow outside sounds, or to visualize imaginary
realms, or we can read stories that stimulate their imaginations.
Meditation for Children From Eight to Puberty
By the age of eight, a child's fundamental personality has formed and
his or her body begins a process of preparing for puberty. Changes
begin to occur in children's brains around the age of eight, and these
changes reach a peak during puberty. When we teach meditation to this
age group, our main aim is to support balanced physical and mental
development. This helps the child be better mentally prepared for the
onslaught of feelings, desires, and urges that arise during puberty.
It also supports the child's ability to take in knowledge at school,
and to develop a relaxed focus and good memory.
Eight-year-olds in India learn three practices to foster total
physical, mental, and spiritual development. These are Sun Salutation
for the body, alternate nostril breathing for the brain and mind, and
mantras for the deeper mind and spirit. These practices can slow the
onset of puberty and balance its effects by acting on the subtle
channels that flow in the spine. Mental development then has time to
catch up to physical changes.
Yogic physiology explains how this occurs. A child's physical changes
during puberty are under the control of pingala nadi, the spinal
channel that carries prana, the life force. Mental development occurs
under the control of ida nadi, the spinal channel that carries
psychological force. Excessive stimulation of the physical channel
alone, as tends to occur in the normal social environment, causes
imbalanced development and can make puberty a rough process. The yogic
practices taught children at this time stimulate both channels
equally, to stimulate physical and mental growth at the same time.
The practice of Sun Salutation balances the life force, prana,
preventing it from becoming jammed up in the sexual centers
(swadhisthana chakra). One note of caution is to teach children only
asanas that are playful and that do not put too much pressure on the
endocrine system. Never hold the major poses for extended periods, as
they will overstimulate the physical systems and can cause imbalanced
development.
Alternate nostril breathing is a pre-meditative practice that balances
the flow of energy in both ida and pingala. This pranayama directly
affects the physical and mental systems by balancing both sides of the
brain. Do not teach breath retention to children. Simply get them to
observe the flow of the breath in on one side and out on the other,
alternating sides. This will calm and balance them.
Mantras are the main meditative practices taught to this age group, as
they powerfully affect the brain and its development. The main mantra
taught is the Gayatri mantra. This mantra has 24 syllables, each of
which stimulates a different part of the brain. Gayatri is the mantra
to stimulate our intelligence.
All of the practices listed above, including yoga nidra as detailed
for younger children, will support a child's ability to learn, to take
in and digest information at school, and to develop individual
interests.
Post-Puberty
Our students in the post-pubertal stage of adolescence can engage in
more classical forms of meditation. We can teach them techniques that
further support their mental development, for example, so that they
can stay relaxed and able to concentrate during these most important
learning years.
Again, one of the best practices to teach is yoga nidra. This time we
can use the adult form, rotating the awareness through the body parts
and then taking awareness deeper into the breath and mind.
Visualization techniques are wonderful for this age group, and
techniques that develop memory and mental power are particularly
useful. For example, we can ask a child to visualize an imaginary
blackboard and ask them to see themselves writing the letters of the
alphabet on this board in colored chalk. Or in this day and age, to
visualize a computer screen and see themselves creating their own
computer game, following their hero through any story they want to
create.
Breath meditations are useful for helping students who are at home
studying. It is important for students to remain relaxed and
receptive, and to take regular productive and relaxing breaks from
study. They can, if they wish, use that time to mentally review their
work.
Dr. Swami Shankardev is a yogacharya, medical doctor, psychotherapist,
author, and lecturer. He lived and studied with his guru, Swami
Satyananda, for ten years in India (1974-1985). He lectures all over
the world.
I believe sincerely that introducing meditation to children in schools
will yield great results not just in the academics but also in
building children to be strong, emotionally balanced, focussed
individuals with a global mindset; so seriously needed in today's
world torn by strife, materialism, one up-manship, and divisions
developed by fanatics.
I can across this article by Swami Shankardev Saraswati, a Ph. D who
is a medical doctor, author, psychotherapist and travels around the
world giving lectures to the Academic community. Please give it an
unbiased read.
You have one life, live it to the full; the Fuller LIfe.
Love
Leo D'Mello
***********************************************************
Teaching meditation to children
Introducing children to yoga, meditation, and spirituality is one of
the greatest gifts we can give them. It can set their future on a
nourishing and creative course. As teachers, we need to know how to
present this knowledge so that children of different ages will receive
the most benefit from it.
By Swami Shankardev Saraswati, Ph.D.
When we teach meditation to children, we need to choose age-
appropriate techniques that foster their total growth and development.
The word "meditation" is an English term for a wide range of practices
and techniques. Meditations for children cannot be the same as those
taught to middle-aged business people or spiritual aspirants seeking
higher knowledge. Rather, in this context, meditation is a process
that supports the growth of the body-mind of the child, fosters the
development of each child's own unique personality, and supports
creativity and expression.
Meditation techniques for children can help them relax and focus
better during school, so that they can concentrate and memorize more
effectively. From the spiritual perspective, good meditation
techniques teach children self-awareness, encourage them to be
themselves, and help them face life with greater belief in their
potential.
There are three broad age groups that we need to consider when
teaching yoga to children: those below the age of eight years,
children between the age of eight and puberty, and post-pubertal
teens.
Meditation for Children Below Eight Years
From the point of view of yogic physiology, children below age eight
do not need much formal meditation training. It is more important for
these children that their parents learn yoga and meditation and carry
yogic principles into their homes. Children absorb the energy of the
environment. If their parents practice some form of self-development,
their children will grow up in a healthier, more relaxed and aware
environment.
Parents need to practice meditation techniques that increase their own
capacity for awareness in the midst of their busy lives, so that they
can be more present and available to their children. The child needs
to know that a parent is really interested in them, is really
listening to and attending to them. At the same time, parents need to
learn how to allow children to be themselves and to foster each
child's own unique being and abilities.
One meditation technique can be used with children in this age group,
however. A modified practice of yoga nidra is a deep relaxation
practice in the Corpse Pose (Savasana). In this practice we cannot ask
the children to feel individual parts of the body, but rather we work
with awareness of larger parts. For example, we may playfully instruct
the child in body awareness by saying, "Feel that you are a statute
until I count to 10. Now bend your elbows and now straighten your
arms." We give similar instructions with the legs and may ask them to
wiggle their toes, and so on. This takes their awareness through the
body.
Once children have developed a little body awareness, we can teach
them to listen to and follow outside sounds, or to visualize imaginary
realms, or we can read stories that stimulate their imaginations.
Meditation for Children From Eight to Puberty
By the age of eight, a child's fundamental personality has formed and
his or her body begins a process of preparing for puberty. Changes
begin to occur in children's brains around the age of eight, and these
changes reach a peak during puberty. When we teach meditation to this
age group, our main aim is to support balanced physical and mental
development. This helps the child be better mentally prepared for the
onslaught of feelings, desires, and urges that arise during puberty.
It also supports the child's ability to take in knowledge at school,
and to develop a relaxed focus and good memory.
Eight-year-olds in India learn three practices to foster total
physical, mental, and spiritual development. These are Sun Salutation
for the body, alternate nostril breathing for the brain and mind, and
mantras for the deeper mind and spirit. These practices can slow the
onset of puberty and balance its effects by acting on the subtle
channels that flow in the spine. Mental development then has time to
catch up to physical changes.
Yogic physiology explains how this occurs. A child's physical changes
during puberty are under the control of pingala nadi, the spinal
channel that carries prana, the life force. Mental development occurs
under the control of ida nadi, the spinal channel that carries
psychological force. Excessive stimulation of the physical channel
alone, as tends to occur in the normal social environment, causes
imbalanced development and can make puberty a rough process. The yogic
practices taught children at this time stimulate both channels
equally, to stimulate physical and mental growth at the same time.
The practice of Sun Salutation balances the life force, prana,
preventing it from becoming jammed up in the sexual centers
(swadhisthana chakra). One note of caution is to teach children only
asanas that are playful and that do not put too much pressure on the
endocrine system. Never hold the major poses for extended periods, as
they will overstimulate the physical systems and can cause imbalanced
development.
Alternate nostril breathing is a pre-meditative practice that balances
the flow of energy in both ida and pingala. This pranayama directly
affects the physical and mental systems by balancing both sides of the
brain. Do not teach breath retention to children. Simply get them to
observe the flow of the breath in on one side and out on the other,
alternating sides. This will calm and balance them.
Mantras are the main meditative practices taught to this age group, as
they powerfully affect the brain and its development. The main mantra
taught is the Gayatri mantra. This mantra has 24 syllables, each of
which stimulates a different part of the brain. Gayatri is the mantra
to stimulate our intelligence.
All of the practices listed above, including yoga nidra as detailed
for younger children, will support a child's ability to learn, to take
in and digest information at school, and to develop individual
interests.
Post-Puberty
Our students in the post-pubertal stage of adolescence can engage in
more classical forms of meditation. We can teach them techniques that
further support their mental development, for example, so that they
can stay relaxed and able to concentrate during these most important
learning years.
Again, one of the best practices to teach is yoga nidra. This time we
can use the adult form, rotating the awareness through the body parts
and then taking awareness deeper into the breath and mind.
Visualization techniques are wonderful for this age group, and
techniques that develop memory and mental power are particularly
useful. For example, we can ask a child to visualize an imaginary
blackboard and ask them to see themselves writing the letters of the
alphabet on this board in colored chalk. Or in this day and age, to
visualize a computer screen and see themselves creating their own
computer game, following their hero through any story they want to
create.
Breath meditations are useful for helping students who are at home
studying. It is important for students to remain relaxed and
receptive, and to take regular productive and relaxing breaks from
study. They can, if they wish, use that time to mentally review their
work.
Dr. Swami Shankardev is a yogacharya, medical doctor, psychotherapist,
author, and lecturer. He lived and studied with his guru, Swami
Satyananda, for ten years in India (1974-1985). He lectures all over
the world.
Luke Dmello
Feb 17, 2013, 2:49:04 AM2/17/13
to fulle...@googlegroups.com
i loved it but it mas big and the biggest joke is that i yet dint read
Luke D'mello
any problem
--
"You have one life, live it to the full" Leo D'Mello.
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Fuller Life.in" group.
To post to this group, send email to fulle...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to fuller-life...@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/fuller-life?hl=en-US.
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages