There is so much going on all around us, all the time. Kids get bombarded with information on all sides from TV, school, friends, and more. It can be so overwhelming and it’s not always obvious if anything can or should be done to bring us a moment of peace.
And even on just a daily, personal level, kids have so much going on as they grow and develop. Making sense of emotions, growth spurts, negotiating friendships, managing school, the chaos of the holiday season. We all could use regular moments of chill.
Kids might beg to watch another show when they are bored or want to unwind from a busy day. Parents might grab a glass of wine or another drink in an attempt to destress. None of these are bad things necessarily, but let’s add some variation to our relaxation routines.
Yoga is more than just dramatic, twisty poses on a yoga mat. Yoga is a mindset, a moment of perspective, and a lifestyle if we really dedicate ourselves to our yoga practice.
Yoga can be small movements, subtle and focused. Sometimes when kids are tired, bored, overwhelmed, or shy, yoga can be more approachable through small movements. Also, small movements bring a different type of focus than large, sweeping ones. They help us be more attentive and enjoy the subtle effects and of meditation.
One of the simplest things I learned at my kids’ yoga training was the Peace Begins with Me mantra. It’s a way to combine hand movements with mantra and meditation.
But first, if your little yogis are not quite ready to sit and do the fine motor movements of this activity, you can help them burn off whatever anxiety or hyperactivity. Rewind back to the post from October 8th for some ideas of helping wound up kids to wind down.
And then...get them seated on a yoga mat, cushion, or chair and do the Peace Begins with Me mantra and meditation. Even if they just sit in silence for 10-15 seconds, it at least gives them a taste of the calm that comes with silent meditation. From there, you can work up to longer periods of time sitting in silence with eyes closed or open.
So the next time your little yogi(s) get(s) overwhelmed, stressed, or hyperactive, try to bring them back to this simple, profound truth: peace begins with each of us, within each of us, before it can go out into the world.
Jai!
Every Friday I’ll post ideas and inspiration for practicing yoga with kids and every Tuesday I’ll share a micropractice that helps busy moms (and dads and kids, and really anyone) to incorporate brief yoga practices into their day. Here’s the post to kick off this biweekly series that will last until the end of the year!