Inner Space Journey to Help a Child Relax

Jun 09, 2017

Is space the final frontier or is our inner world the last thing that we humans have to explore? We live with it all our lives, but the body is often ignored and neglected.

Body awareness is a vital component of wellbeing.  Dr. Edmund Jacobson, founder of a technique known as progressive relaxation said, “An anxious mind cannot exist in a relaxed body.”

A “body scan” is an effective way to improve both body awareness and relaxation. This technique involves bringing one’s attention to each area of the body, simply to notice what is true. With children, we want to make it fun and engaging so we go on an inner space adventure. 

 Instead of an astronaut exploring outer space, children become “inner nauts”, exploring inner space. Begin the practice by lying on a mat or pad on the floor. Get comfortable. First, feel the breath and choose to release tension in the body and the mind with each exhalation. 

 Then, imagine getting into a cool, high-tech spaceship that has been custom built for you.  The seat and the controls are molded to fit you perfectly and in this space ship you feel very comfortable and relaxed.  Feel your breath. With each exhalation, you and your spaceship become smaller and smaller and smaller…until you are as tiny as a speck of dust.  On the next inhalation, you breathe yourself in your spaceship into your nose.  You are now inside your body and you explore each area of your body with great interest and attention.

 Guide a child to explore the details of the face and head, down into the neck and then into each arm…and finger…before traveling around in all the organs of the torso.  The adventure continues down the legs and into the farthest reaches of the pinkie toes.  Invite the child to notice everything – sensations, colors, images.  Notice if an area of the body feels dark, crowded, quiet, busy, spacious…what else?  Investigate with a sense of curiosity and friendliness.

Once a child has completed his inner space journey, he can record his field notes by drawing or writing about the sensations experienced on the journey.

I’ve worked with children who had little to report after our first inner space journey.  Done consistently over time, they became more aware of their internal experience.  This can help a child be more aware of what’s happening within, relax more and feel more confident.  It’s one small step for a child, and one giant leap for the wellbeing of mankind.

This is one of many techniques in the practice of Yoga Nidra for Children.  If you are interested in learning more, check out our eCourse.