Mindfulness Taking Root

Jun 05, 2024

Do you know any kids who are overwhelmed? Stressed out? Can’t focus? Yes, me too. We could point to many possible causes but there’s one clear cure.

Mindfulness.

There are many ways to describe it and to practice it, but basically, it’s the process of befriending the mind.

Here’s how you could explain it to a child…

The first step to making a new friend is to be curious about them. Is this new friend of yours like a monkey? Always bouncing here and there, playing tricks, being clever, getting into trouble? Does this monkey also like to help you out, by picking the bugs off your back?

Or, is your new friend – this mind of yours you’re getting to know – more like a wild stallion? Strong and free. Fast and potentially dangerous when out of control.

Is your mind perhaps shy and when you turn your attention to it, you can’t really tell what’s going on?

Sitting still for a moment and beginning to notice the kind of thoughts your mind serves up is mindfulness. You watch. “Ah, there’s a thought about the past. Now, here’s a worry about tomorrow.” With practice, you’ll find you catch a thought and realize you’re about 3...or 300...thoughts away from the first one that popped up!

This is how the mind works. Isn’t it fascinating?

Once you get to know your mind’s habits, then you can start to direct it.

You rope the stallion, get a saddle on it and begin to ride. You pull the reigns of worry or negativity. “Whoa,” you say to your mind and soothe it with even breathing.

The breath is a wonderful tool for mindfulness. It’s always there with you. You can return to it any time, like a metronome that helps you stay in time with the orchestra of life. 

Now, why does this matter? Because the mind is a powerful tool. And just like a power tool in your garage, when you don’t know how to use it properly, it’s not going to do the job you want it to, and it may even be dangerous!

The root cause of many challenges kids face today can be resolved or lessened with a regular practice of mindfulness.

Sharing yoga with children is an incredible opportunity to do this.

If you’ve ever attended one of our workshops or trainings, you’ve heard me share that kids constantly tell me how much they like to meditate. As teachers, we just need the patience and the commitment to provide a safe container for it.

Ring a set of bells and challenge the children to sit still and quiet until you ring the bell again – 1, 2, or 5 minutes later.

Invite the children to watch their breath flowing in and out, notice when they’ve lost track of it and come right back, over and over for 1, 2, or 5 minutes.

Give the children a sound to repeat like “Om” or “Shanti, shanti, shanti” or “Sa Ta Na Ma” and then invite them to sit in the silence that follows for 1, 2, or 5 minutes.

Do it in every class. Do it any chance you get to sit with children – formally or casually. Do it while waiting for a meal in a restaurant, do it while waiting for a page to load, do it when your brother is irritating you again, instead of getting into a fight.

Introducing mindfulness to children will help them with their mental health for the rest of their lives. Yes, we love the games, partner poses and animal noises in kids' yoga classes, but the true gem is this gift of mental mastery.