Mindfulness and yoga are trending topics. They pop up on education forums, social media, and the evening news. But what does mindfulness really mean? There are many definitions of mindfulness out there, but nearly all of them include two important elements: awareness and non-judgement.
Being mindful (a huge part of yoga) means drawing your awareness into the present moment and being observant of how you feel. It involves getting quiet and curious, so that you can notice what’s happening now without getting caught up in the past or future.
Why mindfulness & yoga is important for children
Children are our future!
And here at The Calm Club we have a dream: that ALL children grow up, understanding how to care for their mental, physical and emotional wellbeing.
Data from NHS Digital suggests that one in six children and young people has a probable mental health condition. And sadly, the number of children reporting these problems has gone up since the start of the pandemic.
So increasingly, children are feeling disconnected from themselves, dis-regulated by their environment and often unsure of ways to cope. This has a cascade of impacts on their lives both inside and outside of school, including struggling to focus, challenges in relationships, feeling physically unwell, and poor sleep.
How can yoga help?
The practices that we teach: yoga, mindfulness, games, breathing and relaxation are all aimed at giving children tools that they can use in their own time, responding to their needs.
Yoga can help children by:
1. Reestablish a connection to their body
By definition, yoga encourages a mindful and non-judgemental exploration of your body. Our practices encourage children to move slowly, so that they can experience sensations within them. As we know, the mind and the body work interchangeably and together. Feelings of wellbeing in our body, help us to feel more connected to our mind.
In addition, yoga poses are inherently soothing; for example, rock pose (pictured). A place for children to take a quiet moment, away from the outside world.
Try it: Rock pose.
2. Increased compassion
Yoga and mindfulness are personal practices, but their benefits are far reaching. Children and teens who learn mindfulness techniques become more self-aware, and consequently are more familiar with their thoughts and feelings. In turn, they report feelings of self-worth, changing the way they speak to themselves and this experience inevitably translates into their relationships in the outside world. This social awareness opens up the possibility for more understanding with friends, and an increased capacity for compassion.
Try it: Heart feeling.
Place your hand on your heart and feel it beating. Take 3 slow breaths and feel it again.
3. Feel calm in the face of stress and anxiety
Not all stress is a bad thing. But in large doses, stress becomes more and more difficult to manage, essentially putting our bodies into overdrive. Children are vulnerable to stress because of their lack of experience, and perspective to help them cope. Mindfulness & yoga teaches students to recognise their own physiological response to stress and anxiety, so when they feel their mind busy, or their stomach lurching, they can use a breathing technique or yoga pose to stay calm and collected.
Try it: Feeling breath.
Place your hands on your ribcage, gently hold your own body and feel your breath. This can also be practiced without using your hands, so it remains a 'secret'!
Work with us
So, our mission is simple. Introduce mindful, empowering techniques to children in schools, events, parties and classes so that they can live a life of adaptability, resilience, and focus, and that promote compassion, stress reduction, and calm
Schools, enquire here to bring mindfulness and yoga into your school day: https://www.thecalm-club.co.uk/schools
Parents, send us a message about a class or workshop, or see our events here: https://www.thecalm-club.co.uk/camps
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