I learned about the benefits of meditation many years ago. When I was a child, I would watch a yoga class (on PBS, I think) that always ended with a short meditation. This experience impacted me. I wanted to create a consistent practice for many years, and I eventually made it happen. But as time has passed, I’ve fallen away from it, and I think it’s time to return.
One of my latest inspirations for this is my eight-year-old grandson, Jameson. (It’s still hard to believe he’s eight already.) He learned (much earlier than I did) the benefits of a consistent meditation practice. His bedtime ritual includes Belly Breathing to relieve stress and quiet his mind. He follows a video on YouTube that teaches children this technique. I’ve done it several times with him, and I always walk away feeling better, too.
Another effective practice to use with children is a simple body scan. We begin by focusing on different parts of the body. I usually start at the feet and move up. We say, “Goodnight feet, goodnight knees, goodnight legs, etc. When we reach the head, we end with a “goodnight body,” and the tension melts away. One of my favorite memories of Charlotte was during one of these sessions. When we had completed the scan, there was a moment of silence, and then she said, “Goodnight, Butt,” then squealed and giggled. (Now, we always end with a “Goodnight Butt.”)
Meditation has many forms and has been an effective “self-help” tool for centuries. Even modern medicine recognizes the benefits of consistent practice. If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend beginning with the simple practice of Belly Breathing. And there is no better time to start than now, as we are all immersed in the chaos of the holidays.