The Energy of a Child How Yoga and Meditation, and Mindfulness can aid the children at your center
Laura A. Litchult Owner of Cradles to Crayons Childcare Center www.c2childcare.com B.A. - Infant and Child Psychology M.B.A. Information Technology Management RYT 200 Radiant Child Yoga Instructor RYT 200 Anusara Inspired Yoga Instructor Reiki Master Gemstone Healing / Aromatherapy EFT Practioner Level 1
In 2009... Failing Daycare 17 children enrolled capacity of 60 Changed the way daycare was run to a more positive environment Slowly changes over 2 years Staff training to new methods Enrollment currently 71 children Published information for Parents and potential customers. Parents signing because of our current offerings
Cradles to Crayons Childcare Cradles to Crayons Childcare Center encourages a child to mindfully be aware of who they are, fostering their growth physically, emotionally, and spiritually in a safe, nurturing environment Our center is based on the following daily practices Yoga, Meditation and Relaxation Daily Affirmations and Intentions Gemstone Bracelet Exercises Reiki for Employees Aromatherapy Daily Mirror Work Focusing on Mindfulness and Awareness Practices
Learning Objectives 1 in 4 children have issues with Anxiety (northjersey.com) Integration of Yoga into the classroom aids in peaceful transitions reducing anxiety Demonstrate yoga sequences that foster attentive, relaxed and ready to learn children Gemstone Meditation and mindfulness techniques cultivate self regulation, resilience, and self awareness Positive affirmations and intentions, mirror work increase self confidence Stress reduces your effectiveness as a care provider and the learning potential of students
Goal of the Classroom Keep Children Calm, Focused, and teach them how to relate to others Think Positive Thoughts, Affirmations, and Intentions Practice Yoga, Mindful Meditation, Relaxation and Breathing Practice Gemstone Bracelet Exercises for self confidence Aromatherapy Create Energy Circles cultivating empathy for others Through observations and positive results staff becomes accepting and participating
Terminology Energy Chakras Yoga, Meditation, and Relaxation Intentions and Affirmations Gemstones Reiki Aromatherapy How will this help reduce stress and foster a learning environment? How does this empower children?
What is meant by Energy? Energy is movement of atoms, Movement of atoms creates a vibration. Our entire world is energy that shows up in various patterns, densities, and vibrations Our thoughts and our feelings are connected to our physical bodies and have a density of their own. We are all built pretty much the same. We are all individuals, yet nature created patterns that work the same in all of us to keep our hearts beating, our blood flowing, and so on. When these patterns of energy work together in a balanced way then we experience EASE in our health. When these patterns are disrupted we experience DIS EASE or poor health. Balance is easy on us, and imbalances feel not at ease, or dis-eased. We distort this harmony with our lop-sided outlooks and behavior. Correcting this lop-sidedness one way or another is what healing is all about. Healing it in a natural way is much preferred. Law of Attraction states, you attract what you are. If you are stressed or anxious or are your surrounding and the people around you. Some examples of high vibration are music, dance, yoga, meditation and relaxation Being Open to healing is the key. Anything can heal us if we are open to suggestions. Receptivity is a necessity.
How Energy Works 2 Separate Energies 1 Positive 1 Negative Energy share Negative Energy feels charged and Positive person feels drained
What are Chakras? Chakra comes from the Sanskrit word for wheel or circle There are seven energy centers located in our bodies. Through these centers we transmit and receive physical, emotional and spiritual energy It is optimal to have all our chakras centered and balanced. Blocked energy can often lead to illness. It's important to understand what each Chakra represents and what we can do to keep this energy flowing freely. The number of Chakra Lotus petals indicate the vibration, frequency rate and the color of the energy fields
Seven Chakras Root - Foundation and feeling of being grounded. Sacral Chakra - Connection and ability to accept others and new experiences. Location: Throat. Emotional: Communication, self expression, truth Third Eye Chakra - Our ability to focus on and see the big picture. Location: Center of chest just above heart. Emotional: Love, joy peace Throat Chakra - Our ability to communicate. Location: Stomach area. Emotional: Self worth, confidence, esteem Heart Chakra - Our ability to love. Location: Lower abdomen. Emotional: Well being, pleasure Solar Plexus Chakra - Our ability to be confident and in-control of our lives. Location: Base of spine in tailbone area. Emotional: Survival Location: Forehead between the eyes. Emotional: intuition, imagination, decision making Crown Chakra - The highest Chakra represents our ability to be fully connected spiritually. Location: The very top of the head. Emotional: Inner and Outer beauty, connection to pure bliss Reference (Mindbodygreen.com)
Why focus on Chakras Little worlds require simplicity to understand. Questions we indirectly ask our children Do you feel safe? Do you feel happy with those around us? Do you feel happy with yourself? Do you feel love in your heart? Can you confidently speak what you feel? Can you understand whats going on around you? Can you feel the connection to yourself and to things around you?
Exercise Feeling Safe ANXIETY vs. Relief Walking down a street and hear sudden footsteps? Physiological You find out its your best friend How do you feel now?
What is Yoga, Meditation, & Relaxation? Yoga is a commonly known generic term for the physical, mental and spiritual practices or disciplines View to attain a state of permanent peace Some Define as Union with the Divine Stilling of the changing States of Minds Meditation refers to a broad variety of practices which promotes relaxation, building internal energy or life force Develop compassion, love, patience generosity and forgiveness. Breathing or Pranayama is an extension of the life force. Connect the body and the mind. It is also said to be the spirit of the soul
Why Yoga in the classroom? Yoga helps children CALM DOWN and FOCUS Promotes self discipline Exercises the body and helps physical coordination Helps with balance and coordination of right/left hemispheres of the brain Increases self confidence Encourages awareness of the spirit It's fun (very important from the child's view) Radiant Child Shakta Kaur Khalsa
Yoga Cards
Meditation Meditation reduces physical and emotional stress while aiding in the mind body connection Consciously control and direct attention so as to alter their states of consciousness. Still the mind emotions, and nervous system thus relieving day to day stress and bringing the physical body to a deep state of relaxation and rejuvenation Meditation can calm an inflamed body or an inflamed mood Balances a persons physical, emotional and mental states
Benefits of Meditation Physical Benefits Psychological Lower Heart Rate Decreases anxiety Lower levels of cortisol and epinephrine Decreases depression Decreases irritability and moodiness Decreases blood pressure Drop in Cholesterol Increased happiness Reduces nervous system activity, thus producing a calming effect Increased emotional stability Improved learning ability and memory
Types of Meditation Concentrative Focus on the breath, an image or a sound in order to quiet your mind. Narrow focus Mindfulness Opening attention and become aware of the sensations around you. Understand your feelings, thoughts, sounds, or smells without reacting or becoming involved. Wide Angle
Stone Meditation Ages 18 Months to 5 years
Exercise Concentrative Focus on the breath, an image or a sound in order to quiet your mind. Using Mindful bells Mindfulness Opening attention and become aware of the sensations around you. Understand your feelings, thoughts, sounds, or smells without reacting or becoming involved. Talk through a meditation at the beach
Positive Intention Setting Positive intentions are statements made about future occurances For example, I will have a joy-filled day or I will experience peace in my day. There are many benefits to setting positive intentions. Some benefits are increased motivation, optimism, and self-esteem. Visualize the outcome. Bring the children back to those intentions throughout the day. First morning exercise Children express gratitude and abundance of all aspects of life. Children transform fear and doubt to hope and possibility
Example Setting Intentions Before intentions are set, understand the importance of hand movements for visual learners I'm going to have the best day ever I'm going to keep myself safe, my friends safe, I'm going to listen to my teachers, Because I love myself, I accept myself, I am grateful For this day, for my moms and dads, brothers and sisters, grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles, pets, neighbors in my community, teachers and guides. Unconditional love out/healing Energy in Blow a kiss to the universe
Theory Behind Gemstones As human beings, our bodies are an incredible and complex masterpiece of nature s organization and balance. Gemstones radiate pure patterns and have stable structure, balance, wavelength and frequency and can bring us back into harmony. Each stone resonates with a slightly different pattern geometrically. These same geometric patterns reside in our systems, organs, etc. To hold a Rose Quartz up to our heart is to ask the structural patterns active in our subtle bodies to align themselves and operate effortlessly and with purity. Any unresolved heart issues will be challenged to break up, allowing us to let go of whatever is distorting our energies. One often experiences a flash of imagery around the past experience that initially caused the distortion.
Gemstone Healing Bracelets Gemstones bracelets are used with positive affirmations. Teacher explains the name of the Gemstones. Affirmation and area of the body targeted for positive intention or affirmation Children as a group repeat the name of the stone and affirmation and pass bracelet around, hold in their hand and repeat the affirmation. Awaken of heart awareness and body consciousness Bracelet is passed to children, held, and a positive affirmation is spoken aloud or silently. ex. Amethyst draws in divine energy, Gemstone Healing Bracelets aligns with the Chakra Centers Affirmation I feel love and protection around me Children Feel more Confident and Happy after holding bracelet, repeating affirmation and speaking as part of a group. I am not a teacher, but a facilitator to allow a safe environment for all types of feelings to occur
Gemstone Meditation Exercise Pick a Gemstone Bracelet Tell the children the name of the stone and the heart quality Pass the stone around and have the children repeat the positive affirmation Children are centered, focused, calm and confident after the exercise Children look forward to the exercise
What are Affirmations? Positive Statements written in the PRESENT tense. Build self confidence, resilience and happiness Use Positive wording when building an affirmation. Negative words have negative impacts. Use wording in the present tense as futuristic wording is limiting and the power of the words keeps you stuck. Example. I Will be rich one day or - Today I am rich and prosperous We act or vibrate to the statement already being true. My world is filled with wonder. I greet today with open eyes
The Peace Circle Place where feelings are allowed in their entirety Children are not stopped from having a feeling in the classroom. This helps with self regulation Remove child from classroom and take to feel safe area. Peace circle in classroom is a safe place for them to sit and go inside themselves to get back to a calm place Each child creates their own calming jar. Child is encouraged to focus on their breathing to calm themselves initially Choice Presented. Continue feeling or return to classroom. Positive Affirmation repeated before returning to class. I love and accept my feelings. I love experiencing new things. Child Returns when child is ready.
I am Happy/I am Good Radiant Child Yoga childrensyoga.com Repeat 3 times (loud, silently, softly) Teaches Children positive affirmations Teaches children concentration Tool used as a precursor for meditation Radiant Child yoga uses Brain Gym exercies (crossing Meridians to balance the brain)
Recommendation Environment Wind Chimes and Aromatherapy Yoga/Meditation/Relaxation for Calm and Centeredness Affirmations and Intentions Daily Gemstones Bracelets tactile tool Teachers Recognize Energy in self Recognize Word usage Understand Energy projection on Children Children Understand their feelings and actions and consequences Choice and invitation based learning
Outside Entrance Several Sets of wind chimes hanging from various locations on porch Create a series of overtones to help relax and center yourself before you get in the door. Different Octaves align your physical body as well as your subtle energies and the chakra systems. Different Chimes are based on full octaves relating to different states of consciousness and body posture. Chakra System/Note/Hz Root /C/ 256 Hz Sacral /D/ 288 Hz Solar Plexus /E/ 320 Hz Heart /F/ 341.3 Hz Throat /G/ 384 Hz Third Eye /A/ 426.7 Hz Crown /B/ 480 Hz
Elements of Inside Entrance Gemstones Gem Stones Hanging in the right corner of Entrance Stones for Grounding Energy Smokey Quartz Stones for Protection - Carnelian Stones for Confidence Citrine Stones for Unconditional Love Rose Quartz Stones for Repelling Negative Energy - Hematite Stones for Communication Kyanite Stones for Spiritual Awareness Amethyst Stones for Universal Oneness Clear Quartz
Aromatherapy Jasmine Lavender Used for inner peace, purification, meditation, protection against emotional/physical violence, health, spiritual love, understanding, mental clarity. Ylang-Ylang Used to increase inner strength, For mental and emotional peace. Dispel fear and apprehension, negative projections, assist to gain a sense of self-worth and confidence, helps to centre one-self, let go of guilt and other negative emotions such as jealousy and anger which prevent one from moving forward. Orange Used to refresh the mind and uplift the spirit, energize, rejuvenation, letting go of heavy thought forms, opening the heart and mind for love joy and happiness.