FREE GIFT! 108 WAYS TO BALANCE YOUR KID’S CHAKRAS!… LEARN MORE »
FREE GIFT! 108 WAYS TO BALANCE YOUR KID’S CHAKRAS!… LEARN MORE »
Whether it’s dealing with pressures at school, homework, sports, family responsibilities or trying to create time for friends, today’s tweens are busy!
Throughout my years of teaching yoga and mindfulness to tweens, I learned what considerable stress they can be under and how much they need access to tools that will empower them to create balance and calm their minds.
The practice of mindfulness offers tweens a way to slow down, ground themselves to the moment, connect with their intuition and find inner peace.
I like the definition shared by Jon Kabat-Zinn. He brought the Buddhist practice of mindfulness to the West, in a way that is more accessible and secular to Western culture.
Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally…in the service of self-understanding and wisdom.
One of the easiest ways to pay attention to the present moment is to focus on your breathing.
Here are three, simple yet powerful breathing exercises you can use to manage feelings of stress and anxiety.
Experiment with the different exercises to find the best fit for your individual needs.
Constrict the back of your throat slightly so your breath makes an ocean sound. Inhale and exhale long, deep breaths through your nose. Allow the sound of your breath drown out your thoughts.
Inhale through your nose and count to four. Hold your breath in for a count of four. Exhale through your mouth and count to eight.
Place one hand on your belly and one hand on your heart. Take a long, deep breath in through your nose, feeling your hand rise as your belly fills with air. Exhale through your mouth and let out a big sigh.
** Save this image to your phone or computer, or Pin it for easy access! **
Breathing exercises are only one kind of tool to help bring you into the present moment.
It’s important to share a variety of ideas for tweens to explore as they build their personal toolkit of what’s going to be the best fit for their individual style and needs.
I’ve created a free activity challenge to help introduce mindfulness in a fun, accessible way.
You can access it by signing up below.
You’ll also join the newsletter and receive my best tips, printables, insider bonuses & more.