SOUND was our guide...
As this week we attempted to discover what it means to stop and be with the present moment. Tricky business! It was good to explore with friends. Here's a bit about what we did...
this wonderful sound, brings me back
to my true self."
-Thich Nhat Hanh
SANG and listened...
As each one of us in turn invited a new sound to the poem. We had triangles, cymbals, a rainstick, wind chime, harpsichord, wooden frog, and 2 types of mindfulness bells! They listened carefully to find which sound each preferred, but found it difficult to put into words ~ "some just sound better than others" was the consensus.
COLLABORATION rules!
Adding words to their daily stretch is such a nice way to wake up body & mind and bring them together. Their challenge was to put the Listen Listen poem to the stretch test and create a movement routine to go with it. Much discussion and fine-tuning of each element went in to creating a soulful whole body experience ~ what a pleasure to be a part of their process! Ask your child to teach you what they created together!
STOPPING to the sound of the bell
We began by inviting the children to think about the sound of the bell as if it were the voice of kindness, peace, and understanding, gently calling them back. We invited the bell and practiced breathing a few times to see what it was all about...
Some were bored, others happy, tired, thirsty and restless. This was good! - they were very in touch with what they were feeling. So for the next few breaths we just sat with that, and allowed it to be. I was impressed. During the discussion, they made the connection between stopping, and waiting, and they uncovered a very important difference... stopping had to do with what was going on inside, and waiting had to do with what wasn't going on outside! Some of the children shared particularly difficult moments of waiting... the DMV, the bank, rides at the amusement park, and "sometimes my Mom just won't stop talking"... all could relate. Several of the children offered their solutions, making up stories & songs, or playing with their hands.
We decided to investigate further...
FREEZE DANCE is super popular
In school, at home, on the playground, everyone loves freeze dance ~ so we decided to borrow the idea. Everybody was up on their feet to hop, skip, run, jump, chase, slide, shimmy, crawl, until... bong! At the sound of the bell we all stopped and relaxed in one spot ~ no talking, no moving until it was over then they took off again busy as bees. Voluntarily they collapsed back onto cushions and lapsed into a spotty silence - each to their own thoughts... sometimes stopping feels extra good.
FAMILY CHALLENGE: Invite your family to practice STOPPING WITH SOUND this week ~ Choose a daily sound in your home ( it could be the doorbell, telephone, water running, pet sounds, etc.) that will remind you to stop and notice your next 3 breaths. Stop to smile and say hello to yourself ~ take a minute to go deeper, connect, and notice wherever it is you are holding tension. If you like, you can recite the "Listen Listen" poem as you relax... all it takes is the length of 3 breaths. The next time the sound is heard, see who remembers!
MUNCH munch cracker crunch
Rice crackers were hands down the noisiest food in the room! (who invited those guys!) Apple munching, cracker crunching, and fizzy water fizzings made for a delicious cornucopia of sound.
TIM and Grandpa Joe
What a great story! Tim follows Grandpa's excellent example of helping people in need. He finds that he feels amazing... until he doesn't. Tired after a long day, he lapses into negative thoughts circling round and round until another distress call - and he is on the move - doing what is needed and happy to help... until a bit later, even more tired, the grumblings begin again. In the end he is his own mindfulness bell, as he reflects on how much happiness he received by helping others, and in fact all he needs to do is stop, and listen to his inner voice telling him to rest a while.
BREATHE BEADS
Beautiful Work every single one- I am sorry not to have photographed them all! We made lovely clip-ons, and bracelets to help remind us to stop, and connect to our inner place using our breath as the bridge to get there.
TIME FLIES!...
Well, that is about as far as we got this week, and although we missed experimenting with the Space Awareness activity, and learning the C-A-L-M-ing impulses meditation we had one hec of a workshop, and there is always next season to try them out. Our outline is there to support us with the best option for what is happening in the room, and to give you a good idea of what we are doing. So don't be surprised, alarmed, or disappointed when bits fall by the way~ we aren't! ~ the workshop is at it's best when guided, but not hurried.
See You Sunday! here's a peek at what's next...
Week
3 we
experience taking care
Sing-a-long I Follow My Breath (Planting Seeds CD)
Feelings poem and stretch (Planting Seeds)
Discussion and puppet play: caring
for our emotions with tenderness & love
Soulful food
contemplations: bananas & choco soy milk
Greeting
Visitors meditation
(Child's Mind)
Create your own sock puppet
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