I Am a Feeling Body

Empowering children through body awareness and mindfulness requires a solid foundation. There are four essential steps toward instilling peace, harmony, happiness, and well-being into our lives: grounding, centering, breathing, and feeling. As outlined in this book, these four steps are designed to be enjoyed in a playful manner—and in less than ten minutes.

The word instill means to infuse slowly or gradually into the mind or feelings. We will go inward and find our stillness through playfulness. When we create the space each morning to engage ourselves in these steps, especially if family members participate in the fun together, we create profound results—a stronger mind and body connection to start us on our way each day.

Although this book is intended primarily for children, it is no less valuable for any age group. Have your child read this book out loud for the first time to an adult or caretaker. After that, it is most beneficial for someone to read the book to the child to enrich the experience of performing the exercises.

When the initial meanings in each of the four poems are absorbed cognitively and somatically as one, the benefits grow exponentially. Children will deepen their own awareness and become ready to read the book independently. The feelings children associate with seeing the illustrations will become somatic bookmarks for grounding, centering, breathing, and feeling.

When you lead your children through the exercises, allow them to discover the fun on their own terms and create unique personal experiences. Your children will find their way as their bodies guide them, and there is no right or wrong way. Trust and allow—amazing things will happen.