Note for Publisher: This Free Preview is a summary from the first chapter Creating a Space for a Child to Meditate.
Chapter notes for personal guide (support person)
Motivation for Personal Guide:
You don’t’ have to wait in line! It’s free! It’s freeing! Madonna & Oprah are doing it! No RX needed! No harmful side effects! Pop culture’s finest are doing it…. It’s better than a book or a movie! Schools are doing it, too! International airports and hospitals are doing it! Those who attend yoga centers are doing it! And you can learn to do it too! It’s Mediation!
The Creating a Space for a Youth to Meditate, chapter is a “go to guide” for anyone who has a youth to love or parent. Because many of the meditations are beneficial to all age groups, these are suggestions for all to explore.
Today’s world is fast paced. Social media, video games, texting, blogging, fast food and social activities keep most families and kids on the run. This fast pace can overload brain waves, lead to hyperactivity, sleeping disorders, learning disorders and poor diets.
Such circumstances can often lead to poor grades, lack of emotional stability, self-control, illnesses, inappropriate behaviors, arguing and low self esteem. By offering a youth a chance to meditate, the necessary time is provided for unplugging and de-stressing. The youth can let go of worry, and from within, reconfigure the emotional self. By embracing this practice, meditation can be used to create and sustain a healthy and happy lifestyle.
Meditation expands the imagination and clears a path for the creative process. It clears emotional blocks and allows natural energy to flow. It is significant to note, that for generations to come, this imagination and creativity will become a part of the processes of technology and invention. Also in future times of struggle, this creative process will help support unity and peace, as well.
This is a guide with tips, techniques, activities and interviews from people from different meditation backgrounds. These tips and techniques are sure to help the youth and their own personal guide to create a space. Meditation is not only about creating a personal space but also about finding the emotional space, from within.
When meditation begins, the challenge for the personal guide is to relax the youth. For at least the first few times, mediate with the youth. The more the personal guide and youth practice together, the more encouraged the youth will be to practice independently. Remember, mediation encourages a healthy imagination. It creates a gateway to a balanced life.
Rational
Creating a Space For a Youth to Meditate is like planting a seed, and then watching the seed bloom into a glorious flower. The positivity (the result of the meditation) becomes the bee that collects the pollen, which creates positivity within the youth. This “positive bee affect”, is something that is very special to see, bloom within a practicing youth.
“The youth today are in great need of the support that meditation has to offer”:
According to the research from The David Lynch Foundation:
· 25% of teenagers suffer from anxiety disorders
· 6.5 million children struggle from disabilities
that impair their ability to learn
· One in four high school students, have
bought or sold illegal drugs on school property.
· High stress levels also damage teachers and
educators, resulting in extremely high burnout
rates
· One in three children are either overweight or
obese
· Nearly three million children receive medication
for ADHD
Quoted from the interview from Bob Roth, Executive Director of the David Lynch Foundation.
(End chapter notes)
Benefits
Meditation creates stillness; a time to be centered within the mind and emotions. It’s creating consciousness and teaches youth strong self-help techniques. The youth will have better relationships at home, have better sleeping patterns and experience less peer pressure. This encourages the youth to be self-supportive and creates a more independent adult.
The future adult will be more self-sufficient in relationships, finances and education. An ability to acquire the capacity to deal with reality and not be pulled in too many directions will also develop. For “knowing who we are, really” in this world is essential!
Fourteen styles of meditations are covered in this chapter:
Color Meditation: 2- 4+ years
Mindful Meditation: 7-9 + years
Focused Meditation: 7-9 + years
Guided Meditation: 5-7 + years
Transcendental Meditation 5 + years
Mantra Meditation 5-7 + years
Music Meditation 0 + 1 years
Visualization 0 + 1 years
Art 1 + years
Movement Mediation:
Tai Chi 4+years
Yoga 0 -1 year+
Walking 5-6 + years
Dance 1+ years
Mantra Meditation 5-7+ years
There are a few steps for Mantra meditation.
Find your Mantra “to free the mind” word or phrase.
For example: I am peaceful
Repeat the Mantra several times. You can use prayer beads to assist you. Moving through each bead one at a time, repeat the mantra with each bead. Take a deep relaxing breath as you move through the mantra.
You can move through the beads with the tips of your pointer finger and thumb. Move through 16 beads with one hand, then use the other hand and move through the other 16 beads. When you are practicing Mantra meditation, it’s often helpful to listen to some relaxing music. This helps you focus your attention on your practice of Mantra Meditation.
Key Points:
. Combining sound, breath, and rhythmic repetition
. Moves positive energy through the mind and body
channels
. Regulates both sides of the brain
. Balances the nervous system
. Reduces stress and tension
. Balances the endocrine system
. Balances mood and overall well being
. Enhances Compassion
. Boost the Immune System
The necessities for creating a Space for a Youth to Meditate
. The Willingness to Participate / Desire
. The Space
. The Idea
. The Mood
. The Time
. The Routine
Sample:
The Willingness to Participate/Desire
Encourage the youth, but be sensitive to circumstances. See where the youth is mentally and emotionally at the time. Applaud the youth for participation.
The Space (for most meditations)
Have a clean, quiet and clutter free space with a comfortable temperature.The less noise the better. Provide a comfortable chair or pillow. Candles and calming music are appropriate.
Types of Characters and the roles they may play in your life.
Cheerleader
Advocate
Energy Shifter
Drama Queen
Perhaps you know how it feels to be surround by people that make you feel good and safe
“cheerleader”or and advocate?
Perhaps you also know how it feels to be surround by people that make you feel uncomfortable and uneasy…an Energy Shifter or a Drama Queen. Those that ask you to dim your light in their presence?
Maybe you can think of some of these personalities right now. No judgment placed on anyone’s character, just noticing.