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| | + | We are presenting here 5 Mindfulness exercises. These need to be first practiced by the facilitator and then can be conducted with children. |
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| | + | Image Source: Creative Commons |
| | + | # '''Basic Relaxation Breathing''' |
| | + | Inhale through your nose: 1-2-3-4. |
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| | + | Exhale through your mouth with lips pursed, blowing gently, like blowing a bubble: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8. |
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| | + | Repeat 3–4 times. |
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| | + | '''2. Belly Breathing''' |
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| | + | Place one hand on your abdomen above your belly button and one hand on your upper chest. |
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| | + | Relax your abdomen. |
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| | + | Breathe in through your nose and fill your lungs. |
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| | + | Allow your lungs to expand downward and move the bottom hand. |
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| | + | Avoid shallow chest breathing or raising your shoulders. |
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| | + | Exhale slowly through pursed lips. |
| | + | # '''Core Practice''' |
| | + | PAUSE → LISTEN → BREATHE |
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| | + | Find yourself a comfortable position. |
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| | + | Close your eyes. |
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| | + | Pay attention to your breathing. |
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| | + | Breathe slowly in through your nose and out through your mouth. |
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| | + | Imagine the air slowly filling your lungs and body and then flowing out again. |
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| | + | When you notice that your mind has wandered, acknowledge it, accept it, and |
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| | + | then bring your attention back to your breath. |
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| | + | Notice your belly moving as you take slow belly breaths. |
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| | + | Continue for a minute (Note: shorten or lengthen as needed). |
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| | + | Open your eyes and return to the room. |
| | + | # '''Awareness of Object''' |
| | + | Choose an object that is small enough to pick up easily and hold in your hand. |
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| | + | Hold it in one hand and pass it to the other hand. Notice how heavy or light it is in your hand. |
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| | + | How big is it? Rub your fingers over the surface. |
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| | + | Are the edges rough or smooth? Observe the shape, color, and texture of the object. Feel any imperfections in the surface or ridges or indentations. |
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| | + | Pay attention to whether it feels smooth, or rough. Does it feel cool or warm to your fingers? |
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| | + | Is it sticky, greasy, slippery, wet, or dry? |
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| | + | Closure: |
| | + | # Leave the object on the floor or table |
| | + | # Become the sensations in your hand |
| | + | # Bring your attention back to your breathing without altering the nature of your breath |
| | + | # Gently open your eyes |
| | + | # '''Awareness of sounds''' |
| | + | Sit peacefully and comfortably and at one place with your legs folded. |
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| | + | As you feel settled, slowly close your eyes. |
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| | + | Try to listen to the sounds around you that you can hear, near or far. |
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| | + | Notice these sounds and where they are coming from. |
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| | + | Listen for some time. |
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| | + | Slowly bring attention back on your sitting. |
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| | + | Very slowly open your eyes. |
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| | + | As you come back, take a sheet of paper and write what you heard. |
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| | + | We also have a small mindfulness workbook which can be referred to and recreated for some of these activities. |
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| | + | A non-profit- organization Apnishala has also developed some Mindfulness Activities which can be referred and used. |
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| | + | Note: The mindfulness worksheets are a source for reference and should not be printed. |
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| | + | {{Youtube|PL4JRCWeATj-i9K-i2MayMbI6CkHGJq_Cx}} |