“Sensing” our intuitive nature
honoring your unique, individual and authentic self
In yoga there is a sanskrit word Pratyahara which means to withdraw the senses. Our senses are what connect us to the outside world. When we practice withdrawing from our senses we connect to our inner world. Through quieting our mind and focusing on our inner self we tap into a higher frequency where we are more able to connect to our intuition and higher consciousness.
When working with children I talk regularly about the importance of using contrast in your teaching. For example, if I want children to be still I am going to allow them moments to jump, wiggly and move freely. Same concept applies when I am working with children and helping them tap into their intuitive nature. I find it most helpful to start by exercising and acknowledging all of our senses and then slowly pulling them back and noticing what feels different.
A few simple activities that tap into the 5 senses are below. For our Yogi Beans classes we will focus on one sense a week and create a nice 5 week series on the 5 senses while also teaching our students about sensory withdrawal and the introduction to meditation.
Sight: Take a number of objects (pom poms, feathers, dice, pen, bell, etc.) and place them on a yoga mat. Cover them with a blanket. Tell children, "there are [however many] objects on this yoga mat. We are going to look at them for ten seconds. Ready, set, go!” Now, pick up the blanket for 10 seconds to reveal the objects. Next, quickly cover them up again and ask each child to name one object they saw. Ask, “how did it make you feel to only have 10 seconds to look at all the objects on the blanket?”
Sound :Ask children to be very quiet. Sit for about 20 seconds in complete silence and then ask children to tell you all the sounds they start to hear. For example: birds, clock ticking, wind, people talking, cabs honking, other people’s breathing. Ask them if the noticed how once they shifted their attention they became aware of sounds that were there all along. A great reminder of energy flows where attention goes.
Touch: This game introduces the concept of mindful touch. Take an empty bag or box and fill it with different objects. For example, cotton balls, feathers, tin foil balls, etc. Pass the bag around the circle and give each child a turn to put his/her hand in the bag and describe what s/he feels. Encourage children to use descriptive words or adjectives such as soft, hard, rough, prickly, squishy, etc.
Taste: Tell children you will be practicing mindful eating with a raisin. Explain that you will be using each of your five senses to explore the raisin fully, and that this takes patience and self-control. Have the class sit down at a table or desks, and hand out one raisin to each child. Ask them not to touch the raisin, but rather use their sense of sight to look at it. What does the raisin look like? What shape is it? What color is it? Next, ask children to use their sense of touch to pick up the raisin. What does the raisin feel like? How would you describe its texture? Now, ask children to close the raisin in their palm and shake it. Is the raisin making a noise? Did you ever think you would listen to a raisin? Next, ask children to smell the raisin. What does the raisin smell like? Does it smell sweet? Does it smell fruity? Now ask children what kind of fruit makes a raisin? Who do you think put the grapes in the sun to have them dry out?
Smell: Fill 5 small bottles with the following scents. (Alternatively, you can use any spices or scents you have on hand)
Cinnamon
Tea Tree Oil
Peppermint Oil
Lemon
Vanilla Extract
Cumin
Pass one scent around the room and ask the children how the scent makes them feel, if it brings up a memory or thought, and if the scent is pleasing or displeasing, Remember there are no right or wrong answers. Just like our sense taste everyone’s sense of small may have different preferences.
After performing any of these activities.
Seeing children for who they are
Honoring your unique, individual and authentic self
As a child I was lovingly referred to as “Loony Lauren.” My mother says that I was a quirky child, putting on shows for anyone that would watch. I had a vivid imagination and preferred playing solo than with groups of friends. I've always walked to the beat of my own drum and found a certain contentment being on the fringe and not following the herd. With that said I acknowledge I am a cis-genered white women and my quirkiness was something I chose and not put upon me by society, which I imagine is where the state of contentment came from.
The question I ask myself is: how can we ensure that every child, no matter their background, race, gender, ability, or sexual orientation, knows that it is 100% acceptable for them to be exactly who they are? They need not change any part of themself to please or meet societal standards. As parents and teachers, what can we do to help our children be secure in their being and honor their truest self?
I believe the answer lies in listening to them – I mean really listening and seeing them for who they are, and not who we want them to be. There is a beautiful poem in the book, The Prophet, by Kahil Gibran titled On Children. He says on children, “They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.” Each time I read the poem I am reminded that although as parents we helped create and nurture our children into being - they are very much their own autonomous self and we must be prudent not to try and make them like us or deny their individuality because it differs from how we want or thought they would be.
When a child comes to us and questions their identity or shares a story or reflection of an experience we can listen with open and honest ears without judgment or motive. As a parent, I understand that this can be challenging if we sense our child’s choice or identity may cause them hardship or challenges in the future. The hardest thing for a parent is seeing our child hurt or in pain. However, by not acknowledging our child’s authentic self we ourselves become the hardship and end up hurting them whether or not that was our intention.
By supporting our child’s interests and helping them develop the areas in their lives which bring them enjoyment and delight we are showing them that we see them and accept them for who they are. If your son enjoys dolls get him the dolls - If your daughter loves playing with toy trucks by her the trucks. If your teenage son wants to wear nail polish to school go to CVS and choose colors together. When a child feels accepted and loved in their home they will be more likely to go out into the world feeling whole and loved for who they are.
The truth is not everyone is going to like you and not everyone is going to like your child - and as hard as that may be to hear that is OKAY! Teaching our children and students that outside approval and validation does not go nearly as far as cultivating self-love and self- worthiness are essential to become a self-actualized adult.
Below are a few of my favorite children’s books that speak to honoring your unique, individual and authentic self.