HOW TO TEACH YOGA NIDRA TO OUR CHILDREN ?

TEACHING YOGA NIDRA

TO CHILDREN

YOGA NIDRA CAN BE PRACTICED EVEN BY SMALL CHILDREN, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THEIR NATURE AND SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS. FOR CHILDREN BETWEEN 8 AND 14 YEARS, IT IS DIFFICULT TO REMAIN STILL IN ONE SPOT FOR EVEN 10 MINUTES. YET THEY RELAX FAR MORE QUICKLY AND DEEPLY THAN ADULTS. THEREFORE PRACTICE SESSIONS OF 10 OR 15 MINUTES ARE SUFFICIENT.

ROTATION OF CONSCIOUSNESS THROUGH THE BODY PARTS IS MOST EFFECTIVE, AND THE INTEREST OF YOUNGER CHILDREN CAN BE RENEWED BY VARIOUS FANTASIES WHICH STIMULATE THE IMAGINATION. FOR EXAMPLE - IMAGINE A BUTTERFLY LANDING HERE AND THERE, VISUALIZE LIGHTS WHICH TURN ON AT EACH BODY PART, EXPLORE THE BODY AS IF IT WERE AN ISLAND. THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ONLY LIMITED BY THE INSTRUCTOR'S IMAGINATION.

SIMPLE, SHORT VISUALIZATION SEQUENCE ARE ALSO IMPORTANT PART OF YOGA NIDRA FOR CHILDREN, WHEREAS IN ADULTS THIS PRACTICE IS FORESTALLED UNTIL THE ART OF SIMPLE, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL RELAXATION HAS BEEN ACQUIRED BY MORE PRELIMINARY PRACTICES. IN GENERAL, CHILDREN ARE FAR LESS TENSE AND PREOCCUPIED THAN ADULTS. THEY ARE MORE OPEN AND RECEPTIVE TO THE EXPERIENCE OF YOGA NIDRA.

ADVICE FOR INSTRUCTORS

ADAPT THE PRACTICES ACCORDING TO THE PARTICULAR AGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHILD OR CHILDREN.
IF YOU ARE CONDUCTING GROUP SESSIONS IT IS BEST WHEN SIX OR SEVEN CHILDREN COMBINE FROM THE SAME AGE GROUP.
WHENEVER IT IS POSSIBLE, USE A ROOM THAT IS SPACIOUS AND AIRY AND WHICH HAS A FINE VIBRATION. TRY TO USE THE SAME ROOM FOR ALL PRACTICES.
FOLLOW EACH SESSION WITH A SHORT DISCUSSION, AND PERHAPS WITH DRAWING, COLOURING OR ACTING OUT WHAT EXPERIENCED DURING THE PRACTICE. ALLOW EACH CHILD TO VOLUNTEER HIS EXPERIENCES. THOSE WHO ARE SHY SHOULD ALSO BE ENCOURAGED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY SAW AND EXPERIENCED. REAFFIRM EVERYONE'S EXPERIENCES AND MAKE SURE NO CHILD IS CONFUSED, LOST OR UNHAPPY.

PREPARATION

YOGA NIDRA CAN BE PRACTICED IN ANY POSITION, BUT FOR LONG SESSIONS IT IS BEST TO LIE FLAT ON THE BACK. MAKE SURE THAT THE HEAD, NECK AND SHOULDERS ARE IN A STRAIGHT LINE, HANDS ARE AT THE SIDES PALMS UP, LEGS BE STRAIGHT, FEET PLACED A LITTLE APART.

COMMENCE WITH PROGRESSIVE TENSING AND RELAXING OF THE BODY PARTS, BEGINNING WITH FEET AND LEGS AND CONCLUDING WITH FACIAL MUSCLES. THE CHILD SHOULD THEN RELAX COMPLETELY IN SHAVASANA AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR ROTATION OF CONSCIOUSNESS THROUGHOUT THE BODY.

ROTATION OF CONSCIOUSNESS

RELAX YOU WHOLE BODY. BREATHE OUT ALL YOUR TENSIONS AND WEARINESS. FEEL THAT YOU ARE BECOMIN VERY HEAVY. BECOME AWARE OF THE PARTS OF THE BODY WHICH I AM NAMING, BUT DO NOT MOVE THEM. JUST FEEL THE PARTS AND FOLLOW MY VOICE. YOU MUST NOT SLEEP.

BECOME AWARE OF THE RIGHT HAND. THE RIGHT HAND THUMB, SECOND FINGER, THIRD, FOURTH, LITTLE FINGER, WHOLE RIGHT HAND, WHOLE RIGHT ARM, SHOULDER, RIGHT SIDE OF THE CHEST, WAIST, HIP, WHOLE RIGHT LEG, RIGHT FOOT, THE TOES, ONE, TWO, THREE,FOUR, FIVE, ALL FIVE TOES TOGETHER, WHOLE BODY.

BREATH AWARENESS

FEEL THAT YOU ARE BREATHING IN A LOVELY, TRANSPARENT BUBBLE. EVERY TIME YOU BREATHE IN, THE BUBBLE EXPANDS, EVERY TIME YOU BREATHE OUT, THE BUBBLE CONTRACTS. NOW COUNT THE NUMBER OF BREATHS BACKWARDS FROM 10 TO 0.