How is meditation different from mindfulness?
Imagine walking at a brisk pace. You are in the moment of getting your 10,000 steps for the day. As you walk you are thinking how well you are doing and that you are on your way to making your goal. This is meditation. Now imagine as you are walking briskly and as you walk you become aware of the smell of the flowers and the grass around you. You an hear the buzz of the insects flying by. The warm air surrounding your body and the warm rays of sun on your face. You close your eyes and bring more awareness now to your heartbeat and the coolness of the sweat on your skin. This is mindfulness. As you can see there is fine line between the two. They are both so very similar yet so very different. You can even experience both at the same time. However, it all comes down to being in the present vs being in the present and bringing your awareness to fine details. There is a lot of research that has been done to say that establishing a daily practice of meditation and or mindfulness along with yoga can reverse negativity of stress on the mind and body. It can help with digestion and attitude. In fact, a daily practice is the best coping skill and medication one can have. On this page you will find articles, links, and scripts about how to begin a meditation practice with children and yourself. Have fun exploring!!
Check out the Heart Wash script below. This is a such a cool way to wash those unwanted feelings away!
Heart Wash
Pre Questions: What kinds of things need washed? (list on paper or board/answers will vary). Did you know even our heart space needs a good washing, too? Just like stains on a shirt or sticky food on a plate, our heart space can be sticky with negative feelings such as fear, anger, worry, hurt, sadness, etc. It is important to keep our heart space clean and refreshed like our clothes, dishes, bodies, etc.
The Heart Wash is a guided imagery activity designed to to “wash away” any sticky feelings in your heart space. When the heart space feels clean and refreshed , we experience feeling comfortable and safe. The Heart Wash helps you let go of sticky feelings such as fear, anger, worry, hurt, frustration, ect.(fill in what you need)
Close your eyes, allow your attention to flow like a warm shower down into your heart space. Breathe slowly in, counting one. ..two, then slowly let the breath out, counting to 4 as you exhale. Now repeat. Breathe in, one. . .two. . .three...four.
Now imagine that this warm shower is flowing through your heart space and gently washes away stuck feelings of fear, anger, worry, hurt... It is flowing calm and smooth, like melting ice. Melting away every little bit of stains there. Ahhhh, good. Allow this shower to gently flow and cleanse you. As it flows, hear the soft bubbling of running water. It feels so good. Are you feeling better yet? With each breath you take more and more of the sticky feeling is washed away. Your heart space should start to feel open and calm. Letting in happiness, love, acceptance, joy, etc...Breathe in. Breathe out. (Pause).
Listen until the water runs out. When you hear the bell the heart wash is complete and you may awaken your body and acclimate to your surroundings.
Post Questions: What sticky feelings were washed away? How do you feel now that your heart space is clean and refreshed?
I love this channel! There are so many different videos to see. Try one out! This one is my favorite!
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Check out this mindfulness script on YouTube!
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