Children's Circle: Heart Rhythm
Meditation for Kids
by Lisa Bravo --
Children teach us divine lessons everyday because they see life through the eyes of their hearts. For them each moment is an opportunity to connect with the people they love, people they do not know but feel energetically connected to...
their environments, animals and nature. They see life without judgment, preconceived construct, or limits.
As they grow older our society teaches them to be fearful, set limits, and experience life through the eyes of the mind rather than the heart. They are trained to 'use their heads' to solve problems, make judgments, and navigate the world. For many, the heart becomes a one dimensional default setting through which they are taught to experience emotions.
I have found that children know the truth. They try to tell us through their emotional intensity. When we do not listen, some children will settle for the path of least resistance and follow the rules of our culture. Others brace against this confusing message and try to tell us what they need through evolving iterations of emotional intensity as it is felt through the heart. These are the children I come into contact with in my practice as a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist.
When we teach children the practice of Heart Rhythm
Meditation they are not learning something new; they are coming home! They understand this on the sole level and immediately trust in their own God given divine wisdom and purpose. They become connected once again to the creator and begin to move through the world with a sense of fearlessness, reverence for themselves and all others -- AND inspiration. Life becomes limitless and they embrace each lesson they are offered.
I have taught this method to children from a spectrum of backgrounds. I have found that preschoolers to gang members - and everyone in between - embrace this practice because it puts them in touch with who they REALLY are in powerful and far reaching ways. It is simple to teach, learn and practice and the benefits are exponentially beneficial.
This is how I would initially go about explaining HRM to a child:
Step 1: Sit in a comfortable place. Close your eyes if only you feel like it.
Step 2: Notice the sound of your breath.
Step 3: Put your hand on your heart. This drum is your instrument. Notice how your heartbeats feel in the palm of your hand.
Step 4: Begin the breath in and count your heartbeats. When your lungs are full begin to exhale.
Step 5: Count the number of heartbeats as you breath out. Try to match your out breath counts with your in breath.
Step 6: Repeat this process 5 times.
I recommend doing it with them the first time. Once they get the hang of it we practice breathing out certain things they are struggling with (such as emotions, frustrations, fears, etc.) and breathing in greatness, knowingness, peace, etc.)
This is an integral part of the healing process for every child I work with. I am so very thankful to Puran and Susanna for bringing this method into the world!
Lisa Bravo, MC, LPC, LISAC, NCC
Lisa is the Founder/Director of ParentwoRx and co-author of Transforming The Difficult Child Workbook By Glasser, Bowdidge, & Bravo. For more information see
www.ParentwoRx.com.
