Learning some basics of stress relief helps kids of all ages and abilities.

Here is a session of quiet time that will help out your intermediate students that have some previous experience with stress relief.

To begin the session:

Sit up straight on a towel or blanket on the grass or beach if outdoors, or on a thick rug if indoors. Cross your legs in and fold your hands in your lap, or place your hands palms down or palms up on your thighs.

Close your eyes and begin breathing like this: on counts 1, 2 breathe in; on counts 3, 4 breathe out; on counts 1, 2 breathe in; on counts 3, 4 breathe out, and continue this rhythmic pattern during your session.

Keep up the rhythm of breathing for the rest of the session, but don't actually say the number; it will become natural after a minute or two.

Now, think for some moments with appreciation and gratefulness about at least one good thing in your life. It could be a family member, good friend, teacher, relative, neighbor; someone who has been there for you.

When we keep an appreciation in mind we look at more stressful situations in a positive way. Our mind relaxes when we are positive, energy flows through, fresh ideas come to mind and stress melts away more easily.

Make a resolve to give yourself a quiet session when you need it. If you feel stressed every day, plan on a regular routine of exercise to combat pent up stressful feelings, such as aerobics, swimming, jogging, tennis, fast walking, running.

Finish your session by taking in a deep breath, slowly releasing it, stretching out and going on with your day. If a plan of action has come to mind, take time to write it out in your journal so you don't forget it and can refer back later.

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Recommended manual

Yoga for all Kids - With illustrations and descriptions, how to teach 4 styles of meditation and 15 gentle moving yoga poses that can be used as a basic motor skills lesson plan, plus 12 how to live chapters and a dictionary of 40 definitions of happiness in 83 pages. For kids of all ages and abilities - for teens and adults, too! Available as an Ebook or Print Book


Article by Susan Kramer