Sitting down to meditate the first few times can be intimidating. It’s natural for the brain to be moving a lot, jumping around, or to even be sleepy or lethargic. And while there’s no substitute for practice and perseverance, there are some ways to help the transition to being more mindful. And one of my favorites is FLOWER ESSENCES. As an herbalist, I love plants. Plants can be extremely helpful…
Nature study as a mindful activity, part 1 of 3
Nature is one of the best teachers of mindfulness. To be alone or quiet in nature is a reminder of that we are part of a whole that is much bigger than us. Nature nurtures us, makes us healthier, resets our nervous system. Cultures have always known this, but science is backing it up with studies showing the benefits of activities like “forest bathing.” Question: Have you ever gone out…
No Comments
the sound of silence…during a meal?!
This blog is a sharing of ideas for mindful eating and saying a secular ‘grace’ at mealtimes. I can’t say our family practices this regularly, but we aspire to incorporating it more. It isn’t tradition in either of our families to say grace, and we grew up with parents of different religions. With my husband’s long work-day, my son often eats before he gets home making dinner together –and saying…
No Comments
Slow and steady wins the race: Mindful Movements
“My kids sit for too much of the day already…now I’m asking them to sit more to meditate?” “I’m scared to even try to get my kid to sit down…they have so much energy. How can I introduce mindfulness to them?” “Isn’t meditation a lot of sitting?” Lots of parents and homeschoolers have questions like these. Is the answer yes? Not necessarily! Here are a few books about incorporating mindfulness…
No Comments
A Handful of Quiet
A small beautiful book, A Handful of Quiet: Happiness in Four Pebbles by Thich Nhat Hanh is another ‘quick-start’ mindfulness tool for your classroom and home. Paper-over-board covers with a spiral binding make it a durable, easy-to-use tool. (Thank you, Plum Blossom Books–you know the struggle to hold a book open and work with a child at the same time is real.) The book contains a script for you to…
No Comments
THE guide for mindful parenting
I consider THE book on mindfulness as a parenting style and family lifestyle to be Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting by Myla and Jon Kabat-Zinn. Having purchased this book years ago, I read it in bits and pieces as time allowed. (One of my greatest luxuries since becoming a parent is the ability to read multiple chapters of a book in one sitting.) It is well worth…
1 Comment