“Helping kids to reconnect with nature, to remind them that they are a part of the world around them and help them to really feel it, is so important and such a joy. I feel the connection as well, like a reminder to myself that yes, we are all one, we are all a part of this Mother Earth and yes, we can feel her! It’s such an exciting confirmation when the students say that they felt it, whether in their hands, their feet (as several did!) or even in their body; it’s a confirmation that we’re doing the right thing, that we’re reaching them and that we can give them the tools to connect to the world around them, to help themselves, as well as others.

It’s so good to see them really listening and taking in what we’re teaching them as well. We even had an experience today where one of the girls mentioned her knee was sore when she stood up, Paula asked which knee, and when the girl said the right knee, one of her friends quickly responded with, “that means you’re thinking too much about the future!”

Some other feedback:

 

“It feels like a magnet!”

“I feel it in my feet! My toes are tingling”

“My hands are tingling… That’s so cool!”

“I feel so relaxed now.”

Feedback from Paula, volunteer instructor with Sahaja Yoga Meditation -Halton 

“This autumn hundreds of students experienced “Be-ing” surrounded by Canada’s glorious, colorfully decorated forests of the Green Belt. In fact, their minds were attentive and still as we explored together the breath of trees that give us oxygen and the positive relationship we have with mother nature. Students put their hands on their hearts to connect with their higher, their best selves. Like the trees, we put our hands towards the earth to deepen our roots and make us strong from the inside, out. Our torsos were the trunks of the trees, so we straightened them with humble respect towards our selves, each other, and the whole world. Our feet on the forest floor, we felt the magnet of Mother Earth responding to our call to know our connection to her.

Several kids were wearing Star Wars t-shirts, so we asked them what do they say in the movie? Without hesitation, each of them piped up “the force is with you!” So we talked about the real life force within, and experiencing the beauty of the universe inside. Our hands opened out face up on our laps like leaves of the great tree of life we all have within. These leaves gave us valuable information about the positive qualities and principles that exist in each of us and can expand, when we are thoughtless and aware. We taught them how to combat stress in school and at home. They felt their own power and awareness grow in just a few short minutes.

We pressed our fontanel  bone at the top of our heads, the soft bone when were babies, and asked to achieve the yoga state (yoga, meaning connection, or union). This process is known as self-realization. Like the 1,000 petaled lotus on the Sahaja Yoga chart used to describe the actualization of yoga, we also let the kids know that in their brain were 1,000 nerves that get enlightened. Many children felt the cool breeze of enlightenment emitting from the top of their heads and checked each other to feel the flow. At least two of the classes we checked for the cool breeze between our hands that flowed freely. The kids understood that it was miraculous.

Many kids felt certain fingers, and we showed them which chakra/flower/energy centre was signalling them, and we all cleared them together. Even teachers felt sensations in their hands and we decoded together with the help of a map of our subtle system. They were especially interested in the channels. It was very easy for them to remember on the left side of our bodies is stored the past, and on the right the future. The left is the “desire, the emotions” and the right is the “action” channel, go go go! To be balanced is to be in the now, and nature can help us enjoy the present. The present, is a gift, we give to our “higher” selves. One girl got up with a problem with her knee. She said it was ok, happens all the time. As they walked away, I asked which knee? She said the right. Her friend said to her, ‘that’s because your too worried about the future!‘ And I told her, ‘You got it! That’s it! You are aware!‘ They laughed and we waved goodbye, perhaps we will meet again!

Some kids felt their vishuddhi chakra (throat area, signifying our relationships with ourselves and others) signaled through their pointer finger. We meditated sometimes out loud and altogether. It was beautiful to hear them say “ I respect myself,” “help me to respect others,” “Help me to respect the Mother Earth.” In unison, they asked for oneness, peace and unity with the whole world. They transformed into Global Personalities in seconds. Their posture, their demeanor was so dignified. They were so attentive, so interested in what they were experiencing.

We asked them if they enjoyed music and explained the correlation between the music notes and the chakras. The elementary school students also learned that a few minutes of thoughtless awareness meditation per day could increase their creative interests and abilities, even help them sing better. They were very interested in improving their singing. After a guided meditation with eyes closed,  we tried watching or witnessing the forest with our eyes open and hands open at the heart level. Indeed the trees soothed our attention into a calmer, more peaceful, collective state. Some children that were unable to stifle a giggle at the beginning of the session, were completely transformed by the end of the session. They were simply at peace, as real global personalities always are. After all, we all are the Cool Kids of Mother Earth, aren’t we?!

Most everyone experienced the awakening of the “life force” within, and when they left we told them, they have the power, we said, “May the Force Be With You!” They excitedly said, “And also with you!“

They skipped away with smiles on their faces, it was really rewarding to share this pure knowledge and empower the children with inner peace. They expressed that they felt calm, relaxed, the reported sensations in their hands from tingling, to warmth to coolness. As the life force rose like the sap in a tree to nourish each of them on the physical, mental and spiritual level, their achievement of yoga, their awareness, expanded. Like the Mother Earth who keeps giving us life, they left happily emitting the glow of innocence and wisdom.

Over several days, up to 6 classes per day with 15-20 students learned to meditate outdoors. The fresh air, mild weather, majestic forest, changing leaves and gentle winds played their role to help children and teachers alike, stop the thoughts long enough, to discover inner peace. For every class, we balanced the channels with Namaste at the heart level, and with resolve, we said out loud, “I salute the light in my self, and I salute the light in all of you.”

(click!) A Profound Meditation on our Mountains and Valleys with Romanian Nature

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(click!) Experience Being in Nature “Here” in Canada