I have started a program called Samahdi Kids. In this program, I teach children meditation and sometimes yoga techniques that bring focus, ground and center them.  The children are so open and ready to explore the tools that I am teaching them. They have wonderful stories about how using the tools to regain their center during stressful situations helped them let go and release their anger and frustrations. Studies have shown that meditation helps children perform better on standardized testing by helping them focus and relax. It also increases their overall health and stamina. Through mediation techniques children learn how to breathe more efficiently. When there is more breath, more oxygen is absorbed into the blood stream. When we do not breathe properly we are more prone to fear, anger, depression and anxiety. We are also less likely to think clearly and our focus is lost. Some of the other benefits for teaching children to meditate include:

1. Better able to manage current stress as well as stress they'll encounter later in life.
2. Less reactive to external influences, including peer pressure
3. Able to find satisfaction in the beautiful things in life without having to seek thrills that could be dangerous
4. In better physical health by breathing deeply, relaxing the body and mind
5. More focused thanks to sitting meditation practice, leading to improved academic performance
6. Improved social relations with friends, siblings and parents, by learning to calm down, identify feelings and needs, and communicate those calmly
7. Greater well-being and inner peace that can be brought to interpersonal relationships & the world
8. Increased learning ability;
9.  Increased speed in solving problem accurately;
10. Improved academic performance;

11.      Increased productivity;

12.     Decrease in anxiety

13.     Increase in creativity

I started the program after my own daughter had done some testing and did not perform well. I felt that there was no way the tests truly reflected her true ability. Giordana was also becoming less affectionate, and did not seem to be as happy and free as she normally is. She had recently experienced a painful event within our family. I knew that she needed to heal, but Giordana is not the type to communicate when things are troubling her. I had her in play therapy, but it just did not seem to be enough. I know that her going into puberty is considered the cause of many of her changes, but I felt in my heart that there was more to it. I followed my intuition and started teaching her meditation. Within just a few days, I saw a considerable difference in her mood. She was happier, and more playful. She was much more affectionate, when previously she did not want me to touch her. I could finally give her a hug, which was something that I was so missing. She since has written me a beautiful note thanking me for teaching her. She said that it has really made her feel better. Her teachers and therapist have seen a noticeable change.

Children take on many of our emotions even when we think that we are keeping things a way from them. They are extremely intuitive beings and notice everything that is going on. As our children get older, they feel that it is their responsibility to carry some of our burdens. It is a child’s natural state to be happy and harmonious. We as adults are the ones to disrupt this state, and cause them to be un-centered. I have been teaching at The Community Charter School for about six weeks now. The teachers have joined in the classes. The children have been eager to share their stories. It has been a wonderful experience. Many of them are really starting to tune in. When I first started working with them it was a bit difficult for some of them to sit still. It was easier for some than others. However, after a period of several weeks I can feel the room shift as I walk them through a grounding meditation. It is wonderful to watch. I would love to teach as many children as I can. If we start with our children, we will create more harmonious adults. The techniques I teach are life tools that they can use in their everyday lives forever. If you are interested in introducing it to your school or youth, organization, please contact me. donah@donahspassions.com.