I love spring! Every year it feels like a time of excitement, hope, and renewal. As the weather gets warmer, the birds begin fervently chirping, and flowers begin to bloom, and a feeling of possibility fills the air. This year, it feels particularly hopeful. After a year of pandemic life filled with the constriction of fear and isolation, the expansive vibration of spring is particularly vibrant. Along with the spring, we are entering into the possibility of leading into more social interactions and being able to see friends and loved ones we haven’t seen in a long time. I am ready to celebrate this spring with long walks in the sunshine with our dog and doing as many things outside as I can. Dance outside? Yes! Yoga outside? That, too! Eating outside? Let’s do it. Like a butterfly emerging from the cocoon, I’m ready for all things spring.
Time in nature can be so rejuvenating, and a mindful experience all on its own. I like to bring more formal meditation to the mix, which just enhances the moment even more. My regular meditation practice really helps me to feel more like ME. It helps me weather the storms with more grace and thoughtfulness and keeps me grounded. It makes me a better teacher, friend, wife, mother, and daughter. I definitely notice the effects of a regular practice. Meditating regularly can help reduce your body’s fight or flight mode, reduce stress, and lower blood pressure. It can have a powerful impact on your nervous system to help improve your resilience. Meditation activates your brain’s “rest and digest” mode to help relieve stress and anxiety. This can help you sleep better, tap into your creativity, and even reduce inflammation in the body. It’s a powerful tool in your wellness toolbox. Guided meditations typically include some kind of visualization or mantra and provide the benefit of someone’s voice to keep you going.
Similar to adults, kids are also being inundated with information on a daily basis. Learning meditation from an early age can be very beneficial for children. Meditation helps both adults and children learn to turn inward, calm the mind, and practice mindful presence. For kids, this can mean learning emotional regulation skills such as breathing practices that help slow the heart rate, identifying their emotions, noticing when they are anxious, and centering themselves in the moment. It teaches how to pause, reflect, and begin again. Through learning breathing and centered awareness, kids can experience fewer meltdowns, reduced impulsivity, and improve their concentration and focus. It also gives them a tool that will allow for greater emotional and psychological resilience. Meditation practices can benefit the whole family and can even be practiced together.
If you are looking for guided meditation practices for yourself or your family, I invite you to try one of these videos I’ve recorded. This one is a 17-minute movement and meditation practice for adults:
And this is an 8-minute Butterfly Garden breathing and guided meditation practice for kids or the whole family:
Give them a try, enjoy and savor them, and let me know how they go for you!
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