In the first blog in our back to school series, we talked about three main things that cause mental health stress this time of year: Big transitions, adjusting to new schedules, and meeting expectations. Today we'll talk about the process of adjustment and how to facilitate your child's or student's ability to go with a new flow while still feeling like they have agency.
Kids can easily feel like everything about their lives is under someone else’s control (adults often feel that too!). When some aspect of life or experience doesn’t feel good, or is even traumatizing, not only can it be largely inescapable for children, but also nearly impossible for them to articulate.
Breath is life. It grounds us in our own power. The breath soothes the nervous system and offers emotional regulation. Controlled breathing is something that caregivers and kids can do together to both feel empowered and connected, and to help kids feel control over how they feel, react, and show up when adjusting to new schedules and timelines.
Exercise: Strong Heart breathing technique
Can be done in any position, or even at school or in the office!
Bring awareness or place a hand on the heart center
Notice any feelings present there
Slow down and deepen the breath
Start to “send” the breath “into” the heart on the inhale, and imagine the oxygen is lighting a pilot light in the heart that grows brighter and warmer with each inhale
On each exhale, allow frustration and stress to release from the heart
Continue to grow and strengthen your “pilot light flame” with each inhale, and let go of disempowerment with each exhale for 3 - 5 minutes.
Comentarios