Kid's Mindfulness Series
Sponsored by the Heath Cultural Council and the Massachusetts Cultural Council
What a year it has been! We are all eager to be around other people again, but sometimes that comes with anxiety. Life can be difficult with OR without a pandemic, so consider taking this opportunity to emerge out of the COVID-19 restrictions and into the summer with a mindfulness series held at the Heath Fairgrounds! Why mindfulness for kids? The quick answer: mindfulness is something can help with stress reduction, it can help with self-esteem, it can help with interpersonal connections, it can help with focus, it can help with many of the things we all struggle with, and things that isolation and underlying stress can really exacerbate.
So, What IS Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is simply being aware of where you are, what you are doing, and how it feels. It is being in the "here and now" - not looking back at things that make us feel bad, or that we wish could happen again, and not looking forward to things we are scared of or excited about. When we are being "mindful" we are just seeing the moment we are in. Why is this important? Well, we can't do anything about the past. We also don't actually know what the future is going to bring. So to be stuck in the feelings and emotions associated with the past and future (things we cannot control) tends to make our mind spin, and we can act out in unhealthy ways.
INSTEAD, if we can just know that RIGHT NOW we are alright, RIGHT NOW we know exactly what we are doing, and how it is feeling, it is easier to stay calm and steady. A lot of times, this is easier said than done, so making time to "practice" yoga and to "practice" meditation, helps us to"practice" mindfulness and expand it out into more parts of our lives. We can let our lives unfold as we move forward through each moment. We don't have to guess or figure anything out, we can just experience it!
Kid's Mindfulness Schedule & Recording Links
Please note: Links to YouTube videos will be shared on this page shortly after each live session. Recordings are not done during the class, they will be shorter sessions that review the concepts and movements for each theme.
Friday June 25th - Let's Get Grounded: Introduction, getting "GROUNDED" to the Earth - Mountain Pose, breathing from the ground, balance, guided body scan (click through for a link to the video).
Friday July 2nd - FLOWING Like Water: - moving our joints, balancing, frog, alligators and fish poses
Friday July 9th - BURN Like FIRE: We will build heat AND learn how to cool down with breath and body, Chair pose (also called FIERCE or LIGHTNING pose)
Friday July 16th: FLOATING In AIR: How can we feel light? Bird postures, taking flight with balance.
Friday July 23rd - SPACE: Being a part of the universe, feeling space in our bodies & minds.
Friday July 30th - BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER: - a little grounding, flowing, heat, lightness, and spaciousness. Beautiful!
Kid's Mindfulness Series Logistics
WHO: Kids 5 and up. There will be classes for kids 5 - 9, and kids 10 and up. Parents - feel free to join in! OR maybe consider meeting up with a friend to walk the Hosmer loop, take a stroll around the fairgrounds, or a nap someplace quiet.
WHAT IS NEEDED: Just you and a blanket/yoga mat. Mats are NOT required, but if you are interested in acquiring one, there are yoga mats from Parks & Rec available for low/no cost purchase. Please email Kate with questions.
WHAT WILL WE BE DOING: These sessions will incorporate: discussion about mindfulness (finding ways to be more aware, to be more "present"), doing yoga postures, breath work, and meditation (guided AND silent).
WHERE: Sheep Barn, Heath Fairgrounds, Hosmer Road, Heath
WHEN: LIVE on FRIDAYS June 25 - July 30 (recordings will be available)
Many thanks to the Heath Cultural Council for supporting this with grant funding, and thank you to the Heath Agricultural Society for the use of the sheep & goat barn at the Fairgrounds.
Sponsored by the Heath Cultural Council and the Massachusetts Cultural Council
What a year it has been! We are all eager to be around other people again, but sometimes that comes with anxiety. Life can be difficult with OR without a pandemic, so consider taking this opportunity to emerge out of the COVID-19 restrictions and into the summer with a mindfulness series held at the Heath Fairgrounds! Why mindfulness for kids? The quick answer: mindfulness is something can help with stress reduction, it can help with self-esteem, it can help with interpersonal connections, it can help with focus, it can help with many of the things we all struggle with, and things that isolation and underlying stress can really exacerbate.
So, What IS Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is simply being aware of where you are, what you are doing, and how it feels. It is being in the "here and now" - not looking back at things that make us feel bad, or that we wish could happen again, and not looking forward to things we are scared of or excited about. When we are being "mindful" we are just seeing the moment we are in. Why is this important? Well, we can't do anything about the past. We also don't actually know what the future is going to bring. So to be stuck in the feelings and emotions associated with the past and future (things we cannot control) tends to make our mind spin, and we can act out in unhealthy ways.
INSTEAD, if we can just know that RIGHT NOW we are alright, RIGHT NOW we know exactly what we are doing, and how it is feeling, it is easier to stay calm and steady. A lot of times, this is easier said than done, so making time to "practice" yoga and to "practice" meditation, helps us to"practice" mindfulness and expand it out into more parts of our lives. We can let our lives unfold as we move forward through each moment. We don't have to guess or figure anything out, we can just experience it!
Kid's Mindfulness Schedule & Recording Links
Please note: Links to YouTube videos will be shared on this page shortly after each live session. Recordings are not done during the class, they will be shorter sessions that review the concepts and movements for each theme.
Friday June 25th - Let's Get Grounded: Introduction, getting "GROUNDED" to the Earth - Mountain Pose, breathing from the ground, balance, guided body scan (click through for a link to the video).
Friday July 2nd - FLOWING Like Water: - moving our joints, balancing, frog, alligators and fish poses
Friday July 9th - BURN Like FIRE: We will build heat AND learn how to cool down with breath and body, Chair pose (also called FIERCE or LIGHTNING pose)
Friday July 16th: FLOATING In AIR: How can we feel light? Bird postures, taking flight with balance.
Friday July 23rd - SPACE: Being a part of the universe, feeling space in our bodies & minds.
Friday July 30th - BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER: - a little grounding, flowing, heat, lightness, and spaciousness. Beautiful!
Kid's Mindfulness Series Logistics
WHO: Kids 5 and up. There will be classes for kids 5 - 9, and kids 10 and up. Parents - feel free to join in! OR maybe consider meeting up with a friend to walk the Hosmer loop, take a stroll around the fairgrounds, or a nap someplace quiet.
WHAT IS NEEDED: Just you and a blanket/yoga mat. Mats are NOT required, but if you are interested in acquiring one, there are yoga mats from Parks & Rec available for low/no cost purchase. Please email Kate with questions.
WHAT WILL WE BE DOING: These sessions will incorporate: discussion about mindfulness (finding ways to be more aware, to be more "present"), doing yoga postures, breath work, and meditation (guided AND silent).
WHERE: Sheep Barn, Heath Fairgrounds, Hosmer Road, Heath
WHEN: LIVE on FRIDAYS June 25 - July 30 (recordings will be available)
- 9:30 - 10:15: ages 5 - 9
- 10:30 - 11:30: ages 10 and up
Many thanks to the Heath Cultural Council for supporting this with grant funding, and thank you to the Heath Agricultural Society for the use of the sheep & goat barn at the Fairgrounds.
