Better Body Awareness for Children with Yoga Nidra

Mar 25, 2017

Yoga Nidra is a practice of deep, guided relaxation.  It is like a meditation that can smooth out the rough edges in the mind to experience more peace and ease in life.

The practice can be broken into parts and made more interactive for children so they too can experience the benefits. Children are developing many skills in life.  Developing the skill of self-understanding and self-acceptance will empower them for the rest of their lives.

One part of this technique that can be pulled out for children is called “body sensing” or “rotation of consciousness”.  Various parts of the body are named in a specific order and the child is invited to become aware of that part of the body.  Imagery can be added to make it more engaging.  For example, a child is invited to imagine that a star, their own special star, falls from the sky and gently lands on a spot right in the middle of their forehead.  This star then moves around the body, lighting up each area as it lands there.

Bringing attention to the body in this methodical way has several important benefits.  One is that it increases body awareness.  Greater body awareness can improve everything from posture to confidence.  It can also help a child be a better self-advocate for their own wellbeing as they become more sensitive to imbalance and can ask for help at earlier stages of that imbalance in the body or the mind.

This body sensing exercise is also very relaxing.  One 9-year-old boy said it best when he rolled up to sitting after a session.  “Woa”, he said. “I’m so relaxed because my mind couldn’t think of anything else except the body part you were naming.”  Good for him for recognizing that his racing thoughts were not relaxing and that quieting the mind can happen through relaxing the body. 

Body sensing also brings more “energy” to the body.  Our attention is like a light, whatever we shine it upon grows.  Shining this light throughout the body “wakes up” the body and enlivens all systems for optimal functioning.  It’s the difference between feeling like the body is shrouded in London fog vs. strolling along in San Diego sunshine.

Learn more about the best way to teach children Yoga Nidra through our online course and workshop.