Calming practices for you to do at home either by yourself or the whole family.
These practices can help calm the mind, improve focus, memory and best of all can be practiced by anyone, no matter what your age.
To begin we want to shed some excess tension from the body and mind through breath. Brahmari is a very accessible and fun practice that you do with your kids, nieces, nephews or grandchildren.
Brahmari Pranayama
Bhramari Pranayama, also known as bee breath, that involves creating a humming sound during exhalation that resembles a bee.
This practice has a calming effect by withdrawing all auditory and visual sensory information by going within.
Bhramari has also been known to:
- improve sleep patterns
- reduce blood pressure
- regulate moods or behaviour, and
- enhance intuition
Note: If you are experiencing issues playing the video click here
Steps to Practice Brahmari (Humming Bee breath)
1. Gently block your ears with your thumbs and gently close down the eyes or take the gaze down the nose or: practice with Shanmuki Mudras (closing of the 7 gates). To practice Shanmuki Mudra follow these steps:
a) lightly block your ears using your thumbs
b) close your eyes and cover your eyelids with index fingers,
c) partially block your nostrils on the sides of your nose with your middle fingers and
d) place ring and little fingers just above and below your lips to close your mouth.
2. Inhale through the nose and hum like a bee on exhale.
3. Focus on the sound and vibration created by the humming during the practice.
You can also explore the range between a low and high pitch. A lower frequency can access a soothing and grounding sensation in the body. A higher frequency may elevate your energy and clear away cloudiness accumulated around the head.
Practicing with compassion and care:
*If you or the kids have hearing or ear sensitivities practice with a light hum without the mudra or blocking the ear
* Do not practice if you have epilepsy.
* Avoid if you have an active ear or eye infeciton
* Avoid following any facial eye or ear surgery or if you have high blood pressure
YOGA FOR KIDS WITH ELLY
Explore fun and interesting variations of yoga poses with your children.
The intention of this practice is to encourage children to improve physical and mental wellbeing by shifting excess tension from the body.
This video covers easy-to-follow poses such as:
- Sun Salutations A (Surya Namaska)
- Frog pose
- Tree pose (Vrikshasana) and
- Happy Baby pose (Ananda Balasana)
Note: If you are experiencing issues playing the video click here
PRACTICING WITH COMPASSION AND CARE
While yoga techniques offer numerous benefits for your physical and mental health, it's important to approach it with care and mindfulness. Listen to your body and respect the limitations of your body and those in your care.
Use props when necessary, warm up properly, and prioritise safety and self-awareness of yourself and those in your care.
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Elly is practicing with our natural dye hand block printed meditation bundles and yoga accessories
Elly Chandrawira
Yoga Teacher & Calm Buddhi Content Creator