I am sure that during confinement you tried to meditate. Yes, we were told that this was the occasion, as an injunction to do so. Like yoga, like homemade bread. Like an injunction: "come on, go meditate it feels good!" "
As if meditation were the panacea and it was ABSOLUTELY necessary to go through this box to be in the know. No, meditation is not there to do good. It's weird to read this sentence. If it is not to do us good, then why do it? Already, we do not have to meditate. Everyone does what they want. And if in addition, we are told that meditation for children exists! What are we going to become ? Some may say, "I can't even keep my child in place, so have him meditate?" Not even in dreams ! " And yet, know that they can do it and so can you. You will see that it certainly does good but it is not the primary objective of meditation.
Why meditate then?
Before making the list of scientific benefits, I will tell you a little bit about my experience. How did I get into meditation? Certainly by chance.
I am very sporty, I always loved running, moving, dancing, bordering on being hyperactive. After the birth of my two children, I stopped playing sports. I moved with them but not in a group or with friends. When they were 4 and 6 years old, I used to take them very regularly to football. They were playing, and I was waiting on the stairs to correct my copies. But after a while, my legs swarming, I got into the habit of running on the track. At first it was tedious, but I held on. Then one race leading to another, I quickly came to finish my marathons. I was proud of myself and it was my moment! I did not have the children who asked me every time. It also means having time for yourself as a mom.
6 years ago (alreadỳ), just before a marathon, I feel a small ball under the breast. I finish the marathon while pondering like a patient. But no, it's nothing. Do not worry. I come home, I consult my gynecologist. She doubts, not me. I focus on this ball. I'm doing a biopsy and look, take this: it was breast cancer. I do not understand. Finally, if, I understand everything, time is running out. That's how I take it at the start. I put my papers away, just in case. And I'm not telling you about the operation, the chemo (you are young and athletic, that should be fine), the radiotherapy and, lastly, the little icing on the cake: hormone therapy for 5 years. I just finished it and I feel free.
And precisely, it is this freedom that I no longer found when I was in chemo. One day it's going to be okay, and then the side effects coming in: heavy fatigue, falling hair and everything else. I could hardly move or almost no longer. Really exhausted. Each movement made me realize how lucky I was when I was running. And that's how I told myself that it was all a marathon: the marathon of my life. Yes, for sure, but what do we feel good at the finish.
What about meditation?
When you can no longer move but you have your mind moving at a thousand an hour. I read, I watched TV but I was bored. I ruminated like crazy, telling myself that I was going to die, that I was going to leave my children without mom. And then I started to look at a book on happiness. What a cliché! I railed against this book which smelled of lies. And then, in this same book, we talked about meditation. I wanted to know more.
Meditation was for me, full of clichés: between the sketch of the Unknown and the fear of falling into a sect, I told myself that it was a shame because there were still things that spoke to me. I read books on meditation and dropped the book on happiness. I'll take care of it afterwards.
I started to practice, lying down because the exhaustion of the chemo prevented me from standing and even sitting. I was particularly interested in lay mindfulness meditation and mindfulness. I mostly read and practiced. Being hypersensitive, I noticed a change in my body and in the way I apprehend this cancer. I was more determined and more smiling too. The mindset, as we say, is positive. Mindfulness is everyday meditation. Being aware of my breathing allowed me to forget the rest. The ruminations disappeared. I helped myself with guided meditations and gradually on my own. It was my own moment, not just the moment when everything was agitated in me. I was more in accepting the things and emotions that were present. And it changed my way of seeing things. Even if I am of a playful nature, it allowed me to keep my zest for life despite the illness.
And after all that, I continued almost every day. And during moments of non-meditation, I became irritable and even angry. I quickly came back to that to calm my mind and make my mind clearer. Some will say that meditation relaxes. Yes it is true but it is not its main activity. Looking at what's going on inside allows you to move forward. It sounds like a cliché but that's how I see meditation.
Teach mindfulness meditation to children
I noticed so many benefits afterwards that I tried with children. I am a teacher and I wanted to try the experiment in my class with the agreement of the parents. I had this ritual every day after the canteen. We took 15 minutes seated to observe our thoughts, our breathing and our emotions. I quickly felt a change in them: more self-confidence, the possibility of recognizing and observing their emotions.
So I decided to train myself to teach these children. I offer them an eight-week program like the grown-ups (the program is called MBSR with meditations, moments of discussion and yoga). I have been continuing this for 5 years in class and the students love this moment for them, even those who find it hard to let go at first.
I accompany them with pleasure. And currently, when I call them to hear from them and take stock of distance work, they all tell me that they miss meditation. And children are really receptive to this. You just have to learn to breathe in full awareness. I had sent the links to my guided meditations so that they could listen to them. They explain to me that, during confinement, meditation helped them to overcome this ordeal and tell me that they really like my voice. Apparently, my voice reassures them and makes them think of pre-containment. For some, they practice it as a family, for others, it remains their moment, their bond with the class and do not wish to have anyone else.
So what is the point of meditating, it is already to remain an observer of one's body and mind, to give oneself a moment to feel all the little sensations and be present here and now. Everyone is able to meditate without it becoming an injunction. It will come from itself.
To find me:
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Read also: How to meditate with your child?