Meditation in whatever form, whether breath meditation, reciting a mantra, walking or insight meditation, or any other approach to meditation, is a way of letting go of the calculating mind and opening up to your own silent intuitive awareness within. It is a centering and calming practice that aids in tuning inward and bringing forth your own higher wisdom.
Practicing meditation in the classroom is a way of slowing down and quieting the excessive thinking mind and resting the mind in stillness. In this stillness the spirit is set free and questions may be asked and answers received from the Higher Self. The answers may come as an intuitive feeling of knowing that it is right, or a literal mind knowing.
Meditation in the classroom aids teachers and students become focused, calm and centered and come from a balanced sense of feeling and knowing. Meditation can easily be adopted and integrated as a daily practice in whole life education. For instance, in primary school, meditation may be moments of quiet time. In grade school and higher education, meditation may become a daily practice at the start of each class. A few moments of meditation may also be practiced just prior to stressful activities such as writing examinations, or just prior to creative activities such as writing or theorizing.
To relieve stress and decrease anxiety in the classroom, meditate!
The principal source of stress is the mind. To calm down thinking during meditation is a natural antidote to relieve stress. It also results in a slowed metabolic rate and this decreases anxiety. By way of a peaceful mind, there develops a gradual fundamental change in consciousness and this opens the gates to imagination, intuition, inspiration and creativeness. These serve to guide toward transformative whole life learning that is helpful to improve attentiveness, concentration and alertness.
The energy of meditation is cumulative. In time teachers and students come to notice enormous educational benefits that promote individual performance and leadership skills. As teachers and students become more in tune with their own inner wisdom, they perform better in the classroom and in their lives.
To meditate sit comfortably in a chair, back straight, feet flat on the floor. Close your eyes, keep breathing deeply and feel your whole body relax. Feel your feet, legs, stomach, chest, arms and shoulders relax. Relax your jaw, eyes, face and head. When your mind wanders allow the thoughts that do arise to flow through your mind without clinging or identifying with them. Just let them go. Keep breathing deeply. Then center yourself by linking with your heart charka in the middle of your chest. Allow yourself to become calm and heart centered and to experience a sense of deep inner peace.
Disclaimer
All exercises, suggestions, and ideas provided are for general
information purposes only, do not constitute professional advice, and
are not intended to substitute for the guidance of a professional or
specialist. Irene van Kessel assumes no liability or responsibility
whatsoever for any loss or damage of any kind regardless how arising.