In times of hardship, what do you do?
Imagine yourself, 10 years old in a classroom, sitting in a lotus position with your eyes closed. The teacher invites you to become aware of your breath. You’re only a kid, but your experience is so valuable that you’re guided and encouraged to explore it…
Now that’s not really the reality most of us grew up with is it? But imagine if it were!
It’s funny to me how this isn’t part of the school curriculum, that there isn’t a class called “when things get tough” and a step by step guide with all the things we can do when we get overwhelmed. It’s almost like the system overlooks this very human aspect of being human and considers it something that should be figured out in isolation.
What if we started talking about these things before they developed into depressions, mental disorders and even physical conditions? What if we educate our youth to have the tools to address the things within themselves that don’t always get talked about.
There is an entire vacuum in the system that we could blow life into with just a little bit of awareness, compassion and mindful practices.
Imagine your own life if someone you looked up to had seen you in the most challenging time of your youth, had sat you down and walked you through the steps that you could take to help yourself move through your own hardships. Not only would it be likely to have made you feel like what you were going through was normal, like your struggles were important and seen but you’d also walk away empowered to be that same help to someone else. It isn’t rocket science that what we are able to grow from, we can also support others through.
And though many lacked this kind of support throughout their upbringing, it isn’t too late to create a change now, which will continue to ripple through the generations to come.
Happiness and well being has been in the backburner in our institutions for too long and it is about time that they take up the time, space and energy that they truly deserve across all societies platforms, and most importantly the educational.
Yoga is a wonderful tool, a scientifically based practice which undeniably creates sustaining and positive shifts in its practitioner. Why not let our kids have it from the gecko instead of having them fumble the way we may have?
Share the Yoga, share the joy, you never know how much one little breathwork session can do for someone 🙂
Love,