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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Mindfulness in Minutes

by Rosie Lazroe, Coordinator, Local Yoga Directory

What a joy it is to be completely in the moment! Children naturally exist in a state of present moment awareness. They live their lives through play, and as we all know, it is easy to be in the moment when we are having fun.

I have been teaching yoga to kids for over a decade and have found that when kids are introduced to yoga and meditation in a joyful environment, they will grow to love the practice. In fact, I have witnessed children lean into these practices all on their own when faced with boredom or stress.

We can all develop a regular mindfulness practice through simple, daily activities. Seizing small opportunities throughout each day to be mindful can blossom into a yogic lifestyle for the whole family. The key is to introduce the practices in digestible portions and make them as easy and as interesting as possible.

Waiting for a seat at a busy restaurant or on a long line at the supermarket are great opportunities for grade school children to practice meditation. Patience can be achieved through a listening meditation game by counting how many sounds you can hear in 30 seconds while remaining silent. This may be a challenge at first, but kids will enjoy sharing what they heard, and gradually this game can increase to 10-15 minutes.

When toddlers are just learning to walk, they assume one pointed concentration with each step. If you spend time with a toddler, you can take some time each day to adopt a walking meditation as you walk with them. Let them guide the pace and settle into a deep breath if you get the urge to rush them. This is meditation in action.

In time, we can try these practices during some of the more stressful moments in life. Time outs and temper tantrums can be remedied by blowing on a feather for five minutes to help a child calm the breath. Staring at a snow globe for a few minutes can cultivate peace of mind. For more seasoned yogis, practicing an arm balance is a great way to get kids to refocus and create a healthy mind-body connection.

While there are endless possibilities with which we can imagine and experiment, the best place to learn yogic tools that can be used in the home are in family yoga classes. Check our yoga directory for a family yoga workshop and children’s yoga classes in your area. Have a happy journey.  Namaste.

Rosie Lazroe is a certified yoga teacher and master reiki practitioner. For more information, you can contact her at 732-596-7384, [email protected] or visit RosieLazroe.com.

Rosie’s Corner
Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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