Dear Friends,
Do you practice mindfulness meditation with your eyes open or with eyes closed?
Don't worry, there is no right or wrong answer. When you practice mindfulness with your students you can invite them to sit with their eyes closed, but really it is optional.
It is optional "… because some children may feel uncomfortable doing so. An alternative is to ask them to have a "soft gaze" (unfocused eyes) and look at a spot on the floor about three feet in front of them."
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Anxious Children page 117 by Randye J. Semple, Jennifer Lee http://bit.ly/1KwnCQH
It might be easier to shut down our thoughts with our eyes closed; however, sitting with our eyes open may facilitate the ultimate goal of being mindful throughout the day, not just when we are sitting quietly and being mindful of our breath. So you can invite the students to sit with their eyes closed or to lower their eyelids as much as they're happy with.
Remember you are always invited to join us on Tuesdays Mornings for our Mindful Start which starts at 7:50 in Jessie Krohn's room in the B-wing. Try to arrive a few minutes early to pull up a chair and settle in.
Let me know how your practice is going and how I can support you in bringing the practice to your students.
All the Best,
Ann
Do you practice mindfulness meditation with your eyes open or with eyes closed?
Don't worry, there is no right or wrong answer. When you practice mindfulness with your students you can invite them to sit with their eyes closed, but really it is optional.
It is optional "… because some children may feel uncomfortable doing so. An alternative is to ask them to have a "soft gaze" (unfocused eyes) and look at a spot on the floor about three feet in front of them."
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Anxious Children page 117 by Randye J. Semple, Jennifer Lee http://bit.ly/1KwnCQH
It might be easier to shut down our thoughts with our eyes closed; however, sitting with our eyes open may facilitate the ultimate goal of being mindful throughout the day, not just when we are sitting quietly and being mindful of our breath. So you can invite the students to sit with their eyes closed or to lower their eyelids as much as they're happy with.
Remember you are always invited to join us on Tuesdays Mornings for our Mindful Start which starts at 7:50 in Jessie Krohn's room in the B-wing. Try to arrive a few minutes early to pull up a chair and settle in.
Let me know how your practice is going and how I can support you in bringing the practice to your students.
All the Best,
Ann
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