Helping boys manage their anger

Yoga and Mindfulness for Anger in Kids

We are delighted to share this insight and experience from one of our profesores de meditación calificados, who shares her experiences of using yoga and mindfulness for anger in kids.

She has been working with children through mindful activities and yoga to help them focus and manage strong emotions, such as anger. Here, she presents two different sessions that were creative and inspirational. We hope this will inspire you to support young people with yoga or mindfulness for anger in kids.

“I’ve been working with two boys – each on a 1:1 basis. The journey so far has helped me change my approach to yoga and meditation – helping me to teach in an intuitive way.

Conducta desafiante y meditación

“A ambos chicos les resulta difícil encajar en un entorno de clase normal. Les resulta difícil y estresante lidiar con el ruido y el ajetreo del aula. A menudo encuentran que están abrumados por la ira y la frustración y se desquitan con quienes los rodean ".

"Son incapaz de concentrarse en las tareas establecidas, lo que se suma a sus sentimientos de no ser lo suficientemente buenos y a la frustración y el fracaso total. Ellos lo encuentran difícil de expresar y comunicar en un ambiente de clase. This leads to aggression and what is often perceived as ‘bad behaviour’.”

“They are from different schools but both are seven years old. I have been teaching them meditation and yoga for around six months. In this time, they have taught me so much. I have learnt as much from them as they have from me!”

“Initially my lessons were quite structured and I became quite concerned if the session didn’t go as I planned. I remember the first meditation I taught…it just didn’t hold his attention and he didn’t settle at all. I felt as if I had failed.”

Heart-felt Intuition in Teaching Meditation

“What I have learned is to allow these sessions to work with, and be guided by, the boys. Llego con un tema e ideas en las que quiero trabajar, pero los chicos agregan y desarrollan estas ideas a lo largo de la sesión. Ambos chicos son creativos e imaginativos y encuentro las sesiones tan inspiradoras.“

“Here is small example“

“One of the exercises I use is with feathers to help the boys be mindful of their breath. This prop can help children focus on the breath as it gives them something tactile to connect their breath to.”

"Un niño transformó este ejercicio – his idea was to create an army assault course. We blew the feather along the yoga mat as if we were going under an army scramble net. We then added other movements such as climbing an imaginary wall, swimming, jumping and other mindful movements. Estaba totalmente comprometido with his body and breath as we followed this sequence inspired by his imagination.”

“In another session, I used a piece of material which can become different ‘objects’; from the sea, to a circus prop, becoming a tent, a space ship and all sorts of other creative ideas.“

“Once, I was guiding the boy to use the material as if he were a chick hatching from the egg. I suggested he start in child’s pose and moved to standing. My lovely student had his own interpretation, watching him punch and kick his way out of the egg, working out those difficult feelings we can’t always put into words.”

“Los chicos inspiran diferentes tipos de movimiento. Games can turn into something completely new and unique. I allow them to guide the theme of the meditations from movement based, colouring, drawing pictures, looking at crystals, listening to music or discussing a picture book. I have a bag of simple meditation resources which grows every time we meet together.”

Creando sesiones de meditación junto con los niños

“Me permito seguir mi intuición sentida y deja que los chicos me guíen e inspiren, mientras me sintonizo con sus necesidades y su energía. Juntos creamos y damos forma a la lección ".

"Pasar tiempo con estos chicos me ha enseñado to be much more playful. In some ways I have been able to discover an inner child in me that loves to be playful, to have fun and to enjoy what happens. It has also helped my confidence and to worry less (both while teaching and in life!)”

"Si bien nos divertimos mucho en las sesiones la capacidad de los niños para concentrarse ha mejorado: se concentra durante una hora o más. They give their full attention to the activities. And their feedback is that se sienten bien as a result of the session.”

"Su parents gave positive feedback – telling me how much both of the boys enjoy the sessions. how they are happy and more able to deal with stressful times; while being calmer after the sessions and less angry. I believe that the meditation sessions make them feel positive and valued.”

Reflexiones

A menudo pensamos en la meditación para niños como un proceso sentado o quieto, but our Connected Kids Training demonstrates that for many children they need to work through the emotions and thoughts that link to their anger and frustration. Using movement to release and process big emotions is a powerful healer. It gives them permission to safely express this emotion and guide the meditation sessions which les ayuda a sentirse involucrados y valorados.

We hope this has inspired you to try teaching using yoga and mindfulness for anger in kids.

Interested in finding out more?

Connected Kids Services

Saber más

Connected Kids Resources