Traditions from far away continue to surface across America and are enjoyed by anyone seeking something different. These days, it’s common place to catch a yoga class before supper or spend your weekend Feng Shui-ing your living room. Yoga is the new aerobics with over 15 million Americans (including children) practicing. And meditation is gaining popularity by the decade. Schools in Connecticut, Georgia, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Ontario, Canada are already teaching meditation. Even more encouraging, some of these programs are funded by organizations such as the American Heart Association, the National Institute of Health, Chrysler and General Motors.

Meditation helps children improve upon almost any skill they are working toward mastering. Meditation offers a perfect forum for practicing these new skills, whether it be athletic, academic or simple centering. Meditation also helps children better understand and process their emotions, which lead to better relationships with others – siblings, parents, and classmates. After meditation children are better able to consciously respond instead of automatically react to the actions of others. When children become more comfortable with their emotions they also improve their relationship with themselves. They feel more compassion, love and understanding for themselves, which strengthens their self esteem and brings them closer to happiness.

I teach a technique called Sensational Meditation, which is based on the five senses. It’s as easy as closing your eyes and imagining what a tree looks like, noticing a physical feeling or emotion or even listening to a soothing bell tone. This simplistic approach makes Sensational Meditation a perfect practice for children. I push no dogmatic concepts or strict disciplines. Instead, I teach straightforward skills using meditations from all over the world. Higher self esteem, improved focus, better reading skills, closer relationships with family members and better health are just a few of the benefits parents, therapists and teachers who use these techniques are raving about.

Since 1999, Sarah has been teaching meditation techniques to children, helping them not only to cope in today’s world but to thrive in it. Contrary to what one might think, kids love to meditate. Sarah's students tell her, “That was better than my video game,” “When can we come back to meditate?” and “I didn’t know meditation was so easy.”

Read a short yet informative article about teaching meditation to children. More articles at the bottom of this page.

Take advantage of the sample meditations offered on this site.

Participate in Child Meditation Facilitators Training - below.

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Child Meditation Facilitator's Training (with optional Certification)
Tele-course
August 20 - September 24
Wednesday evenings 7 to 9 pm EST

6 pm Chicago
4 pm Los Angeles
9 am Sydney Australia
7 am Hong Kong

It is important that participants not drive during the last 90 minutes of the call, however, commuting during the first 30 minutes is possible.

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A course for those interested in teaching meditation to children - learn time tested techniques children love and easily integrate into their lives. Whether you are a parent, teacher or other professional, you will become completely prepared to teach meditation to children. Certification is offered through Satya International.

Topics Covered During the Course

•Teaching using the seven principles of the Satya Method.
•Creating a safe and comfortable teaching environment.
• Bringing children and meditation together - what to expect
• Helping children use their five senses to enjoy and enhance their meditation experiences.
• How to incorporate art into the meditation experience.
• Healing our bodies with meditation.
• How meditation benefits the mind.

• The spiritual body - working with auras and chakras and understanding subtle energy.
• Mediation as a practice and meditation as healing.
• Meditation for improving relationships.
• Using meditation to help children better understand themselves and their relationship to the world.
• Creating meditations for special issues. Learn steps to creating original mediations.

Cost

Six Week Tele-course: $125 each for part 1 and 2 paid separatly or $230 for both paid at once. You are not obligated to sign up for part 2 (however almost everyone ends up completing both parts)

All participants will need to purchase the book Sensational Meditation for Children for $12.95. All tel-course participants will also need to pay for telephone calls to a U.S. number. International calling cards with inexpensive rates can be purchased.

Tele-course Certification Participants: Certification Participants will have the option to become certified after completing both Part 1 and 2. Certification Participants are required to participate fully in class exercises and discussions. In addition they will need to keep their line un-muted and call from a quiet location with minimal distractions (this includes arranging childcare).

How the Tele-course Works

To participate in our tele-classes all you need is access to a telephone and you can participate from anywhere. This is very helpful if you are scheduled to be out of town during one of the classes. Participants are provided with a phone number and access code to join the weekly calls. While on the call, participants can listen to the training facilitator, fellow students and ask questions whenever they come up.

Registration

Registration: Register Online space is still available

Accepting Visa, Master Card and American Express.

Here is what Certified Facilitators have to say about our training. 

My daughter Madison has been medication free since I began practicing meditation with her. Prior to that we were treating her every month! She talks about feeling that her mind is more powerful than her body and that she can tell it to do whatever she wishes. Meditation is part of our morning routine. Sometimes it lasts 5 minutes and sometimes 30, but no matter what it looks like, it is benefiting all of us by centering us and allowing us all the space to set our intention for the kind of day that we want. I want to thank you again and again for gifting us with meditation!
Michelle Browning, Torrance CA

The Child Meditation Facilitator Training combined a comprehensive overview with extensive experiential learning opportunities to bring together a wonderful understanding of the practice of meditation with children. Upon completion of the training, I felt confident and competent enough to apply this learning experience in my own practice with children. Every aspect of the training experience was worthwhile, informative, and personally rewarding. I highly recommend this workshop for anyone working with the intent to make profound, positive shifts in the lives of children.
Sheri Hardcastle Child Therapist/Social Worker, Ontario Canada

 

The Child Meditation Facilitator course opens doors to creative simplicity that touch the hearts of adults and children alike. I recommend this class to all who want to provide children with tools of empowerment they can use throughout their life.
Nancy Brady Healer/Intuitive Orange County, California USA

This workshop is a double blessing; it is a workshop to become a Certified Child Meditation Facilitator, as well as a gentle healing weekend retreat. Not only did Sarah provide me with tools with which I can provide my own classes and workshops, she also created a safe environment in which I was able to heal and clear the fears that had been preventing me from moving forward. I am now ready to take my place as a teacher and a healer.
Angela Moore Mother/Healer Pasadena California USA

I loved the class. I learned a lot in a short amount of time, not only about teaching the children, but I also gained some great personal insight. The group was very dynamic with like minds sharing support and wisdom.
Mary Albright Neo-Natal Nurse, Redondo Beach California USA

Becoming Certified

The Child Meditation Facilitator Certification is made up of three parts:
1. Participation in Child Meditation Facilitators Training (either a weekend workshop or tele-classes)

2. Essay
A short essay based on information in the text Sensational Meditation for Children by Sarah Wood.

3. Teaching your very own meditation class for children.
After completion of your training you will set up and teach your very own class. The minimum number of students is three and it is not advised to exceed ten. Students can be any age between and including 5 to 16 years old. Your own children can participate, however you should also have other children in addition to your own. A specific teaching outline is provided. This class will need to be video taped and sent to your instructor for review. You will have 60 days after completion of the training to teach this class.

Meditating with your Child – A Practice Based on Our ‘Ten’ Senses
Sarah Wood, CNE Magazine, 2004.

Teaching Meditation to Children
Sarah Wood, CNE Magazine, 2004.

Nurturing Spiritual Growth in Families
Denice Evans, Satya Method Resource Center, 2004.

It's cool to be calm; Meditation can help kids focus, but does it have health benefits?
Elena Conis. Los Angeles Times.,Sep 5, 2005.

Meditation Key to Education, Say School Officials
Lori Higgins, Detroit Free Press, June 5, 2003

Calm in the classroom: for many kids, a little quiet time offers a lot of stress-reducing benefits. Some schools are encouraging a kind of hush that helps - Education.
Jeanne Ambrose, Better Homes & Gardens, November, 2002.
 The Grounding Cord, Sleepy Cloud and the Happy Tree meditations, as mentioned in the Teaching Meditation to Children article.
Stay Connected and Inspired: Satya Method Resources Newsletter
Satya Method Resource Center

 

 

 

 

I have used these meditations with my daughter to help her relax in the doctor's office and to find quiet at bedtime.
Jennifer Jazwierska, School Psychologist

 

 

Child Meditation Facilitators Training and Certification Tele-course begins Aug. 20

 

 

 

Read Sarah's latest newsletter: Topic is Neurofeedback and Children.

828-242-0680
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Copyright 2006 Satya International