Satya Method Resource Center Newsletter
June 2006

Go to SMRC Home Page or Go to SarahWood.com

State Facilities Use Mindful Awareness Techniques

Donna Messina is hopeful that she will be leading meditations regularly this summer with a state residential program for girls in Massachusetts, beginning June 15. The girls are between the ages of 13 and 18 years old and are placed there by the courts for a variety of reasons. Messina lead guided meditations this past winter for two programs at a residential hospital. In one she journeyed a group of teenagers from a behavioral residential program through a forest with animals that gave the students positive affirmations. “The teacher had already implemented mindful awareness practices and I simply gave her a few more tools to use with them,” said Donna.

On a return trip to the program, the director introduced himself to Donna and told her of the positive impacts of mindfulness techniques. She also received a beautiful book of thanks filled with great feedback from the teens in the facility about Donna and the meditation tools they learned. “I feel confident in myself that I will be able to succeed in meditation. I felt really relaxed when I had a lot of issues on my mind. The meditation slowed down my thoughts and helped me focus on the good and not the bad,” wrote Alex. Shawn shared, “I felt like I was in heaven. I felt like I was drifting on a cloud.” And Joaquin wrote this note, “I will use relaxation when I’m angry, sad and lonely, and mostly in the morning when I’m a little grumpy.”

After the guided meditation, the students asked Donna what she listened to when she meditated. She played “Angel’s Touch” for them, a CD of flute music. The students sat still, listening, for forty-five minutes. “It was pretty powerful,” recalled Donna. Their teacher is also using on a daily basis a CD Donna recorded for them called Positive Affirmations from the Forest Animals. This, Donna says, is her goal. She hopes she can leave programs with tools they can use with their kids every day. Then her work can have the greatest impact.

Donna learned that state facilities are trying to create rooms that will offer a relaxing environment utilizing mindful awareness instead of using restraints when children have behavioral problems. “We are definitely in a time of transformation!” said Donna.

Connect with Donna: heavenlycomforts@charter.net

Many of Sarah’s students who have completed her Child Meditation Facilitators Training have gone on to open brand new businesses incorporating meditation techniques for children or grow their existing organizations. Some sell products that help parents teach relaxation and meditation techniques to their children, while others offer meditation programs for children and parenting classes. Some healing practitioners even use the techniques they learn in Sarah’s workshops with their adult clients. The three following Child Meditation Facilitators are successfully bringing conscious parenting to their local and internet communities.

Michelle Browning founded Parenting with Intention, www.parentingwithintention.org, with her husband Brandon. Sarah’s training is one of many they have incorporated into their parenting philosophy which they share with others through courses, workshops and personal coaching. Parenting with Intention courses cover 100 proven parenting methods that help parents find balance, incorporate democratic philosophy, nurture their children's self-esteem, facilitate conflict resolution within the family and deeply connect with their children.

Laura Brainard helped found Bridges, a Sunday spiritual community designed to be an alternative to church for families wanting to bring spiritual awareness into their daily family life. Laura teaches once per month in the children’s classes which develop a greater sense of the sacredness of life through meditation, music, art, play, story and prayer. To learn more visit: www.bridgesfamilies.org.

Lori Lite followed her intuition to help her young son. Lori tried everything to support her son who was diagnosed with ADHD. Her family’s health was spiraling downward until she discovered the benefits of affirmations and belly breathing. Lori, a mother of three, is the author of four children’s books which introduce children to visualization, positive affirmations, and relaxation. Her Indigo Dreams CD Series for children, teens and now adults has been awarded the CNE Award of Excellence. Her ability to teach others in an easy, encouraging, grounded manner has made her stories a resource for therapists, psychologists, yoga instructors, teachers and parents throughout the world. Lori is a Certified Children's Meditation Facilitator. She also sells posters and The Children’s Awareness Curriculum. They are available at her website www.indigodreams.net.

School Board Meeting leads to Volunteer Position

Sandi Smith, Child Meditation Facilitator, shared an article about the benefits of teaching meditation to children in schools at a school based council meeting and volunteered to help. A member of the council for three years, Sandi was asked to share meditation activities at Roosevelt High School, Des Moines, Iowa, with a group of girls frequently referred for disciplinary action.

Sandi presented a “45 minute sprint” through mandala coloring, tips for dealing with adrenaline charges, releasing energy without getting into trouble, and led them through a grounding cord meditation. (www.sarahwood.com/SampleMeditation.htm) Sandi recognized the need to trust herself and move forward boldly and confidently with these challenging students. “I quickly went into high-speed teaching, letting go of any inhibitions I had about not being cool,” she said.

Also, a Mandalas for Health and Healing Facilitator, Sandi used the tranquilizing affect of the mandalas and encouraged the girls to color throughout the session, except during the meditation. Sandi settled on the “simplicity of the grounding meditation.” She said, “I originally though it would be too primary for them but it was perfect in the end.” Sandi could tell by their body language that all the students were affected by the meditation. Four of the seven girl shared what they saw and let go of while meditating, despite strong peer pressure to remain silent. “The counselor who was present throughout raved about the unbelievable calm behavior of the girls during the 45 minutes; something she had never seen,” said Sandi.

With schools “scrambling for methods to help their students within their budget demands,” Sandi believes relaxation activities are becoming acceptable within the public school community. Sandi’s first session has had a lasting impact on the students; the principal of Roosevelt High School has asked her to come back.

Connect with Sandi: smithrob2@earthlink.net