Teach your child the benefits of practicing mindful breathing!

 

 

Book reviews are my favorite!! If you haven’t already noticed, I have quite the library of books that I have collected over my many years of teaching, and I am so glad that I am able to add even more books to my personal library! I am also glad that I am able to share such great books with my readers and introduce others to new books and authors. I hope you enjoy this book as much as my preschool class and I did!

 

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The importance of practicing mindfulness

I’m sure that you’ve heard about the importance of practicing mindfulness on our bodies and mind. Mindful exercises and activities are beneficial to children and adults, and can have long lasting, positive effects. It can help with anxiety, help relieve stress and promote feelings of calmness.

I have been engaging in and incorporating mindful practices at home for a few years. In addition to practicing yoga and the occasional meditation breaks, I have noticed quite a difference in my thinking, my moods, and my over body health. Mindfulness is a way of bringing your attention to your surroundings and giving time to think about what and how things around you make your feel. Through various exercises and activities, mindfulness can bring about feeling of calmness , relaxation, and clarity.

 

Related post: Help reduce your child’s anxiety with these tools

 

 

 

 

I try to engage in mindfulness and meditation practices on a daily basis, and when I was a classroom teacher, I had even introduced many mindful activities into my classroom as well. So when I was given the opportunity to review this book on mindful breathing with my class, I jumped at the opportunity! The children were excited and interested to hear more about their “magic breath”!

 

If you would like more information on mindfulness activities and exercises or to learn the benefits of practicing mindfulness, please feel free to check out my posts, Family friendly activities & resources that promote Mindfulness or 4 child led ways to get your child to focus and concentrate.

 

 

 

 

My Magic Breath: Finding Calm Through Mindful Breathing is a book written by Nick Ortner and Alison Taylor. Nick Ortner is an author and the CEO of The Tapping Solution,LLC; which is a company that bring awareness to an ancient Chinese, natural healing method known as “tapping”. Nick Ortner is also the author of The Big Book of Hugs: A Barkley the Bear Story. Alison Taylor is an elementary school teacher and the coauthor of My Magic Breath: Finding Calm Through Mindful Breathing and The Big Book of Hugs: A Barkley the Bear Story. She is also a mom and wife. For more information on Nick Ortner and his books, please visit his website here.

 

My Magic Breath: Finding Calm Through Mindful Breathing is a book that teaches children the importance of being mindful, taking deep breaths and letting out the built up energy. It is very interactive and fun for children to engage in and find if their breath is “magical”. Each page is so engaging and has them practice the mindful breathing many times. The illustrations are very colorful and lively, and kept the children’s interest throughout the whole book. We all had a great time practicing our mindful breaths and letting out the energy from our breaths.

 

 

I had read and introduced this book to my class of preschoolers who, at the time, ranged in age from three to six years old. Around March or April, they would normally start to get antsy and silly and could be disruptive & unfocused in the classroom. This book was a great way to help calm their little bodies and minds! There is always a need to practice mindful breathing, and this book was the perfect way for them to practice that. The best part was when the kids and I had practiced our mindful breathing and seeing if we had magical breaths! Turns out, we did! Haha!

 

 

Yoga and mindful breathing are one in the same!

We had actually carried this activity on throughout the remainder of the school year by practicing more mindful breathing after we were finished with the book. We practiced what we call in yoga our Ujjayi breathing. Ujjayi breathing is a technique in which you completely fill your lungs, breathing through your nose, and letting out the breath with a little bit of sound. It is also sometimes called the “Darth Vader breathing”!

 

Related post: The Importance of fitness: Incorporating yoga into the classroom

 

 

What to take from this

There is never a wrong time to introduce and practice mindful breathing to children or your family. Mindful breathing can be used in a number of situations, and can be beneficial to you being in control of your mental health and feelings. It’s okay for children to feel all types of emotions and feelings, but we as adults should be showing them helpful and practical ways in which to maintain them.

 

 

 

 

How does your family practice mindfulness? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments!

 

Happy Reading!!!!

Anitra J.