Inner Calm and Focus
The teacher reads the exercise slowly, pausing at the dots…
If you wish you can play soft music in the background.
Firstly, sit in a comfortable position on your chairs, or cross legged on the floor. Make sure your back is straight and head is upright. Take a deep breath and relax as you breathe out. Close your eyes, or if you are uncomfortable with that, look down at the floor. Take another deep breath… and another …
Now hear the sounds in the classroom….
Hear the soft sounds…
Hear the loud sounds….
Hear all the sounds, outside the classroom as well….
The roar of the distant traffic… the birds singing.
Hear all the sounds (pause)…
When you hear my small bell tinkle, slowly open your eyes, look at the person sitting next to you and smile.
Discussion:
(To help the children with their concentration the next time they do this exercise)
- What did you hear? Did you hear any loud sounds?
- Did you hear any soft sounds? Did you feel any pleasant feelings?
- Give me examples of sounds you heard and whether they were loud or soft and whether they were long or short.
[Reference : Sathya Sai Education in Human Values, A Curriculum for the Development of Character and Emotional Literacy by Carole Alderman]