Why Meditate With Kids?

Meditation is simply the act of focusing on one thing. And it’s a practice. Trust me, it’s hard for me so I can only imagine how hard it is for our kiddos. But they can do it! They can do hard things and it is such a beautiful thing. Meditating can help reduce anxiety, lengthen attention span and boost their self-esteem. All good things!

When to Meditate with Kids?

I like to start our day off with meditation. But meditation will look different for each and every family and child. Some families use it as part of their bedtime routine. The time of day isn’t as important as the practice and building of the habit. Kids will start to recognize how they feel after meditating and then they will be able to take those skills to the playground…literally. They will be able to find that focus, find that stillness and relax their mind body connection.

How to Meditate with Kids?

You guys. Meditating is hard! So often I will mentally go through my to-do list and suddenly I am not longer meditating. Keep in mind that meditating will look different for everyone! For some it’s placing your hand on your heart and breathing. For others it’s listening to calming music and clearing your mind.

Today I am sharing a page straight out of my course Simply Kids – Self Love. This printable download is a great way to visualize breathing. If breathing is all you have in your tank today. No problem, I’ve got you!

Click here to download now!

Here are some tips for meditating with kids.

1. Calming music to focus on.
2. Let them light a candle or turn on a salt lamp.
3. Start with a time of day that is already calm. Morning or night time routines.
4. Be there with them (lead by example) and then let them explore it on their own.
5. Use guided meditations. I have lost count of the number of moms who have tried meditating with their kids, guiding them. And then they use my guided meditations for kids and teens and all of a sudden it clicks for them. It’s the classic, kids will listen to someone other than mom.
6. Good better best. Remember something is better than nothing. Maybe they just listen to a guided meditations while coloring (keep those little hands busy – they are still listening). Next time try to have them sit on a pillow AND listen. And once they get the hang of it maybe add music, candles, lighting. And take each day one at a time. You are doing the right thing!
7. Let them be kids. Stillness will come with practice and in the meantime, let wiggle, giggle, and make it relatable.

Always remember it’s a practice. It will take time. Please please please do not say you’ve failed when they won’t sit still and won’t listen after one try. They will. Keep going and when they are ready they will join you. Hug those babies and enjoy this connection!

Light and love,

Manifesting is actually a simple concept but most of the time we close ourselves off to the possibilities. We measure our worth by numbers…the amount we make, how much we weigh, the shoes we own. And that actually limits us to the completely endless possibilities.

That’s where manifesting comes in. Our thoughts become… actions become habits… become character…becomes reality!

So where do you start? How do you open your mind to that type of scope? What are the exact steps?

I’m going to share with you a little bit about my journey and then talk about what finally worked. What finally clicked for me!

My Journey…in a nutshell.

When I started this cute little blog I was full on into cute mommy mode. I made hair bows and I shared home decorating ideas….boy has my style changed!! I wanted a place to share my thoughts and my ideas and blogging was a great place for that. But I also measured myself with it….I’m a good mom if… I’m a good host if… I got caught up in the if/then and I neglected to find what was already there.

Then I was fully committed to crossfit. I found success there. I lost over 80 lbs and I felt like a bad ass! There again, I measured weight…gains…strength. I neglected the strength I already had within!

Recently I’ve found myself in deep inner healing. Finding the worth and strength that was already there from the beginning. Using tools like yoga, chakras, meditation, energy clearing, and so much more! I share most of my journey on Instagram and hope that something speaks to you…connects with your soul so you can begin your healing work too.

Listen, this is a very short snippet of my journey. Just an example of what measuring ourselves can do. If you want to read more about my journey you can find it here.

3 Simple Steps to Manifesting

1. Start with gratitude. This will be the hardest part. This needs to be a consistent, daily practice. Gratitude literally changes your vibration. Gratitude lifts your mind, body, and soul. It elevates your ability to open your mind to more…more possibilities, more acceptance, more awakening.
2. Write it down. I journal everyday. I write down my wants, my desires, my dreams. I talk about them as if they have already happened. I create them, I plan them, I let them take over completely. Pen to paper…don’t just think about your dreams. Make them a physical part of your daily practice.
3. Listen/Be Ready. Ok that’s two things but they go hand in hand. Listen…your thoughts, your promptings are all speaking truth to you. And then be ready. Once you learn to listen to your inner peace, your inner child, your inner desires…be ready for guidance in abundance. Let it wash over you and be ready to hit the ground running. You will feel as though you are on fire. Let it consume you…be ready!

Why Manifesting Matters

Before my awakening…before even realizing it…I was manifesting. Not intentionally, not specifically, not with determination. I journaled, I had promptings, I had thoughts…but I always doubted them. If I could go back and tell that moment of me to believe in herself…in her desires…oh how I love that Sadie for working so hard for her health and her family. But I am also so excited for what her and I are going to do together.

Manifesting with intention matters. You matter. Your wants and desires matter. That’s what I want you to know, to love, to believe.

You might also like:

7 Body Gratitude Affirmations

How to Manifest the Meditation Space of Your Dreams

What Being Present Really Looks Like

Do you smell that cinnamon pretzel?
The neighbor mowing the lawn?
Flowers? Rain?

It’s always nice to set the mood, but sometimes, if you can just start the practice, the mood will come to you!

5 Ways to Boost Your Meditation Space with Scent

Candles

I love candles! Mostly for their looks. A tapered candlestick all drippy with wax. I also love the smell of a candle just blown out. It’s one of those scents you can instantly recognize. It’s a scent I can focus on.

Sage/Incents

I mostly use these to cleanse a room or crystal but they are great for helping you get in the right headspace. Clear your thoughts and just breathe.

Household chores

Do you ever take the time to sit and enjoy the room you just cleaned? The fresh, warm laundry? Girlfriend, you’ve earned that moment! Sit right there on that pile of laundry and take it all in. Big…deep…full breaths. Trust me!

Get Outside

You may or may not have a dedicated space in your home for meditation. But don’t forget to take a step outside…a barefoot step. Ground yourself and take a few deep breaths.

Familiar Smells

A loved ones clothes, babies, a home cooked meal…many scents will instantly take us back to a specific moment. If you are healing, or struggling to connect, using familiar scents in breathwork and meditation can help make that healing connection.

Other posts you might like…

3 Ways to Add Touch to Your Breathwork Practice

5 Ways to Add Light and Life to Your Meditation Space

How to Manifest the Meditation Space of Your Dreams

Today let’s talk about touch. It’s one of the easiest ways for me to focus on my breath.

Here are 3 ways I like to add touch into my daily breathwork practice.

Hands on your heart and your belly.

Our hands hold so much energy and power. Every day our hands help others. We cook, we clean, we heal, we lift, we change lives. Breathwork is your way of investing a little piece of that healing energy back in yourself. Place one hand on your heart and one on your belly. Breath in and feel your chest rise. Breath out, fall.

Grounding. Connecting with the earth.

I love putting my bare feet on the dirt or the sand. I love crystals too. There is so much earth gives us.

Tapping.

Tapping for strength. Tapping for focus. Tapping for peace. Just like placing your hands on your heart, tapping brings that energy back to you.

I love declaring my morning with an affirmation.

Pick one to focus on.

I am strength, I am love, I am light…

Then inhale and tap your pointer to your thumb while stating your affirmation. Exhale. Inhale and tap your middle finger to your thumb. Exhale. Repeat this for each finger and repeat…as many times as needed.

Why touch is so important to breath work.

Sometimes it’s hard for us to sit still and breathe. It is hard to focus. It is hard to breathe. I do not take my breath lightly. I take it in as much as I can. I know how important it is.

Even so. It is hard.

Touch can help you focus. Help you ground yourself. Help you heal.

Try adding touch to your next meditation or simple sit and breathe it all in.

Your worth is already within you!

I hope your healing path will lead you to that beautiful truth.

I started my path with body gratitude affirmations. When it’s hard to believe, when it’s hard to appreciate, you can pull one of these out of your pocket and repeat it to yourself until you believe it. It may take time. I know it did for me!

Before we get started with the affirmations you might be wondering how to use these affirmations. You can simply repeat them to yourself if you would like. There is so much power in that. It might feel awkward at first, embrace that, acknowledge it. Welcome it!

You will one day notice it doesn’t feel so awkward anymore!

Tips for Using Body Gratitude Affirmations

1. Pick one and repeat it every day until it sticks.
2. Tell yourself in the mirror. It might not sound right at first but you can get comfortable with it.
3. Write it down over and over in a journal. Be creative as you like.
4. Write it down on a post it and place it where you will see it most often.

7 Body Gratitude Affirmations

1. I am grateful my body trusts me. My intuition never lies.
2. I am grateful for the ability to clear my mind and meditate.
3. I fully embrace each part of my body. Even the parts I am hesitant with.
4. I can create a new relationship with my body and I can accept the physical and spiritual changes.
5. I am filled with love and desire for my body.
6. I can focus on each part of my body and begin to heal through gratitude.

This last one is the one I hold closest to my heart. It is the one I promised my dear friend Kim I would never take for granted.

I am grateful for each breath my body give me and will take it in fully.

This first thing you want to do when you wake up in the morning is to sit at the edge of your bed and take 5 deep breaths. Try counting to 5…hold for 5… then release slowly for 5. This will get your whole body ready to start the day.

Next, find a place close by to sit in childs pose. Stretch your finger tips out as far as they can go. Once you feel you are ready slowly walk your hands to the right and stretch there for a bit. Walk your hands to the left and repeat until you are ready. When you’re ready walk your hands back to center and slowly, one vertebrae at a time come to a seated position. Take your time getting up. Don’t rush this.

The third way to wake up your spine in the morning is simply getting your movement in first thing. I know that for some this cannot happen. You’ve got early morning commitments and I get that. Try dancing while you get ready. But any movement will do.

And don’t beat yourself up if it’s not what you expect. You will get there. You will begin making those mind body connections, I promise!

I’ve got a quick morning spine stretch class in my app if you’re looking for a little more direction. You can use it as many times as you need!

Light & Love,

You don’t need sound bowls and incense to meditate, but they sure are fun! Whatever it is you are dreaming of for your meditation space you can manifest.

I will repeat that… WHATEVER you are dreaming of for your meditation space you can manifest!

I believe in manifesting with my whole heart.

Manifesting is simply thinking your dreams into existence. Receiving what you put out into the universe. How you manifest is different for everyone. Some write things down in a journal, some make vision boards, some pray. But you have the power to dream big and I just wanted you to know that.

How to Manifest

1. Set your goal. I’m not into resolutions or goal setting really. But I often sit down and contemplate things I want to pursue. What do I want most?
2. Take that goal and put it out into the universe. Journaling, vision boards, texting a trusted friend. Allow yourself to imagine what your life would be like.
3. Make a plan. I believe our thoughts are powerful, but I also believe the combination of our body, mind, and soul can have life changing results. Meditate on your goal, put physical steps into action, align your soul with this goal. What is one simple step you can take that moves you closer to that goal? What are skills you might need to learn to achieve your goal? I am always researching and studying my passions.
4. Meditation. There may come a time when you realize something is keeping you from achieving your dream. Concentrate on gratitude. There’s this thing called law of attraction. Put out good vibes. Steer your thoughts toward your goal.
5. Allow the universe to give you more. An opportunity or a direction may arise that seems different than your dreams. Don’t dismiss it yet. Sometimes the perfect opportunity will appear different than what we imagined. Sometimes those opportunities give us more than we can imagine.

When I started this little blog I was sharing my crafts and home decor. I had no idea I would manifest the life I have now, but oh how beautiful it is. Dream big!

How to Manifest the Meditation Space of Your Dreams

Remember, I said started out in a closet? I brought in crystals and meditation pillows. I brought in salt lamps and candles. I made that space what I needed at that time and you can too. Whether you have a corner, a side table…or you have an entire floor of your house. I promise you can make your space what you need it to be.

First think of a few items that would make your space more comfortable, more inviting. Think of things that you would enjoy. Think of things that will help you focus, meditate, and relax. My meditation space is a mixture of things that help me focus and things that bring me joy.

But the most important thing for this space is not things…it’s you.

It’s your mind and your presence and your focus.

Sit in your space, close your eyes…what do you need?

Next write it down. Make a list, write a letter, clip pictures for a vision board…whatever speaks to you.

Where to find things for your meditation space

I started by shopping my home. You don’t have to spend money to make an inspiring meditation space. Look for blankets, pillows, candles, plants, even pictures or paintings.

You will be amazed what comes together by the things you already have in your home. I am very intentional about what I bring into our family space so I already know I will enjoy it. Rearranging and decorating my home brings me so much peace. I am shaping and placing each piece with intention these days.

If there’s still more you are dreaming about make a plan. Maybe you need to save money or make a trade or thrift shop.

You might have seen on Instagram that I have been dreaming of a specific mirror for a long time now and I thought I had found it. But sadly it was no longer at the thrift store when I got there. Does that mean it’s not out there for me? Not at all, the right piece is out there. I am still keeping my eyes and heart open to the possibilities.

I love to window shop and thrift shop for pieces in my meditations space. What this does is allow for my space to be unique and it also allows me to bring in pieces that really speak to me. Each mirror was brought in separately. I’ve slowly gathered and collected. Some were in my home already, some I thrifted, some were even gifted to me.

It will all come together in a way that is so beautiful if you open your mind and soul to the possibilities.

Remember this space will stretch and grow with you. You do not need to bring everything in at once. In fact I would encourage you to bring in each piece one at a time. With intention. Otherwise you might overwhelm your senses.

I repeat… the more important thing in your meditation space is YOU!

How do I pick a meditation space?

You may not have the room for a dedicate meditation room. But there are ways to create a space that is just for you. It may be temporary, it may need to be pulled out each time you come to stillness. But there are ways to create the environment you need in any size, shape, or place you need. Your meditations space will be a reflection of you, your journey, your healing, your peace.

When I first pick a space, I like to first take time each day to sit in a room, spot, corner. Sit in silence, sit in stillness, close your eyes and breathe it in. Then open them and look around. What is this space telling you? Honestly, you can stop, drop, and breathe just about anywhere but this place is going to be your sanctuary so take some time to really sit in the space and let it speak to you.

The wand chooses the wizard, Harry

What do I put in my meditation space?

This one is so hard to even describe because it will be so personal to you. You can add crystals, oils, photos of warm sunny beaches. What ever you feel drawn to. I love finding things on my travels and bringing them back to my space. It’s so unique. All I can say is that your intuition will tell you what you need and your intuition never lies.

5 Things That Will bring Light and Life to Your Space

Actual light. Open the blinds. Burn candles, if that’s your jam. Soft glow salt lamps are amazing too!

Check in on your 5 senses. What do you smell? What do you hear? What do you see?…Chances are if I am smelling leftovers, or dirty diaper…I’m not going to be in the mood. I can handle a certain level of outside noise…but this is only because I have been doing this so long. Please do not be discouraged if it frustrates you that you cannot focus…I’ve been there. Turn on some calm music, even your baby’s white noise machine!

Speaking of sounds! I love the little sound bath collection I have curated. I am so excited to share more with you! I started with bowls and have added a few items recently. This chalice and gong are bringing me so much joy and healing!

A new rug or meditation cushion. Nothing can refresh a room faster than a rug. I have several. I mix and match, I create layers, I switch things out. I just love mixing colors and textures. I have quite the collection now, but I have been known to pull things from other places in my house.

Take out anything that is no longer serving you. From crystals and decor, to candles and incense. If you are no longer called to it then this is your permission to remove it!

Cleanse and recharge your crystals. Running water can clear any negative energy store in your crystals. The tap will do but a stream is even better! Placing your stones in the sun, or moon light will recharge your crystals. Make this a regular habit. It will rejuvenate you and your space!

So take some time to sit in your space…soak it all in. What is calling you? What isn’t? Now before you get up and start changing all the things, I encourage you to write it down. Make a plan. What do you want to bring into this space? Remember this is your space…it does not need to look like mine, in fact, it probably won’t!

I’ve seen large meditation spaces, and I’ve seen mediation corners. And you know what is so rad about it? They are both sacred, they both work wonderfully, they both fulfill their purpose.

Light and Love,