Mindfulness and Meditation and their Importance Across All Age Groups in School

The benefits of practicing mindfulness have been researched and practiced through centuries, and recent times have seen an increase in the age-old practice amongst the younger generation, with increased awareness. More research and studies are being conducted regularly to study how each practice changes the chemical composition of our brains, leading us to feel, or react.

It has been widely known that no more than eight weeks of meditation is needed to treat anxiety, depression, and pain. As chronic stress and anxiety are common sources of most ailments, learning to practice mindfulness and meditation can positively impact the minds of adults, and even more so when it comes to children and young adults. As meditation is a practice for the mind, starting at a younger age enables the children to reap the benefits of the practice from their early years. Whether at top residential schools in India or attending day school and staying at home, children benefit greatly when they practice meditation and yoga at least three times a week.

Teaching children to practice mindfulness

Teaching children is much easier than teaching most adults and this is because a child’s mind is malleable and soaks all new information and techniques like a sponge. Mindfulness exercises are simple and they only demand that the child focuses on their breath while inhaling and then exhaling slowly. The steady rhythm and increased awareness of oneself, the state that they are in at that moment mentally, physically, and emotionally, makes sure that the person experiences peace of mind.

Benefits for children that accelerate their progress

There are indeed many benefits that have been observed in younger age groups and some of these are faster information processing, cognitive flexibility, greater focus, more creativity, and more effective working memory. This results in the child learning not just faster academically, but also understanding the value of self-love and care. The most important aspects of growing up are learning how to care for oneself, be nurturing, and being kind in their actions towards others and oneself.

Stress, whether in adults or children, induces higher production of the stress hormone, cortisol. This results in higher stress in people, which can be effectively contained and managed with meditation and yoga. Transcendental yoga is being touted as the most beneficial for students.

Key factors to take into consideration

Patterns of exceptional aptitude and higher scores in classes such as English, Mathematics, and other performance-based exams and tests have shown a steady high performance from a student practicing meditation and /or yoga regularly. Amongst various other methods, this type of meditative technique deals with reducing mental clutter, and enhancing mental clarity of the student, thereby countering the negative effects of stress and improving brain functions and processing skills. The direct benefits that are measurable for the students’ progress throughout the year are:

• Improved self-confidence, memory, concentration, and understanding of one's self-worth. These are important aspects of a developing mind and personality.

• Practicing different meditative techniques leads to enhanced cognitive functions, learning skills, and superior creativity as compared to a child who does not practice the same.

• Fantastic interpersonal skills, and enhanced social awareness and understanding, resulting in more compassionate behavior amongst peers and improved behavioral profile.

• A deeper understanding of body-positivity and calmness, with better scores on tests and performance-based activities that may be academic, or extracurricular.

Better family relationships

Students who practice meditation and/or yoga in schools do not reap the rewards just academically and in other performance areas, but it also improves their interaction with their families and enhances the feeling of social connection and positivity overall.

What can we take away from this?

Going by the evidence-based results, it can be safely said that meditation and yoga have benefits far beyond the understandings of the young minds. However, with diligent practice, one can shape the child's mind to perform better with more creativity and self-confidence in difficult matters, to conduct themselves with integrity despite the situation and lastly, to be kind towards all human beings and animals. Younger minds are highly responsive to being changed through experience - a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity - allowing the children to learn various forms of meditation at the best international schools in India. In conclusion, meditation is more effective if started at a young age, as compared to starting during adulthood.