Reflections on Breathing…

2011-01-18T15:46:00.000-08:00

Yoga class is canceled today. The roads are covered with ice and it seems like a good day for reflection.

Recently after teaching a yoga class, I was talking to one of my students about different approaches to education. My background in this area is a bit unique as I have experience with both mainstream and alternative viewpoints. I have introduced dance to hundreds of children in both public and private schools as an Artist in the Schools, and I’ve taken children through all eight grades as a home-schooling mom. I’ve taught history and art programs as a museum educator and been involved as a parent with a Charter School and a Performing Arts High School. I am also a certified Waldorf Teacher as well as a certified Yoga Instructor.

The conversation with my yoga student quickly led to wondering what the essential difference is in these different approaches? Today, educational systems are very similar and follow basically the same philosophy. Waldorf Education is an exception and some may view it negatively, but educators would benefit greatly from understanding and incorporating one brilliant and essential component of this educational philosophy. That component is the recognition of the sacred importance of our breathing.

The Waldorf curriculum is designed to allow the child to alternate between breathing in (inhaling) and breathing out (exhaling) all throughout the day and even within individual subjects. The idea is that when an individual is learning certain subjects s/he is involved in a contractive, in-breathing activity, like mathematics for example. Other subjects, especially the arts, like painting, are an expansive or out-breathing activity. By alternating these activities, the child is allowed to breathe fully, in and out, throughout the day, everyday. My observation is that the children don’t tire as easily, still have energy at the end of the day and experience school as one of life’s joys!

I think it’s so amazing the way so many things eventually come down to the breath and I’d love to read a comparative study on Asthma in children attending public vs. Waldorf schools. Just for a moment, try taking a nice deep breath and then slowly release it. How does it make you feel to do this? How do you think you would feel if there was no opportunity for you to fully exhale the air you took in for a whole day? Imagine just inhaling repeatedly throughout the day for a whole school year! That’s what happens in most of our mainstream schools today. All the emphasis is on contractive learning with no recognition of the importance of expansive activity or alternating types of activities. Where is the human being in mainstream education? Where do we see any recognition of the sacred importance of the individual trying to assimilate the learning?

Our Breath Is Life! Literally. Life is absolutely dependant on breathing. So take your life slowly and make it a deep experience….. B R E A T H E !

Hummingbird Yoga & Art

2010-12-11T09:31:00.000-08:00

Namaste' and welcome to my blog, Hummings...