A very special time of year is upon us, that brings families, loved ones and friends together, feelings of gratitude and hope and new beginnings. At least, in a perfect world that’s what the holidays are like. In reality, it’s also the most trying time of year for many and even painful due to life circumstances current and past. It’s why we are focusing a special Christmas Om:Pop series on “Resilience and Healing For the Holidays” with Family Support, Hammersmith & Fulham.

Mindful family sessions can offer clarity and calm amid the chaos that family life will inevitably bring. We’ve just completed an OM:POP series with Family Support in Hammersmith & Fulham and can confirm that mindful practices deliver a sense of wellbeing even with a whole host of tiny tots in the room.

Once you have expanded your awareness back into the space where you are sitting or standing, notice whether there is a shift in your breath and/or your mood. Then remember that a mindful awareness practice, such as this yogic humming bee breath, can calm your nerves and release feelings of frustration, anxiety and even anger.

Supporting your child, being focused on them when you are interacting, and providing a loving, trusting relationship is the best way to help your child to build resilience. - Family Support, Hammersmith and Fulham

We were delighted to lead two Om:Pop Sessions with Family Support, Hammersmith and Fulham focused on the topic of “Serve and Return.” Our bespoke yoga, brain building and meditation sessions at Cathnor Park Children’s Centre and Melcombe Children’s Centre focused on integrating positive, back-and-forth interactions between caregivers and their little ones.

The second week of October brings us the theme of “Air Traffic Control” for our Om:Pop Series with Family Support, Hammersmith and Fulham and Bubble + Sprout. Our bespoke yoga, brain building and meditation session at Cathnor Children’s Centre focused on the brain’s executive function and self-regulatory skills.

We have leaped out of September and into October, continuing our Om:Pop Series with Family Support, Hammersmith and Fulham and Bubble + Sprout. It has been so wonderful being with families, as we bring bespoke mindfulness, yoga and brain building sessions to them. The theme for the first week at Cathnor Park Children’s Centre was “Stress Response.”

Cultivating self-love is a practice that takes patience and acceptance of our own vulnerability. The following brief meditation provides a platform to welcome in acceptance, recognition and love for our most vulnerable self.

The latest theme was “Brain Architecture,” where we began to think about ways in which we can help children to develop, by providing strong foundations and solid walls of positive experience and nurturing.

Being in fresh air and outside in Nature is wonderful! What physical things do you like to do? Kratu likes to do special training, especially scent work where he has to find a hidden special scent, then he gets a reward. What things do you like to do to stimulate your brain?

As a parent, if you want your child to develop a healthy sense of emotional resilience to all the various, mounting pressures there are on children each day, model mindful behaviour yourself. Your child will observe the way you deal with stress, anger, happiness, etc., all of which you have the ability to positively model.