Parent Power Newsletter
TIU 11, 5th Edition ~ June 2, 2020
Editor's Note
As Ralph Waldo Emerson once spoke, “Each moment of the year has its own beauty.” Each season brings something new and unique to celebrate. Spring has its peaceful mornings of dew kissed grassed and an orchestra of singing birds. Winter brings crisp and cloudless cold blue skies. Fall brings evenings that are made perfect by the warmth of a camp fire and togetherness. And summer, summer brings those enchanted nights that are laced with warm air and a carelessness rivaled only by days of our youth.
I hope this Parent Power Newsletter finds you with that same wanderlust that each new season brings. For a few months now, we have been walking in a world, foreign to us, full of change that is confusing, scary, and anxiety producing. Let us be reminded that as stressful as some changes can be, there is always an opportunity for growth that only change can bring. As Spring dissipates, may we each embrace Summer with open arms and open minds.
Denise Shugarts, LSW
TIU 11 Interagency Mental Health Coordinator
Kid Cuisine
Mango Salsa
Craft Corner
Crafts for Tweens
Mindfulness Matters
The Breath Square Practice
“You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.” Thomas Merton
Today, I would like to share the practice of a breath square. In this practice, we’ll again focus on the breath. Allowing it to help connect us to the current moment. Engaging the mind in counting during the breath will help us to become (or remain) grounded in our here and now experience.
The following steps will guide you gently through the practice. Taking only a few minutes every day with this, and other mindful practices, can have a beneficial effect on your health and relationships. Let’s begin…
Find your most comfortable sitting position. If you are practicing with your child, invite them to do the same.
Allow your hands to find a comfortable position on your lap.
Find a soft gaze or close your eyes, whichever is more comfortable for you.
Allow your attention to move to your breath. Feel how your chest and abdomen move as you breathe. The inhale brings expansion while the exhale contraction.
The next time you inhale breathe in through you nose slowly, bringing the breath down into the belly while counting to four in your mind. If you are practicing with a child, you may need to count aloud and, for young children, you may need to use a smaller count number.
Pause at the end of the inhale for a count of four.
Exhale slowly counting to four as you release the breath.
Pause at the end of the exhale and count to four.
Repeat steps 5-8. If your thoughts drift, gently guide the mind back to your breath. Be gentle with yourself. This is a practice, not a test.
Continue practicing for the amount of time that is comfortable to you.
The FIRST Center, Lake House Wellness and The Mindfulness Center of Central Pennsylvania thank you for participating in this practice. If you are interested in learning more about mindfulness, please follow FIRST Center and Lake House Wellness on Facebook or visit the web sites https://www.first-center.org/ and www.lakehousewellnessllc.com .
Be safe. Be well. Tracy Lake
Mindfulness Matters contributors
Parent Power
Transitions
Thank you for reading our newsletter!
Questions or Comments about this newsletter? Send to Denise Shugarts.
Email: dshugarts@tiu11.org
Website: tiu11.org
Location: 2527 U.S. 522, McVeytown, PA, USA
Phone: 814-542-2501