Y’dig?

Within the first five minutes of meditating with the students at West Side High, I felt relieved of all the pre-existing exhaustion within me. The environment where we were giving realization that morning was what most yogis would consider the least conducive for meditating – students were running and dancing around our stall and music was blasting in the surrounding areas. There would be the periodic random scream or popping balloon. But when I began to meditate with the students, I realized that we were all able to enter that state of silent meditation as easily as if we were at home before our altars. In fact, it even felt a little easier.

The hour or so that we spent meditating with the students at West Side High was so enjoyable. I loved observing and listening to the comments from each of the students, and seeing many of their faces relieved and satisfied after they got their realization. What amazed me was how sensitive many of the students already were to their own vibrations and how quite a few of them expressed a genuine interest in meditation, even though this event was a mandatory health program in their school. A few students were so moved by their experience that they said they would come to the weekly meditation meetings on 34^th street. One memorable student – a spirited young black man, who had a do-rag around his head and sagging pants – was so enthusiastic about his experience, that he immediately brought his friend to our stall. Another young woman who got her realization opened up her eyes and said “Wow. I needed this.” She mentioned how much emotional turmoil she faces in her life and how she will start meditating regularly to overcome that.

The method by which we gave realization to these students was even simpler than I expected it would be. All that we asked the students to do was to bring their attention to a few parts of their body, which were referred to by ‘normal’ terms – the center of your chest, the center of your forehead, etc. There was no waving of hands, no saying affirmations out loud, no confusing words. And no explanation needed to be given before we all meditated. Whenever I felt a catch in anyone, I would simply put my attention on their catch and silently say the respective mantra to remove it. (I found myself often saying the mantra for center heart.) Everything was so simple, yet effective. I was amazed at how strongly I could feel the students centers in my own Sahasrara and hands and how easily the kundalini in others would rise.

As I walked out of the high school, I already started assessing how I could change my approach to giving realization to people, especially at the weekly meetings that are held at my university during the school year. My experience at the HealthCorps event gave me faith in a fact that I often forget – realization can be given anywhere, to anyone, and in any situation. That too, in the most simplest of ways. All pre-existing ideas that I had about how to ‘effectively’ give realization, what meditative environment to create, and the types of people who will take more easily to meditation were dissolved after going to this Health Corps event.

Right after the Health Fair I had to go back to work for five hours. For the first time in weeks, I felt as if nothing in this draining city and in my workplace could bring me down. I was so energized by meditating with those students that during the course of the day, I felt my kundalini magnetically being drawn to my Sahasrara numerous times.

admin Awareness, Enjoyment, Knowledge, Meditation, Spirit, Truth, Understanding, human brain, ydig Sahaja Meditation

“Those Friday classes changed my life. They made me rethink about the way I approach life and interact with people.”

So reports Leslie Dolland, HealthCorps coordinator in the Bronx, on what one of her students, Joshua said.

admin Awareness, Enjoyment, Knowledge, Meditation, Truth, Understanding, human brain student on Sahaja Meditation

June 6, 2010

“I can’t thank you enough. Your energy calms students before we even begin meditating. This has been an amazing experience and I can’t wait to see what happens next year. HealthCorps is so lucky to get to work with you.”

Sarah Fishstrom, Kurt Hahn Expeditionary School, Brooklyn, New York

What’s been really interesting in  working in different schools across the USA is that in the schools in which the teachers throw themselves wholeheartedly and enthusiastically behind the HealthCorps programs, the results (perhaps unsurprisingly) are so much better than in other schools.

The teachers and staff in Kurt Hahn, from Matt Brown the headmaster, Eric Mendelson, the Dean, Miles Doyle, Charlie Maciejewski, and other teachers and guidance counselors too, some of whom attend the meditation classes too, give such enthusiasm and encouragement to everything HealthCorps does in the school, meditation included, that the results are far and away better than in most other schools.

Matt Brown commented too, that he noticed that the opinion makers, the leaders, amongst the students, all attend the weekly meditation class organized by Sarah Fishstrom.

Kurt Hahn is a really remarkable school, from the moment you walk through the door you can sense that it’s different, different standards prevail there and I would unhesitatingly recommend Kurt Kahn to parents in Brooklyn.

admin Awareness, Enjoyment, Knowledge, Meditation, Truth, Understanding, human brain good schools in Brooklyn, Kurt Hahn school, meditation for success in high schools

Meditation helps you in life

admin Awareness, Enjoyment, Knowledge, Meditation, Truth, Understanding, human brain Sahaja Meditation, Sahaja Meditation helps students pass exams

Does Sahaja Meditation help with exams?

I thought I was going to fail and I passed!

Over 50 students used Sahaja Meditation every day this week in a Brooklyn High School, at 8.30 am and at 12.30 pm, for ten minutes each time to help them cope with exam stress. The vast majority, over 80% said it was beneficial in helping them be at their best.

admin Awareness, Enjoyment, Knowledge, Meditation, Truth, Understanding, human brain Sahaja Meditation helps students pass exams

June 3, 2010

A special thank you to HealthCorps coordinator, Jessica Anders without whom none of this would have happened.

“Hey, I want to thank you for showing me how to meditate. I also want to thank you for helping (me) forgive someone.” Aurelia R

“…. Hope to see you again and thanks for teaching my classmates and I how to meditate. That was a cool lesson. Cya” Daniel

“Thanks for coming. I was relaxed the whole day you came.” Shanya

“Hey, gracias for coming to this school and teaching us how to meditate, it really helped w/all the stress in my life.” Paul P

“…. I am always stressed but you helped me.” Eric M

“Hey, this is your friend Malik. Thank you for showing us how to meditate.”

“Can’t thank you enough for your dedication to the education of our youth….” Ryan (teacher)

admin Awareness, Enjoyment, Knowledge, Meditation, Truth, Understanding, human brain, ydig High School students and meditation, Sahaja Meditation, Student stress

Today had a sweet sadness to it, Jenny Ninyo, HealthCorps coordinator organized a wonderful lunch for the teachers in the school where she’s worked for two years, bringing health, fitness, well-being and mental resilience programs to students and staff. The buffet lunch involved a plethora of healthy, beautifully prepared food, and one after another, the teachers came up to Jenny and said how much they’d miss her, for this is near the end of her two year stint as a HealthCorps coordinator. Jenny, as is the case with all HealthCorps coordinators is an extraordinary young woman of rich and varied talents – she is an expert at Hatha Yoga, a linguist, she teaches and tutors in Hebrew, she is a great cook and organizer, a great motivator and fun to be with. She’ll be much missed. The good news for us is that she’s staying in New York City.

As part of the lunch, an optional Sahaja Meditation program was available and about 24 teachers and 6 parents tried Sahaja Meditation. All of those I spoke to said this would be a very valuable practice, given what a stressful job teaching now is in Manhattan. Many said they’d love to attend the introductory evening to Sahaja Meditation to be held on July 8, 2010 at 7 pm at:

New York Society for Ethical Culture

2 West 64th Street at Central Park West New York, NY 10023.

And, as if by way of coincidence, who should walk in but Anna Mancini, who was teaching in this school as a substitute teacher. Anna kindly sat with Joan and I as we meditated with Jenny and a very nice math teacher, Laura.

admin Awareness, Enjoyment, Knowledge, Meditation, Spirit, Truth, Understanding, human brain, ydig Harlem Meditation, Introduction to Sahaja Meditation, Sahaja Meditation in Harlem, Teachers Appreciation Day

Dr Oz

Joan

Margarita

Rosie

We had a great time at the HealthCorps Highway to Health Festival, held in the grounds of the US Tennis Association in Flushing Meadows, New York. Probably 100 people including students, teachers and passersby experienced Self-realization through Sahaja Meditation.

Dr. Mehmet Oz visited each stall in turn and spent a few minutes with us. Anil Bandari extended an invitation to Dr. Oz to attend our forthcoming public program on July 8th, and whilst he said his schedule is to be in North Carolina that day but that he will try to reschedule and attend the Sahaja Meditation event.

Earlier in the afternoon, Canan Arslan approached Dr. Oz and spoke to him in Turkish and they had a pleasant conversation for ten minutes or so. Dr. Oz said how much he liked Sahaja Meditation and how pleased he was at what we are achieving in high schools across the USA. Canan asked him if he might mention Sahaja Meditation in his forthcoming trip to Turkey where he a superstar and he had an aide take Canan’s phone number and he promised to help if he can.

Manning our stand that day, we had Turkish, Indian, Afro American, Irish, Russian, Hispanic, English and White Americans. A great time was had by all.

admin Awareness, Enjoyment, Knowledge, Meditation, Spirit, Truth, Understanding, human brain Dr Oz, Sahaja Meditation

As a HealthCorps Coordinator in a Bronx high school, I provide innovative health and wellness workshops for my students.  Our curriculum includes a fair amount of nutritional and fitness education but also touches upon mental resiliency topics.  And I truly believe, optimal health and wellness begins not with education but rather the openness of the heart and the mind.

For the past 7 weeks, Alan and sometimes Lioudmila Wherry have graciously practiced Sahaja meditation with my students and allowed them to discover its power. Without question, it’s been the highlight of working with my students within the classroom…the best part of the work day.  Every week, we position desks in a circle and read one passage pertaining to themes such as forgiveness, trust, being present, fear & love, and the true source of joy.  “Joy is not what happens to you; it is what comes through you when you are conscious of the blessing you are.”  Alan and myself share personal anecdotes and pose questions that allow the students to find their own individual answers.

In a neighborhood and school environment with constant noise, distractions, and one too many fights, I’ve been encouraged by the ability of the students to quiet their voices, minds, and focus on themselves.  To incorporate ”personal growth-work” into their traditional school work is important.  To scan a room and see 20 students in utter deep silence for 10-15 minutes is damn near breathtaking.

Leslie Dolland

something not quite right, but we know what it intended!

admin Awareness, Enjoyment, Knowledge, Meditation, Spirit, Understanding, human brain, ydig High School students and meditation, Sahaja Mediation in New York schools, Sahaja Meditation, Sahaja Meditation in violent schools

When, at Kurt Hahn, in Brooklyn a couple of months ago we tried getting the students to raise their kundalini and put themselves in bandhan, it really didn’t work, they were looking at each other, embarrassed or even hitting each other with their arm actions. So mostly, we are keeping the meditation as simple as possible and it’s working.

However, in Kurt Hahn yesterday, there was a smaller group than usual, 12 or 14 in total, and we tried having them raise their kundalini and put themselves in bandhan, we did a meditation of the left channel, saying affirmations, as we had done the week before and the vibrations were noticeably stronger and the students went noticeably deeper.

We tried the same thing in Fordham Arts, there we had 14 students, two of whom had never meditated before, and again with the left-side meditation with affirmations, the result was the same, a much deeper meditation and the vast majority of students who in this case have only been meditating for a month, went noticeably deeper.

What does this mean? Probably that in a classroom situation, after a week or so we might experiment and see what happens in other situations.

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